Rory McIlroy had a bit of everything – an eagle, four birdies, a bogey and a double-bogey – in an eventful finish to his PGA Tour season at the Tour Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, where he was a mid-table finisher in his last outing before the Ryder Cup later this month.
The Northern Irishman’s closing round 67 for a total of 275 – on seven-under in the staggered scoring system – was a rollercoaster ride, although he was never in a position to scale the heights and challenge for the $15 million (€12.6 million) winner’s prize.
Any brief hope of launching a charge after an eagle three on the Par 5 sixth (where he hit an approach of 186 yards to six feet) was immediately undone with a double-bogey six on the seventh hole, after a wild drive into the trees.
McIlroy has opted not to return to Europe for this week’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth – which finishes the automatic qualification for Europe’s Ryder Cup team and where Pádraig Harrington will add his three wild card picks – and, instead, will rest and practise with the aim of arriving in Whistling Straits refreshed.
Victory
Nicolai Hojgaard held off a chasing pack to claim his maiden European Tour win with a one-stroke victory at the DS Automobiles Italian Open at Marco Simone Golf Course, outside Rome. The 20-year-old Dane's breakthrough win came a week after his twin brother Rasmus won the Omega European Masters.
"It means a lot. I've been grinding for a long time and seeing Rasmus win three times [on the European Tour] made me want to do it even more. To finally get it done is very special," said Hojgaard who finished with a closing 71 for 13-under-par 271, a shot clear of Tommy Fleetwood and Adrian Meronk. Jonathan Caldwell finished with a 74 for 285, in tied-57th.
