by Jeff Skinner
Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia have been spending a lot of time together lately. Before teeing off together in the final round of the WGC Bridgestone Invitational we last saw them together as Rory held the Claret Jug aloft with Sergio, who finished tied for second, looking on. That was at the Open Championship where Rory put on a magnificent display and topped Sergio and Rickie Fowler.
Unfortunately for Sergio his Sunday at Firestone ended the same way: with him finishing second to McIlroy once again. This was Rory’s second consecutive win. It also was Sergio’s third consecutive second place. 
McIlroy came out hot with three straight birdies to erase Garcia’s final round lead and go ahead when Sergio bogeyed the third. But Rory played one under par golf for the final fifteen holes letting Garcia stay close.
Garcia could have taken the lead back if he had any of the magic he displayed in the first three rounds. But the magic had left Garcia’s sticks and McIlroy’s four under par 66 was enough for a two stroke win with huge implications.
McIlroy has back to back wins in two significant championships, this is his third world wide win in his last seven starts and he just replaced Adam Scott as world number one. McIlroy’s recent performance certainly makes a statement. He’s the best golfer in the world right now.
Not only did McIlroy supplant Scott as the top golfer in the rankings he has to be considered the best long driver of the golf ball now. Rory was killing the ball with his driver and while we all say “drive for show, putt for dough” it was Rory’s driver that earned him his eighth PGA Tour victory.
Winning the week after a major win is a daunting task but McIlroy was determined not to have any Open Championship hangover, “What I’m really proud of this week is just following up the Open with a performance like this. I said straight after that I didn’t want any letdown; I just wanted to keep going and keep performing until the end of the season. To perform like this, I’m pretty satisfied.”
Satisfied indeed.
Related Articles
