Rory McIlroy wrote his name into the record books when he carded a closing one under par 71 to claim a two shot victory over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler at the 143rd Open Championship at Royal Liverpool.
At 25 years and 77 days McIlroy became the third youngest golfer to achieve the third leg of the modern Grand Slam after Jack Nicklaus (23 years and 181 days) and Tiger Woods (24 years and 171 days).
The Open Championship
This time there was no procession, but Rory McIlroy still created more history as he held off a spirited challenge from Sergio Garcia to claim his third Major title on a thrilling final day of The 143rd Open Championship.
Having won each of his previous Majors by eight shots, McIlroy's six shot overnight lead threatened to give the last day at Royal Liverpool an air of Rory versus the record books.
But in the end it became a question of whether he could win a Major when the pressure was on down the closing stretch, a question he answered emphatically to become the first European player to win three different Majors since the Masters Tournament was founded in 1934.
Garcia closed within two shots of his Ryder Cup team-mate on four occasions but the 34 year old Spaniard - fifth here in 2006 and now with 19 top-tens in 64 Majors - crucially bogeyed the 15th to release the pressure and had to settle for a closing 66.
McIlroy's 71 gave him a 17 under par total of 271, two ahead of a gallant Garcia and American Rickie Fowler, who birdied three of the last four holes to card a 67 and whose Major record in 2014 reads fifth, second and second.
McIlroy became just the third man in the modern era after Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus to win three majors by the age of 25.
Web.com - Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco
Steve Wheatcroft rolled in 10-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole to beat Steven Alker and win the 25th Albertsons Boise Open presented by Kraft Nabisco. The pair battled back and forth during a pressure-packed Sunday at Hillcrest Country Club and wound up tied at 24-under par after regulation play.
Wheatcroft watched as Alker’s 30-foot birdie try stopped a couple feet short of the cup and then calmly stepped up and canned the putt to change his season, and perhaps his career, around.
Wheatcroft started the final day two shots back of Alker, who broke the tournament’s 54-hole record with a 20-under 195 total.
Challenge Tour – Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf
Belgium’s Pierre Relecom claimed his maiden European Challenge Tour title at the Swiss Challenge presented by Association Suisse de Golf, after a dramatic finale in which Italian Niccolo Quintarelli narrowly missed a six-foot putt at the last to force a play-off.
The big-hitting Brussels player entered the final day one shot off the lead but showed the skill and poise of an experienced champion as he cruised four shots clear stepping onto the 16th tee.
But he endured a nervy finish, bogeying the final two while his playing partner Quintarelli birdied the 16th and came agonisingly close to taking it to extra holes.
It was to be Relecom’s day though, and the 29 year old must have felt it in the warm Alps air when he holed out with a chip from 70 yards for a stunning two at the par four 14th. He had already been on imperious form and he followed that eagle with a fourth birdie of the day at the 15th.
A bogey at the par five 17th meant the Brussels player was just two shots clear going down the last and when he over-cooked his approach to just beside the spectator stand at the stunning Golf Sempachersee, it had looked like there was to be a final twist in the tale.
PGA Tour Canada – Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel
With a crucial up-and-down for birdie at the 72nd hole, Cincinatti, Ohio’s Wes Homan claimed the inaugural Staal Foundation Open presented by Tbaytel, his first PGA TOUR Canada win.
The 30-year old prevailed in a dramatic fight to the finish over rookie Greg Eason of England, who made a clutch birdie of his own at the last to force Homan’s hand. Homan calmly stepped up a drained a 6-footer, punctuated with a pump of the fist, to secure his first win in four seasons on TOUR.
Asian Development Tour – Linc Group Jakarta Classic
Niall Turner of Ireland survived a bumpy final round to win his first Asian Development Tour (ADT) title after posting a one-over-par 73 at the US$60,000 Linc Group Jakarta Classic on Friday.
The 30-year-old Turner held a five-shot lead heading into the last day but had to fend off the strong challenge from Englishman Peter Richardson before winning by one shot with a 10-under-par 278 total at the Imperial Klub Golf.
Richardson, who has one ADT victory, settled for second following a 69 while Thai talent Annop Tangkamolprasert ended his campaign in third position after shooting a 68 for a 281 total.
Turner dropped two bogeys on holes two and three but swiftly recovered with two birdies before the turn. A bogey on 14 narrowed the Irishman’s lead to one but he held on to his narrow advantage to win the second edition of the Linc Group Jakarta Classic.
The victory was exceptionally sweet for Turner who had been struggling with a hip injury in the last three years.
