McIlroy regains top spot after 16 months

Win at Bridgestone prods British Open champ up to number one.

AKRON:

Rory McIlroy is back on top of the golf world, following up his British Open triumph with an elite World Golf Championships (WGC) win on Sunday.

The 25-year-old from Northern Ireland rallied from a three-stroke deficit to beat Spain’s Sergio Garcia by two strokes at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational.

With the victory he supplants Australian Adam Scott atop the rankings, ascending to number one for the fifth time in his career but the first time since March of 2013.

“It feels like a long time since I lost that number one spot, but it feels good to be back on top,” said McIlroy, whose star faded in 2013 when he struggled with problems both on and off the golf course. “Hopefully, I can keep it for a while.”

Now he has become the 13th player to own both a major and a WGC title — and joined Woods as the only players to win them in back-to-back starts.

For McIlroy, winning a first WGC crown at Firestone Country Club, where Woods has won eight titles, was special.

“I grew up watching Woods dominate in this tournament and dominate pretty much wherever he played,” he said. “I dreamed of one day trying to do something like that.

“I’m not comparing myself because he’s done this millions of times and this is only my first ... But yeah, it feels great to come here and win on this golf course.”

McIlroy was already looking ahead to Valhalla for the final major of the year.

“I feel that, with the way I’m playing, there’s a few wins left in me this year.”

Published in The Express Tribune, August 5^th, 2014.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.