WGC World Match Play: Another title in McIlroy’s bag

World number one golfer aces event’s new format

SAN FRANCISCO: World number one Rory McIlroy added the WGC World Match Play Championship to his four majors with a 4&2 victory over US journeyman Gary Woodland in Sunday’s final.

Northern Irishman McIlroy, who turns 26 on Monday, was playing in his second WGC Match Play final, having lost to Hunter Mahan in the 2012 championship contest.

McIlroy was a perfect 7-0 in the first year of the event’s new format featuring three rounds of pool play, followed by knockout rounds.

But he had to rally for several of those victories — including a comeback from 2-down with two to play to fend off elimination on Friday — and late rallies in both the quarter and semi-finals. “I’m really proud of myself with how I showed a lot of character early on with coming back from deficits,” said McIlroy, who became the first number one seed to win the tournament since Tiger Woods in 2008.

Danny Willett defeated Jim Furyk 3&2 to win the consolation match.

McIlroy took control early against Woodland, notching four birdies in a row from the fourth hole to take a commanding lead.

Woodland took the 11th and 12th, but missed a four-footer at 13 that would have gotten him within 1-down.

“My putt drops on 13 and it’s a different ball game,” said Woodland. “But I missed that one. And he was like a shark. Smelled blood, and it was game over quickly.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 5^th,  2015.

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