The PGA Championship in Valhalla next week looks like a clash of expresses. To the strength of Scottie Scheffler and his four victories, in addition to a second place, in the last five tournaments played was added the streak of Rory McIlroy, the world number 2, who after the victory in the Wells Fargo has engaged two consecutive ones. Both will be the references of the second major of the season, waiting for the awakening of the LIV Golf boys.
McIlroy was the star of a wild Sunday. After the 7th hole, two strokes behind, began a forceful sequence that led him to achieve two eagles – one from the bunker – and four birdies between the 8th and 15th, which caused the surrender of all the others, including the American Xander Schauffele, who was leading the tournament. Eight under par in as many holes. It was such a powerful charge that he reached the last hole with a seven-stroke advantage, reduced to five by a double bogey on 18, after sending the ball into the lake that protects the green.
He signed 65 hits, the seventh Sunday score in those figures which he has achieved since 2010 to win a tournament. Matsuyama, another specialist in last-minute comebacks, follows with four.
It was the fourth victory in the Quay Hollow, a tournament without a cut; the second in a row after having won the Zurich New Orleans in pairs with Shane Lowry last week and the twenty-sixth of his career on the PGA Tour, which equals him in the historical ranking with Henry Picard, Ben Hogan’s advisor. Kabbalistics, furthermore, is on their side. The last time Rory won a tournament before a major was in 2014, in his last major title, the 2014 PGA Championship played… in Valhalla. “You feel like the stars are aligning,” Rory acknowledged, “but he’s going to have to play very well and against some players who are doing really well.” (Results)
