Rory Outlasts Moore, Wins Tour Championship and FedEx Cup
Rory McIlroy captured both the Tour Championship, the penultimate event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, and the FedEx Cup on Sunday at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. McIlroy was the last man standing in a three-way playoff with Kevin Chappell and Ryan Moore.
McIlroy came into the week ranked sixth in the FedEx Cup standings, and needed a win and a little help from then FedEx Cup leader, Dustin Johnson, in order to capture the FedEx cup. McIlroy started the week of with a 2-under 68 on Thursday, and an even par-70 on Friday. Dustin Johnson found himself at the top of yet another leaderboard, firing off an opening round 66 to grab the day one lead and increasing that lead with a 3-under 67 on Friday. Rory sat five strokes back heading into the weekend.
On Saturday, Rory tied the low round of the week (through Saturday) with a 66, putting him within striking distance of leaders Dustin Johnson and Kevin Chappell at two back. In order to win the FedEx Cup, Rory needed to not only win the tournament, but he needed DJ to finish anywhere but a victory or a solo second.
On Sunday, Rory came out firing with a birdie on the first, but a bogey at the second brought him back to even par. A birdie at the par-5 sixth was his last of the front 9, and he finished with with a 1-under 34. Leader Kevin Chappell also turned in a solid front 9, carding a 2-under 33. Ryan Moore was making a run at both the leaders and the final Ryder Cup spot as well, carding four birdies for a 4-under 31 on his front 9.
The final 9 holes of the tournament is where things got interesting. Rory continued his charge making birdies at the first two holes on the back. Moore and Chappell also made birdies at the 10th, but pars at the 11th. McIlory and Moore then continued with steady strings of pars, while Chappell made a birdie at the 13th, increasing his lead to one over Moore and three over McIlroy. On the par 4 16th, McIlroy dropped a 136-yard wedge for eagle to bring him even with Moore and only one back of Chappell. While Chappell made a nice birdie at the 16th, he made bogey at the 17th, bringing his lead back to one at 12 under. Moore was able to make birdie at the 17th, and McIlroy finished his round with a birdie at the par 5 18th, to bring everyone all square at 12-under par for the week.
The first playoff hole was the par-5 18th, which McIlroy and Moore both birdied. Chappell was unable to convert his birdie, and was eliminated in a tie for 2nd. McIlroy and Moore continued to battle after Rory failed to convert a 10-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole. The pair then headed to the island green at the par-3 15th for the third playoff hole. The hole was playing 201 yards to the pin, and Moore’s 6 iron came up short in the rough, missing the water by only a few yards. McIlroy then proceeded to fly a 7 iron (yes, you read that right, a 7 iron) to the back of the green, leaving him a lengthy putt. Moore was able to get up and down after a great chip, and McIlroy was able to two putt for par as well. On the final playoff hole at the par-4 16th, McIlroy stuck his approach to fifteen feet and was able to convert the putt for birdie, while Moore was only able to secure a par sealing the victory for Rory.
This is McIlroy’s second win of the season on Tour, following his win two weeks ago at the Deutsche Bank. Not only does he grab the purse from the Tour Championship, but also the $10 Million FedEx Cup prize, as Dustin Johnson finished T-6 (had Moore won the playoff, DJ would have won the Cup). Up next for Rory is the Ryder Cup in Minnesota.
Rory McIlroy’s Winning What’s In The Bag
Driver: Nike Vapor Fly Pro – 9.5° (Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana S+ 70 XTS)
Fairway Woods: Nike Vapor – Speed 15°, 19° (Fujikura Rombax Pro 95 X)
Irons: Nike VR Pro Blade – 4 – 9 iron (True Temper Project X 7.0)
Wedges: Nike Engage – 47°, 52°, 56°, and 59° (True Temper Project X 6.5)
Putter: Scotty Cameron Concept M1 Prototype
Ball: Nike RZN Tour Platinum
Ryan Moore Grabs DL3’s Final Captain’s Pick
At halftime of Sunday Night Football, Team USA Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III announced his final Captain’s Pick, selecting Tour Championship Runner-up Ryan Moore. Moore has had a solid finish to his season, finishing 7th in the FedEx Cup standings, with four top 10s and a win in his last six starts. Moore got the nod over fellow Americans Bubba Watson, Daniel Berger, Justin Thomas, and Vice-Captain Jim Furyk.
With that said, let’s see how the teams shake out for this year’s Ryder Cup, held this weekend at Hazeltine Country Club in Chaska, Minnesota:
Team USA:
Captain: Davis Love III
- Jordan Spieth
- Dustin Johnson
- Brandt Snedeker
- Patrick Reed
- Jimmy Walker
- Phil Mickelson
- Brooks Koepka
- Zach Johnson
- Rickie Fowler*
- J.B. Holmes*
- Ryan Moore*
- Matt Kuchar*
(Vice Captains – Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman, Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods, Bubba Watson)
Team Europe:
Captain: Darren Clarke
- Rory McIlroy
- Danny Willett
- Henrik Stenson
- Chris Wood
- Andy Sullivan
- Rafa Cabrera Bello
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Sergio Garcia
- Justin Rose
- Thomas Pieters*
- Martin Kaymer*
- Lee Westwood*
(Vice Captains – Thomas Bjorn, Padraig Harrington, Paul Lawrie, Ian Poulter, Sam Torrance)
*Denotes Captain’s Pick
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