PGA champ McIlroy answers critics

Home > Sports > Football

print dictionary print

PGA champ McIlroy answers critics

테스트

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after a birdie putt on the 18th puts the icing on a sweet victory at the PGA Championship on the Ocean Course of Kiawah Island Golf Resort on Kiawah Island, South Carolina, Sunday, [AP/YONHAP]


KIAWAH ISLAND, South Carolina - Rory McIlroy brushed aside any lingering doubts over his ability to be a dominant force in golf by storming to a second major title with a stunning eight-shot victory at the PGA Championship on Sunday.

McIlroy’s first big triumph, a similar eight-shot victory at last year’s U.S. Open, was followed by a series of poor showings in the majors, including a missed cut in his title defence and tying for 60th place at the British Open last month.

The latter result prompted questions to be raised about whether the Northern Irishman was practicing enough or simply spending too much time with tennis player girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki.

On Sunday, shooting a six-under-par 66 on the tough Ocean Course, the longest track ever for a major tournament, he gave a resounding answer to his critics and was not about to let slip his chance to reply to those who doubted him.

“I was a little frustrated with how I was playing earlier on in the year, but a few people in this [media] room were probably pushing panic buttons for no reason,” the 23-year-old told reporters.

The criticism clearly stung and McIlroy said he had provided the perfect reply.

“I don’t think I could have answered it in any better way, and to be honest .?.?. it did motivate me.

“I did want to go out there and prove a few people wrong, and that’s what I did. It took me all of four weeks to get my game back and get out of my mini-slump and this is the result,” he added.

But those words were, typically for the affable Northern Irishman, said with a wry smile rather than a snarl, helped of course by the enormity of his achievement on Sunday.

The victory margin eclipsed the previous best for the PGA Championship of seven set by Jack Nicklaus in 1980 and he also became the youngest player to win two major titles since 23-year-old Seve Ballesteros clinched that year’s Masters.

The win also sent him back to the top of the world rankings but the relief of claiming a second major and escaping the ranks of players with just one big title on their CV seemed to mean more to McIlroy.

“There are a few emotions going through. There’s quite a bit of relief to get the second one out of the way. I am just so happy that I was able to play like this and win another major,” he said. Reuters
Log in to Twitter or Facebook account to connect
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
help-image Social comment?
s
lock icon

To write comments, please log in to one of the accounts.

Standards Board Policy (0/250자)