McIlroy officially on top of the world

Golf: RORY McILROY was on top of the world last night when he held off a dramatic final round charge from Tiger Woods to become Ireland's first number one in the rankings.

The pride of Holywood fired a one under par 69 to win the Honda Classic by two shots ahead of Tom Gillis and Woods, who eagled the last to close with a stunning eight under 62 – the lowest final round of his PGA Tour career – to set the target at 10-under-par.

Woods said: “For Rory to get to number one, it’s a testament to how consistent he has been.”

It was an incredible statement of intent from the 22-year-old, who became the second youngest world number one since Woods soared to the top of the world rankings 15 years ago at the age of just 21.

With the greatest player of the modern era firing two eagles and four birdies to put him under severe pressure, McIlroy proved that he’s the real deal with a sensational final round performance.

“It was tough today, especially when seeing Tiger make a charge, seeing him post 10 under," said McIlroy afterwards. "You know, I knew par golf would probably be good enough today and that’s what I was trying to do. To shoot one-under-par in these conditions when you go into the final round in the lead is very nice and I was just able to get the job done.

“My short game all week has been very good, and it’s what you need on a tough golf course like this. You’re not going to hit every green and when you do put yourself in a bit of bother you need to get yourself up and down and I did that, especially on 15 and 17 when I needed to make pars there.

“My short game has felt great all week and it definitely save me out there today.”

World number three Lee Westwood had taken the clubhouse lead on eight under just moments before Woods when he hit an eagle and seven birdies in a superb 63. But McIlroy responded brilliantly to the pressure as the weather gods smiled on him and the severe winds died down as if to pay him their respects during the final two hours of play.

As Woods birdied the 17th and then holed an eight footer from just off the 18th for eagle and punched the air, McIlroy immediately responded to the huge roar by following a bogey at the 12th by holing an eight footer of his own for birdie at the 13th to go two clear on 12 under.

In trouble at the 14th, the Ulsterman holed a clutch four footer for par to remain two clear entering the dreaded Bear Trap stretch of holes from the 15th to the 17th that cost Pádraig Harrington five shots as he crashed to a 79.

Even Jack Nicklaus feared for McIlroy, when he said: “I’d rather be in Tiger’s position than Rory’s.” But the Irish star held firm, splashing out to six feet from sand left of the 15th before draining the putt to remain two ahead.

After safely negotiating the 16th in regulation, he bunkered his tee shot at the 190-yard 17th but feathered his recovery to three and a half feet to save par. He then kept his calm to secure a par at the par-five 18th to take the tournament and the world’s top spot.

Woods needed just 21 ranking events to climb to the top of the game at just 21 years, five months and 17 days in June 1997. But while McIlroy did it in his 115th official start last night, his feat was hailed by Harrington as a just reward for a kid who deserves comparison with Woods.

After crashing to a 79 that left him near the back of the field on nine over, Harrington said: “It’s a fantastic achievement. He was always destined to be a great player and over the last few years he has improved a lot and tidied up his short game and his putting.

“He’s getting himself in contention and that is where you learn. Some losses along the way have toughened him up because while winning is a habit and a good habit to have, you learn a lot more about your game when you come close and sit there on a Sunday evening reflecting on a disappointment.

“The great thing about golf is that there are no age barriers. A guy in his 40s can make it to world number one and so can a guy in his early 20s. It’s a fantastic game, nothing to do with age.

“Is it fair to compare him with Tiger? Why not?. They have achieved similar things at a similar age.”

McIlroy began the day with a two-shot lead over rookie Harris English and 43-year-old journeyman Gillis thanks to an impressive third round 66 in high winds.

Fearing thunderstorms and high winds, officials brought forward yesterday’s tee-times, sending players off in threeballs from both the first and 10th tees.

Their worst fears were confirmed just 70 minutes after the start when an approaching thunderstorm forced play to be suspended for one hour and 50 minutes.

Dressed all in white, McIlroy soon realised that his hoped-for victory march was going to be a gritty slog as winds gusting over 25mph whipped across the course.

As players struggled in the conditions, Woods scorched to within four shots of McIlroy’s lead when he played his first 11 holes in five under par. McIlroy had started nervously, barely hitting an iron 200 yards off the first after being distracted by a photographer.

He just narrowly failed to make birdie from 10 feet but a 10 foot par save at the second settled him down.

After failing to make birdie from 15 feet at the downwind, par-five third, McIlroy soon realised that Tiger was on the prowl. The American eagled the third from 27 feet, then birdied the par-three fifth and seventh holes from just 10 feet to close to within five of McIlroy as they crossed paths where the fourth and ninth tees converge.

US fans took huge delight in the Sunday charge by a red-shirted Woods with one bellowing “Here he comes, don’t look behind you!” in McIlroy’s face as he made his way to the tee.

Out in 31, Woods would pick up another shot at the 11th to get to within four of McIlroy. But the Ulsterman showed huge character to move clear of the field again. After a seven-foot par save at the fifth, he drained a crucial 12 footer for another par after going into deep grass right of the seventh.

As Woods birdied the 11th to get within four shots on seven under, McIlroy birdied the eighth from nine feet to turn two clear.

Graeme McDowell fired a final round 69 to finish tied for eighth on five under and hailed his pal’s rise to the top. Licking his lips at the thought of what the Majors might bring us this year, he said: “This golf season just got a lot more spicy.”