LOUISVILLE, Ky. – “Rory’s Glory.” That was the headline on the cover of The Courier-Journal, the metro newspaper for Louisville and southern Indiana.
Rory McIlroy won the 96th PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club last night. It’s his second PGA victory, his second consecutive major and his third consecutive win spanning the last month.
All things seem possible for the 25-year-old Northern Irishman after winning four majors so young, putting his name in the same sentence with golf greats Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods.
Rory won this one in a new way. He relinquished the lead early, as several able players charged up the leaderboard. Holding the solo lead on the back nine, Rickie Fowler looked as if he was poised to win his first major. Phil Mickelson also played inspired golf and held a share of the lead late in the day.
But Rory, at his best, is better than the rest. His length off the tee, his timely putting and his resoluteness were the difference on the back nine of a final round played in hurry-up mode.
I’m driving home from Louisville today. I had a great week at Valhalla, my first PGA Championship as a media member. In addition to Rory’s performance, I’ll remember the rain, sitting in on press conferences and talking to golf journalists and broadcasters. I’ll remember the fans, too. They were into it.
Something special always seems to happen at Valhalla.