Rory McIlroy Wins The Open Championship
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Stuary Franklin/Getty Images(MERSEYSIDE, England) — Rory McIlroy held on to win the 2014 Open Championship on Sunday to capture the third leg of the career Grand Slam.
McIlroy, 25, led by six shots heading into the final round. The lead was down to two shots at one point, but he wound up closing with a 1-under 71 for a two-stroke victory over Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler.
“It feels incredible,” McIlroy said. “Today wasn’t easy. A few guys were making runs at me. I just needed to stay focused and stay in the present and really concentrate on what I was doing out there.”
After winning the 2011 U.S. Open and the 2012 PGA Championship, McIlroy joined Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as the only players with three different majors at age 25 or younger.
Woods shot a final-round 75 to tie for 69th, capping off his worst 72-hole finish in a major as a pro.
“I just had to get more game time,” Woods said. “I think we did the smart thing by not playing too much leading into this event, just want to assess how my back was. And where I need to strengthen, how I need to go about it, how to gain my explosiveness again, and all that’s come along.”
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