Pebble Beach looked as stunning as always, and Rory McIlroy was playing just as impressively.
The blend of one of golf’s top stars and one of the country’s most beautiful courses was exactly what the PGA Tour needed, and both McIlroy and Pebble Beach delivered in full during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Sunday.
McIlroy played flawlessly, hitting two crucial birdies as he turned toward the back nine, setting the stage for a big move. On the 14th hole, he pulled off a brilliant shot, smashing a drive over a tree down the fairway, leaving himself with just a 7-iron to cover the 571-yard distance, which set him up for an eagle.
Sepp Straka, another contender, noted the difference in their shots: “We both hit 7 there. His was a 7-iron, mine was a 7-wood.”
From there, it was all about cruising to the finish. McIlroy played the final holes without any pressure, savoring the beautiful day with just enough of a lead to make the 18th a relaxing walk to victory. He finished with a par on the final hole, shooting a 6-under 66 to secure a two-shot win over his fellow Irishman, Shane Lowry.
Rory McIlroy shared, “Some golf courses hold a special place in our game, and that’s often because of the history behind them, the champions who’ve won there, and the impact those players have had on the sport of golf.”
“I’ve come close at places like St. Andrews and Augusta National,” Rory McIlroy said. “So to finally win at one of these iconic courses is incredible.”
On a day when six players shared the lead at different points, McIlroy took control for good with a clutch 6-iron from the bunker, setting up an 18-foot birdie putt on the 10th hole, which was played into a strong wind off the Pacific. He then followed that up with a brilliant 7-iron to 8 feet on the par-3 12th, making another birdie to extend his lead to two strokes.
The 14th hole proved to be the turning point, effectively sealing the win as McIlroy kept his three-shot lead. He finished strong, hitting a 5-iron off the tee and clinching the victory, adding the 27th PGA Tour win of his career to his resume.
Among active players, only Tiger Woods (82 wins) and Phil Mickelson (45 wins) have more Tour victories than McIlroy. Interestingly, Mickelson was also 35 when he earned his 27th win.
Shane Lowry lost his share of the lead after sending his second shot over a cliff to the right of the par-5 sixth hole. However, he bounced back with a strong 31 on the back nine, including a birdie on the 18th, finishing with a 68 to claim second place.
Lucas Glover (67) and Justin Rose (68) were another shot behind, while Sepp Straka, who started the final round with a one-shot lead, shot a 72 and tied for seventh.
Lowry acknowledged McIlroy’s performance, saying, “I always believe that when Rory McIlroy brings his ‘A’ game, he’s nearly impossible to beat.”
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who had been sidelined by minor hand surgery after injuring himself while making ravioli, closed with a 67 and tied for ninth.
McIlroy, inspired by Scheffler’s ability to minimize mistakes, played with more caution this week, reigning in his aggressive style. He made just one bogey over the weekend, even in the challenging, cold, and windy conditions on Saturday.
McIlroy has mentioned that this is an important year for him, with a focus on key events from April through September, including his 11th attempt to complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters, a return to Northern Ireland for the British Open, and a road Ryder Cup at Bethpage.
McIlroy was pleased with his start to the season, calling it “a really cool way to begin.” Winning always adds to the satisfaction, but this week was extra special with a hole-in-one at Spyglass Hill in the opening round and his first-ever round at Cypress Point.
Now, he heads back to Florida with another trophy and plenty of momentum for what he hopes will be a successful year.
The sixth hole helped shake up the leaderboard a bit, as consecutive players struggled. Justin Rose hit his tee shot over the cliff, and Tom Kim’s second shot veered off toward the ocean. Shane Lowry, in the final group, also ended up with a bogey there.
But McIlroy really looked like the player to beat from the very beginning, especially after an impressive pitch on the second hole. From 50 yards, he hit a tricky shot over a bunker, landing it perfectly to set up a 2-foot birdie putt.
After his only bogey on the challenging eighth hole, McIlroy took control and pulled ahead, leaving the rest of the field scrambling in vain.
Lucas Glover praised McIlroy’s consistency, saying, “When he’s on, he’s unstoppable. And even when he’s not at his best, he’s still solid. That’s why he has so many wins and majors. It was an impressive round, especially with the pressure and tough conditions.”
McIlroy claimed his second signature victory, following his win at Quail Hollow last year, earning $3.6 million. He finished at 21-under 267, just one stroke shy of the tournament record.
Shane Lowry kept the pressure on McIlroy for a while, staying close until he missed a 7-foot birdie putt on the 17th that could have cut the lead to two. However, Lowry’s final birdie helped him secure $2.16 million for second place.