If ever there was a stage fit for a command performance from a leading actor then it was Pebble Beach for Rory McIlroy on Sunday night.
With a dominant display which promises so much for his season, the Northern Irishman blew away the best the PGA Tour has to offer in the AT&T Pro-Am with a statement victory at the iconic layout. “Some people would argue that the golf courses I have won on are not up to a Pebble Beach or an Augusta or whatever but to win at one of the cathedrals of golf is really cool,” McIlroy said.
Shane Lowry, his countryman and friend from the days when they played together for the senior Irish amateur team as mere teenagers, chucked everything that Co Offaly had to throw at him, but, in this mood and in this inimitable rhythm, McIlroy was impervious.
With a 66, McIroy lifted his 27th PGA Tour title by posting a 21-under total that was two clear of Lowry (68). But it felt so much more substantial. “I’m glad Shane birdied the last to take outright second,” McIlroy said. “We’ll fly home to Florida tonight and it will make the journey so much more enjoyable.”
The first prize of $4 million (£3.25 million) was but the trimming on the garlands for the world No 3 after what was probably his most notable victory in almost two years. The eye-opening run continues into what will soon be the meat of the campaign.
This is McIlroy’s second victory in three starts, having won on his last appearance in 2024 at the DP World Tour Championship and then finishing fourth on his seasonal bow in Dubai three weeks ago.
In his last seven outings, he has won twice and notched a pair of runners-up finishes. He is flying and even Scottie Scheffler, the undisputed world No 1, had to bow in his first tournament of the year, with a tie for ninth, six behind.
Because of the LIV Golf split the world rankings are not what they were, but there were still 27 of the top 30 rankings in the field on the Monterey Peninsula and with five birdies, an eagle and just the one bogey in tricky conditions, McIlroy lengthened away in a nonchalant style that was reminiscent of the glory days when, in his mid-20s, he picked up four majors seemingly with as little stress as there was industry.
Indeed, when McIlroy made the decisive three on the par-five 14th to all but confirm his glory in one of the PGA Tour’s ‘Signature Events’ it was tantamount to peering back in time when nobody appeared his ball-striking equal.
The 35-year-old took such a ridiculous angle over the trees to find the fairway, Pythagoras would have swooned. It travelled 350 yards and from the middle of that fairway, way out yonder, he hit a seven-iron from a little over 200 yards to within 20 feet. When the putt dropped, the door slammed on his rivals.
What had been a bunched leaderboard, suddenly became a procession as he birdied the next courtesy of a 100-yard wedge to three feet. McIlroy was back to playing PlayStation golf again.
Lucas Glover, the former US Open champion who finished in a tie for third with England’s Justin Rose, summed up the feeling in California.
“When Rory’s good, he’s great and when he’s not great, he’s really, really good,” Glover said. “Probably one of the best to ever play. He’s hitting it maybe further than he ever has and hitting it better than he ever has. First week out on our Tour and he looks like he’s dominating. Good for him.”
On the DP World Tour in Bahrain, England’s Laurie Canter won his second title when capitalising on Pablo Larrazabal’s three-putt on the 18th.
The Spaniard’s error gave Canter and compatriot Dan Brown berths in a play-off at the Bapco Energies Championship and with a nine iron to four feet on the first extra hole, Canter took the £345,000 first prize. The former LIV man is on the brink of the world’s top 50 and within sight of a Masters debut.
