PEBBLE BEACH — After perhaps the most turbulent first three rounds in the field, Rory McIlroy finally discovered consistency Sunday.
Playing in the first group on the first hole, the defending AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am titlist and World No. 2, finished with an 8-under 64 and at 17 under.
McIlroy’s eight-birdie, no-bogey round countered his earlier smorgasbord play.
He tallied one eagle, six birdies and two double bogeys at Spyglass Hill Golf Course for an opening-round 68. In the second round, McIlroy carded a 67 at Pebble Beach with one eagle, five birdies and two bogeys.
McIlroy began the third round six shots behind leader Akshay Bhatia. But he again found trouble at Pebble Beach. He combined one triple bogey, one double bogey, one bogey and six birdies for a 72. He began the fourth round 10 shots off the lead.
“I struck my irons well, drove it well for the most part,” said McIlroy, assessing his week. “There were a couple of destructive shots yesterday, but everything feels in pretty good shape.”
“I wish I could have those four holes back this week. I played 68 really good ones and even if you turn those three doubles into bogeys and that triple into a bogey, that’s five shots and all of a sudden you’re looking at having a three-shot lead.”
McIlroy completed the career grand slam last April when he won the Masters, his 29th PGA Tour title.
“I was trying to get the sloppy stuff out of the way, which I feel like I did,” McIlroy said. “Obviously, a really solid round to play going into next week. Unless the weather gets really bad here coming up, it’s probably not going to be quite enough. But I played really well today, which is great.”
Long wait
Min Woo Lee’s lone win on the PGA Tour last season came when he defeated favored Scottie Scheffler at the Texas Children’s Open. He waited about 45 minutes Sunday before knowing he didn’t win his second time.
With a strong finish, Lee held the lead at 21 under, while winner Collin Morikawa still had three holes left.
“It was a great week,” said Lee. “Obviously, it was just shy of making the playoff but I gave it my all. I think I’m very proud of the way I handled myself today and the end of the week.
“I played a lot of good golf, which is nice, and it’s been trending, it’s been good and hopefully we can keep the form going.”
Born in Australia to South Korean parents who immigraterd in the early 1990s, Lee has five pro titles on four pro tours and finished fifth in 2023 U.S. Open.
“It’s so cliche, but I think my abilities got me past that little hump,” said Lee. “There’s times when you think a little bit too ahead and result oriented a little bit.
“Don’t focus on the process. I think I did a good job of that today. Just executed, which is great. There’s a couple shots there that were very tricky and I did my best and I’m very
happy.”
One pro about another
Sepp Straka, playing in the final threesome, praised winner Collin Morikawa.
“He’s one of the best iron players of our generation,” Straka said of Morikawa. “He’s one of the best of his generation, probably. I’m a little older than him. We’ve been out here about the same time. Yeah, it’s very impressive to watch him hit iron shots.”
Former titlists, mixed results
McIlroy’s finish was the top effort among seven for AT&T titlists in the field.
In descending years, their finishes were Wyndham Clark, the 2024 winner, finished at 6-under. Justin Rose, the 2023 winner, was 11-under, while 2022 winner Tom Hoge 17-under. Daniel Berger, the 2021 winner, finished 2-over, and 2017 winner Jordan Spieth finished at 11-under.
