After a two-hour rain delay that forced the final groups to fight the darkness on the 18th hole, Rory McIlroy emerged as the 2014 PGA Championship winner, finishing at 16-under par for the event.
Just about a month ago at the U.S. Open, McIlroy finished tied for 23rd at the second major tournament of the year with a six-over par effort. Since then he's participated in the Open Championship, WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, and the PGA Championship. He finished in first place for each tournament.
Last night at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, McIlroy claimed his second major championship in a row, third tournament victory in a row, and became the fourth player in the last century of professional golf to win four majors at the age of 25 or younger, joining the likes of Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. He also became the seventh player in history to win the final two majors of the PGA season.
The summer of 2014 is one I'll never forget!! #backtobackmajors pic.twitter.com/RGsHWSWWBA
— Rory Mcilroy (@McIlroyRory) August 11, 2014
Yesterday's PGA Championship was perhaps the toughest winning effort for McIlroy in his past few tournaments. He finished 16-under par with Phil Mickelson (-15), Henrik Stenson (-14), Rickie Fowler (-14), and Jim Furyk (-12) all close behind him. Despite McIlroy's valiant performance, controversy seemed to have overshadowed his efforts as the final two groups were on the 18th hole while darkness was setting in. Many were unsure that McIlroy and Bernd Wiesberger would finish.
The way the final hole played out was considered 'odd' in terms of etiquette and protocol for the PGA of America. Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler - those in the group ahead of McIlroy and Wiesberger - were irritated with the PGA following yesterday's tournament. The two men gave PGA officials the go-ahead to allow McIlroy and Wiesberger to hit their tee shots while they were approaching the 18th green. But the PGA took it upon themselves to allow McIlroy and Wiesberger to hit their approach shots with Mickelson and Fowler on the green, which many believe played a role in the outcome of the event.
"We were cool with hitting the tee shot," said Fowler, in this ESPN article. "We weren't expecting the approach shots. Typically, if it's getting dark and they are going to the blow the horn [to suspend play], you at least get the guys off the tee and it gives them the opportunity to play. We weren't expecting the approach shots."
If the approach shots weren't granted, then McIlroy would have had to wait for the results of the group in front of him (both Mickelson and Fowler were trailing McIlroy by two strokes at the time) and it likely would have put more pressure on Rory or changed the way he was approaching the hole. Both Mickelson and Fowler reiterated that it wasn't a huge deal, but believed it was just bizarre the officials would grant the approach shots without consulting either of them. Mickelson finished in second place and Fowler finished tied for third.
You can read more about Rory McIlroy's victory at the 2014 PGA Championship in this CNN article.
