Under the minimal lights that remained in the skies at Vallhalla, McIlroy took a 2 shot lead into the 18th hole with a blind tee-shot to close out the tournament. Blind, because there was not enough light for Rory to see the fairway that he grabbed a driver to reach, and water was in play to the right. If that wasn't enough to complicate the ending for Rory, the tee-shot was anxiously taken. Rory was scheduled to sit and wait even longer as the group in front, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler had yet to even reach their balls to take an approach. Before they got the chance, Mickelson and Fowler agreed to let Rory tee off since the light was nearly gone for the day. Tournament rules typically allows for the tee-shot in the event of minimal light, but Mickelson and Fowler expected Rory to wait behind for his approach shot. For some unusual reason, the tournament officials allowed Rory to approach before the group in front finished the hole.
This seems like a small logistical error, but it might have cost Mickelson a tournament. Rory had just enough light to get a birdie putt within 3 feet, and finished it off along with the tournament. Had he been forced to wait, he would have taken his putt within 5-10 minutes of less light than he ended up receiving. Even more importantly was the tee-shot that landed way too close to that water on the right I had mentioned. Mickelson graciously declared that it didn't impact the conclusion of the tournament, but one might only wonder. Simply allowing Rory to tee-off could have been a tactical move that the tournament officials totally impeded, especially considering the extra minute or so that Mickelson and Fowler had to wait for Rory's approach.
When the light is dim and the eyes lose depth perception, every shot becomes a different kind of guessing game. Rory should have had a couple of tougher guesses than he ultimately got. It was his lack of second guessing himself, even when faced with the option to tee-off on 18 or save it for another day, that might have captured him a tournament. Rory never appeared to have a second thought about playing in the dark, and he didn't hesitate to thank the twosome in front for how classy they proved to be given an opportunity to totally screw the guy in the lead who was foolishly willing to tee-off in the dark...with a 2 shot lead no less.
And boy is he in the lead. Rory joins Tiger and Jack as the youngest players to win 4 majors (all three were 24-25 years old). He gave up a lead to start out the day, but rushed past the capable twosome that played right in front of him, and finishes this tournament having won 3 weeks in a row. Whether Tiger makes it back to capture enough victories to move past Jack is quickly becoming a page 2 story. Rory is securing his place in golf lore while most of the golf world is still taking bets on the Tiger thing.
In some ways, that might be what gives him the air to breath. Everyone knows this kid is amazing, but no one seems to want to shift the camera off of Tiger for long enough to recognize what we already know. No problem. This young man will make sure his presence is felt even if no one cares to watch his arrival. When asked to put his amazing accomplishments into perspective he said, "It's just something I'm going to have to come to terms with". No one really understand their own excellence, especially while its occurring. Even Tiger is struggling to recapture the wild feline that once roared inside of him. Your best option is to treat all of your success as simply not good enough. When you lock your sights on all-time greatness, the last victory isn't enough anymore.
Postscript: Rory most likely wins the Player of the Year award from this 3 weeks of excellence. To start the year, Henrik Stenson, who also had a chance down the stretch of this tournament, was on a Player of the Year run himself. Closing out this tournament would have reignited Stenson's name in that conversation for sure.
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Rickie Fowler, who also had a chance to capture a season ending victory (for majors) might have had the best season ever for a player who didn't win a single tournament.
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Mickelson said that he is finding his game and I believe him. If the Ryder Cup team needs an elder statesman, Phil is ready to play.
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In Rory's podium interview, it appears that he would have chosen to play the next day if he didn't get a chance to tee-off when he did. Thanks again Rickie and Phil. This stress was too much to carry into another day, and I didn't even play.
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