PALM BEACH GARDENS (Florida): Rory McIlroy won the US PGA Tour’s Honda Classic on Sunday, holding off a hard-charging Tiger Woods to claim golf’s world number one ranking.
Northern Ireland’s McIlroy carded a one-under par 69 for 12-under 268, keeping his nerve after Woods – who started the day nine adrift – surged to the clubhouse lead with an eight-under par 62 that eventually left the 14-time major champion tied for second place with Tom Gillis on 10-under 270.
Woods, the former world number one who hasn’t won a tour level event in more than two years, delivered the lowest final round of his career, firing two eagles and four birdies without a bogey to put the heat on McIlroy.
His birdie-eagle finish briefly moved him within one shot of McIlroy, who promptly responded with the second of his two birdies by sinking an eight-footer at the 13th hole.
McIlroy made a series of clutch par saves, and with a two-shot lead at the 18th tee laid up for a textbook par at the par-five finishing hole.
The victory that will see him supplant England’s Luke Donald at the top when the new rankings are announced.
At 22 years old, McIlroy became the second-youngest player, behind Woods, to claim the number one ranking. Woods was 21 when he first reached number one, after the 1997 US Open.
“It was tough today, especially seeing Tiger make a charge,” McIlroy said. “I knew par golf would probably be good enough today, that’s what I was trying to do… I was just able to get the job done.”
Woods was in sole possession of second place until Gillis, a journeyman who began the round tied for second two shots back, birdied the final hole to join him on 270.
McIlroy earned the fifth official victory of his career. Three of those are US PGA Tour victories, including his record-setting US Open triumph at Congressional last year. Two others came on the European Tour.
Since the PGA Championship last August McIlroy has finished outside the top five just once, when he was ill at the Dubai World Championship in December.
He had to call on all his reserves this time. (Agencies)