Rory McIlroy took a thinly-veiled swipe at rebel series chief Greg Norman after hitting a superb final round of 62 to retain his RBC Canadian Open title.
McIlroy, who started the day in a share of the lead with Tony Finau, hit 10 birdies in his eight-under-par round to finish two shots clear of the American on 19 under and land his 21st PGA Tour crown.
That is one more than Norman, the CEO of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series, whose maiden tournament finished on Saturday. The PGA Tour has suspended its members who teed off in the event at Centurion Club.
“This is a day I’ll remember for a long, long time,” McIlroy said on CBS after his victory at St George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto.
“Twenty first PGA Tour win, one more than someone else, that gave me a little extra incentive today and happy to get it done.”
Finau closed with a 64, as did Justin Thomas, who was third on 15 under, while Justin Rose hit the best round of the day, a 10-under 60 earning him a share of fourth place, a shot further back.
McIlroy finished with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th, having dropped shots at the 13th and 16th.
He added: “It’s incredible, playing with Tony and JT (Thomas) today, two of the top players in the world and all of just playing the way we did.”
Victory was the Northern Irishman’s first of the year and he said: “I think after Covid I just needed a complete reset, sort of rededicated myself to the game a little bit, sort of realised what made me happy and this makes me happy.”
Rose, who finished in a tie for fourth with Sam Burns, had been on track to break 60 only to bogey the last in a round which featured three eagles and seven birdies.
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