Rory McIlroy shot a bogey-free 68 on Sunday and then beat Xander Schauffele in a playoff to claim his 18th career PGA Tour title at the WGC-HSBC Champions.
McIlroy finished his final day in Shanghai, China with 14 pars and four birdies to reach 19-under par and tie defending champion Schauffele for the 72-hole lead.
On the first overtime hole (No. 18), McIlroy made birdie to win his fourth title of the 2019 calendar year.
It was McIlroy’s first win of the 2019-20 PGA Tour season, and moves the 30-year old Northern Irishman to No. 1 in the FedExCup standings.
This week’s Winner’s Circle is powered by Taylormade Golf Store.
Pro-File
Nationality: Northern Ireland
Height: 5′ 9″
Weight: 165 lb
Birthdate: May 4, 1989 (age 30)
Native: Holywood, County Down, N.I.
Resides: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Primary Sponsor: Nike
Equipment: Taylormade
Video: Final-Round Highlights
Credit: PGA Tour Youtube
Final Top 5
Pos-Player-To Par (Final Rd)
1. Rory McIlroy -19 (-4)
2. Xander Schauffele -19 (-6)
3. Louis Oosthuizen -17 (-3)
4. Matthias Schwab -15 (-6)
4. Victor Perez -15 (-6)
4. Abraham Ancer -15 (-5)
Top-3 Payouts
Pos-Player (Winnings)
1. Rory McIlroy ($1,745,000)
2. Xander Schauffele ($1,095,000)
3. Louis Oosthuizen ($602,000)
Early Rounds
ROUND 1
Pos-Player-To Par
1. Haotong Li -8
2. Victor Perez -7
7. Rory McIlroy -5
ROUND 2
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 2)
1. Matthew Fitzpatrick -11 (-5)
2. Rory McIlroy -10 (-5)
3. Xander Schauffele -9 (-3)
3. Sungjae Im -9 (-3)
3. Adam Scott -9 (-3)
ROUND 3
Pos-Player-To Par (Rd 3)
1. Rory McIlroy -15 (-5)
2. Louis Oosthuizen -14 (-7)
3. Xander Schauffele -14 (-4)
3. Matthew Fitzpatrick -14 (-4)
Rory McIlroy’s Winning Numbers
Topline Stats:
Fairways: 24/56, 42.9% (74th)
Greens: 38/72, 52.8% (70th)
Putts/GIR: 70/1.605 (8th)
Scoring:
Par-3: -5 (5 Birdies, 11 Pars, 0 Bogeys)
Par-4: -6 (10 Birdies, 26 Pars, 4 Bogeys)
Par-5: -8 (1 Eagle, 7 Birdies, 7 Pars, 1 Bogey)
Total: -19 (1 Eagle, 22 Birdies, 44 Pars, 5 Bogeys)
Points & Money
The victory earned McIlroy $1,745,000 and 550 FedExCup points. He will move to No. 1 on both the points and money lists. Additionally, he earned 60 OWGR points and will solidify his slot at No. 2 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
WITB: Rory McIlroy
Driver: TaylorMade M5 (9°)
5 Wood: TaylorMade M5 (19°)
Utility: TaylorMade P790 UDI (2-iron)
Irons: TM P750 Tour (3 & 4), P730 (5-9)
Wedges: TM Milled Grind (48°), Hi-Toe (52°, 54°, 60°)
Putter: TM Spider X Copper
Ball: TM TP5
Hat/Apparel: Nike
McIlroy’s 2019-20 PGA Tour Season
Starts: 2
Cuts Made: 2
Wins: 1 (WGC-HSBC Champions)
Addtl Top 10s: 1 (Zozo Championship)
Money: $2,310,500 (1st)
FedExCup: 713 (1st)
World Rank Before/After: 2/2
McIlroy’s Career Victories
PGA Tour: 18
2019 WGC-HSBC Champions
2019 TOUR Championship
2019 RBC Canadian Open
2019 PLAYERS Championship
2018 Arnold Palmer Invitational
2016 Tour Championship
2016 Deutsche Bank Championship (2)
2015 Wells Fargo Championship (2)
2015 WGC-Cadillac Match Play
2014 PGA Championship (2)
2014 WGC-Bridgestone Invitational
2014 The Open Championship
2012 BMW Championship
2012 Deutsche Bank Championship
2012 PGA Championship
2012 The Honda Classic
2011 U.S. Open
2010 Quail Hollow Championship
European Tour (Pure): 7
2016 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open
2015 Omega Dubai Desert Classic
2015 DP World Tour Championship, Dubai
2014 BMW PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
2012 DP World Tour Championship
2011 UBS Hong Kong Open
2009 Dubai Desert Classic
Exit Question
Q. Is that what sport is about?
RORY McILROY: It is what sport is about. Xander pushed me the whole way, or all 73 holes we played together this week. We played every round, and one more, as well. He played great. He was battling a few all week, wasn’t feeling his best, and so the caliber of golf he played this week, it takes some doing.
I don’t want to take anything away from him. He birdied the last to get into the playoff, and then I produced two of the best shots of the day when I needed it, which was really cool.
Credit: PGA Tour Media, Getty Images
