Rory McIlroy retains the title and regains his place as the best player on the planet, after his victory in the CJ Cup. This is the ninth time in ten years that the Northern Irishman has dominated the world golf rankings.

Rory McIlroy returns to the top by winning the CJ Cup

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The final stages of Rory McIlroy's long road to the world No. 1 spot are written on his scorecard like bogeys, which made him laugh. All that mattered on Sunday was winning the CJ Cup in South Carolina, and it brought tears to his eyes.

Rory McIlroy regained the number 1 spot for the ninth time in ten years, beating the American Kurt Kitayama, despite a scare at the end with a three-stroke bogey from the epilogue which sealed the victory of the Northern Irish, one step ahead with a final card of 67.

More than the ranking, it was the realization of how far he's come with so much behind-the-scenes support that made his voice choked slightly with emotion.

“That tournament last year was the start of an attempt to rebuild me to that goal”, said Rory McIlroy. “I had a really tough Ryder Cup. I think I was outside the top 10 in the world – not a position I'm used to being in. »

Rory McIlroy lost 1-3 at the Ryder Cup. He has been outside the top 10 for 15 consecutive weeks, the longest stretch of his career since reaching the top spot ten years ago. For a player of his caliber, it made him feel like he was further behind than he really was.

"I'm just thinking about the steady climb to the top of world golf and what to do", did he declare. “And it's not just about me, but everyone on my team. I think of everyone who has made a difference in my life, not in the last 12 months, but always. »

In the ropes, it was all spitting McIlroy.

Tied with Kitayama five holes from the end at Congaree, Rory McIlroy chained three consecutive birdies to take control. A 5-iron shot from 207 meters from 4,5 meters from the flag was decisive on the par-3 of the 14th, the fifth birdie only on this hole during the last round.

“I think the birdie on 14 was really decisive… the birdie on 14 was important”, said McIlroy. That moment was followed by another crucial moment on the 15th with a drive from 318 yards, where he posted a birdie and Kitayama made three-putts for par from 12 yards.

McIlroy followed with a birdie putt from 6 yards out on the 16th.

Rory McIlroy, who won the CJ Cup at -17 to 267 overall, and won the title for the 23rd time on the PGA Tour and signed his 31st victory overall.

It is the ninth time that he has reached the world No. spot, behind Tiger Woods and Greg Norman (both at 11) who have reached the top of the rankings the most times.

It seems to have been a long time coming.

He won the CJ Cup for the second time in a row. This South Korean tournament was held in Las Vegas last year, when McIlroy was world No. 14.

So began his rise to the top spot, with victories at the Canadian Open and the Tour Championship to claim the FedEx Cup, and with the help of Scottie Scheffler slowing down his meteoric rise at the Masters. .

“I have worked so hard over the last 12 months to get back to this level”, said Rory McIlroy. “I feel like I'm enjoying the game like I never have. I was playing with that joy and it definitely showed over the past few months. »

“It's a great achievement. I'm really proud of myself right now. »

McIlroy was number 1 when golf halted for three months at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he lost the ranking to Jon Rahm when the Spaniard won the Memorial in the middle of July in 2020 .

Scheffler finished mid-table at Congaree, meaning Rory McIlroy could have been runners-up and reclaimed the No. 1 rank. He wanted the trophy, and it was harder than he imagined.

Rory McIlroy had a one-stroke lead going into the final round and was never left behind, although he didn't have it easy until he headed to the 18th green, and even it gave him cold sweats. He had a two-stroke lead and made a 12-yard putt 2 yards from the hole, while Kitayama had a 6-yard putt for the birdie. They both missed.

Rahm, who was coming off a victory at the Spanish Open, tied McIlroy three times while playing in the group ahead of him. Rahm was still in the game until his tee shot on the long par-3 14th hole got stuck in the face of the bunker, which bogeyed him.

He finished with 69 and is tied for fourth place.

The real threat was Kitayama, a three-time winner in Asia and Europe. The 29-year-old Californian rallied from a two-shot deficit early in the game and was tied for the lead until Rory McIlroy got the upper hand with big putts and he couldn't respond.

Kitayama played bogey-free and finished with a 67 for his third runner-up spot since joining the PGA Tour last year, behind McIlroy, Xander Schauffele in Scotland and Rahm in Mexico. He won $1.

"It's a tough group of guys to beat", said Kitayama. “I just have to keep improving. »

KH Lee shot a 68 and tied for third, with Rahm and Tommy Fleetwood (65) one shot behind.

Rory McIlroy has won three times this year, with a 62 at the Canada Open to beat Tony Finau and Justin Thomas, with a 66 at the Tour Championship to beat Scheffler, and a 67 at Congaree despite two closing bogeys, just enough to celebrate two great moments.

Another trophy and, finally, another trip to the pinnacle of golf.

Rory McIlroy returns to the top by winning the CJ Cup

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