Rory McIlroy exorcised two demons at the same time after winning the Tour Championship and FedEx Cup title for the second time in four years to pocket the US dollars 15million (£12.3million) first prize in Atlanta.
McIlroy carded a closing 66 at East Lake to finish 18 under par, four shots ahead of American Xander Schauffele.
World number one Brooks Koepka, who held a one-shot lead after the completion of the delayed third round, ran up a double bogey on the seventh and carded a hat-trick of bogeys on the back nine to slip into a tie for third with Justin Thomas.
One big exhale and an even bigger smile. 😄 Respect for @McIlroyRory after the win.#LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/70PYC6as93 — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2019
A year ago McIlroy played alongside Tiger Woods in the final round as the 15-time major winner was victorious at East Lake and just weeks he ago he partnered Koepka on the last day of the WGC-FedEx St Jude Invitational, carding a 71 to the American's closing 65.
"I didn't enjoy that walk last year like everyone else did, I played terribly," admitted McIlroy, who joins Woods as the only two-time FedEx Cup winners. "I got myself in the final group and never took the fight to Tiger.
"Going up against the number one player in the world today, he got one over on me in Memphis and I wanted to sort of try to get some revenge today so to play like that alongside Brooks and get the win, win the FedEx Cup it's awesome.
"It's amazing how different things can be in a year."
The ultimate ending to an unbelievable year. 🏆@McIlroyRory has won the 2019 @PlayoffFinale, becoming a #FedExCup champion for the second time. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/CKJiZo1JFE — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2019
McIlroy began the week by questioning the radical format which saw the player with the most FedEx Cup points after the BMW Championship (Thomas) starting on 10 under par.
The second-highest points earner began at eight under, the third-ranked player at seven under and so on, on a sliding scale down to the players in 26th to 30th who started on level par.
McIlroy started on five under par and could therefore have shot the lowest 72-hole score and still not have won the title, but in the end his total of 13 under was the best in the field by three.
"My goal today was to go and shoot the lowest score of the week," McIlroy added. "I made those two bogeys on 14 and 15 and a huge par save on 16 and then was able to birdie the last two.
Mic drop? 👊🎤 The lead is 3 for @McIlroyRory. #LiveUnderPar pic.twitter.com/AvZrTlkjyQ — PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) August 25, 2019
"Such a cool way to end what has been for me a great season. I'll look back on this season and there's been a lot of good things I've done and I'll try to improve again for next year.
"I've given myself so many chances. To win three times is awesome. I feel like I could have won more but to win the FedEx Cup again, to keep giving myself chances even when I was getting knocked back, I'm very proud of myself and I'm going to enjoy this one tonight."
McIlroy began the final round a shot behind playing partner Koepka and both men opened with five straight pars before making a birdie on the par-five sixth, but the turning point came at the next as Koepka made a double bogey following a lost ball off the tee and McIlroy holed from 20 feet for birdie.
Koepka responded superbly to birdie the next as McIlroy enjoyed a major stroke of luck when his pulled approach hit a tuft of grass on the edge of a drain and stopped short of the water.
Birdies on the 12th and 13th took McIlroy four shots clear and although he bogeyed the next two holes and had to hole from eight feet on 16 to avoid an unwanted hat-trick, McIlroy effectively sealed victory with a birdie on the 17th and rounded off the week in style with another on the par-five 18th.
