McIlroy wins Match Play Championship

RoryMcIlroy - Cropped

Rory McIlroy cruised to a 4 and 2 win over Gary Woodland in the WGC-Cadillac Match Play Championship final on Sunday.

The Northern Irishman, who outlasted Paul Casey through 22 holes in his quarter-final earlier in the day, holed five birdies in the final at TPC Harding Park.

It marked McIlroy's 10th PGA Tour win.

McIlroy and Woodland traded birdies at the first hole and the players were level through three after both bogeyed the next two.

Woodland produced a third straight bogey to fall behind after four, and McIlroy took control from there.

The world number one, who also survived a scare against Billy Horschel in the group stages, managed three consecutive birdies to hold a 4-up lead.

McIlroy stumbled slightly on the back nine - a bogey on the 11th and Woodland birdie on the 12th saw his lead reduced to 2-up.

Woodland missed a short putt on the 13th to get within one and a bogey at the 14th would prove costly and end any chance he had of a fightback.

McIlroy was forced to be out on course at 0645 local time (1345 GMT) to finish his quarter-final with Casey, but his long day was worth it as he capped off yet another victory.

Author(s)