US PGA: Rory McIlroy battles back at Valhalla to win his fourth major
World number one McIlroy, 25, saw his overnight one-shot lead wiped out on the front nine before taking control after the turn to win by one shot. A three-under 68 on the final day saw off Phil Mickelson, with Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson another shot adrift. The Open champion won successive majors with an overall total of 16 under par. The Northern Irishman is the third youngest player after Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus to win four of golf's biggest prizes, while he also becomes the first man to win back-to-back majors since Padraig Harrington in 2008. McIlroy's resurgence on the back nine capped an enthralling final day- delayed for almost two hours after a heavy downpour - where the identity of the winner could not be predicted until a dramatic conclusion. An ever-changing leaderboard saw an early five-way tie - between Fowler, Mickelson, McIlroy, Stenson and Bernd Wiesberger - transform into a narrow advantage for 25-year-old Fowler around the turn. Then, the competition moved into a see-saw battle with Fowler, playing partner Mickelson, Stenson and McIlroy all taking a share of the lead over the back half. But McIlroy rediscovered the mental resilience shown in his recent Open win at Hoylake to emerge as a worthy winner. After falling three shots behind Fowler after six holes, he swung the momentum back in his favour with a majestic eagle three at the 590-yard 10th. That moved him back to within a shot of Fowler, then he claimed a portion of the lead with another birdie on the 13th. And when Mickelson bogeyed the 16th, McIlroy regained the outright lead for the first time since he walked off the second green. From there, despite reduced visibility as darkness began to fall at the Kentucky course, it was McIlroy's title to lose. In a fine display of sportsmanship, Mickelson and Fowler, in the group ahead, allowed the Northern Irishman to play up behind them as he tried to beat the fading light, then waited on the side of the 18th green to applaud the new champion. Flashlights illuminated the night sky as McIlroy showed sheer relief after holing out his final putt, fist-pumping the air and celebrating on the course with his father Gerry before receiving the huge Wanamaker Trophy. McIlroy started the final day with a one-shot overnight lead and was considered by many observers as the favourite to win a second US PGA title after his previous success at Kiawah Island two years ago. However, there were signs during Saturday's third round that McIlroy was not in the same imperious form which saw him ease to victory at the Open last month. A stoic McIlroy insisted the rain delay "did not bother him" but quickly found himself adrift shortly after play resumed at 19:40 BST. The deluge brought the early starters off the sodden course, forcing a one hour 50 minute delay as water flooded the greens and fairways. Ernie Els suggested in the enforced break that play should have been postponed until Monday, but would have been glad that organisers did not heed his advice after making a blistering start. A run of four straight birdies helped the South African turn in a five-under-par 30, adding another on 11, before his slim hopes of a fifth major were finally ended with a bogey on the 17th. Meanwhile, Scotland's Marc Warren carded a 67 to finish on nine under alongside England's Lee Westwood and McIlroy's playing partner Wiesberger. The little-known Austrian surprised many to take a share of the overnight lead, but shot a 74 to be one of only two men in the top 30 to shoot over par on Sunday. England's Danny Willett was the other, scoring a 72 to finish six under, which was two shots behind Wales' Ryder Cup hopeful Jamie Donaldson, BBC informs.
