• US Open, Round Four

Majestic McIlroy wins with performance for the ages

Rory McIlroy with the US Open trophy © Getty Images

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US Open Round Four Gallery
Round Four - What They Said
Round Four - Plays of the Day

Rory McIlroy finished off one of the most impressive performances in major championship history to win the US Open by a staggering eight shots on Sunday.

The 22-year-old from Northern Ireland banished memories of his meltdown at The Masters just over two months ago with another remarkable round at Congressional Country Club, making a birdie on the very first hole and never looking back on the way to an emphatic triumph - finishing a record 16-under par for the tournament.

His tally of 268 shots was also the lowest in the 116-year history of the US Open, while his winning margin has only previously been bettered by Tiger Woods' 15-shot demolition at Pebble Beach 11 years ago. He is also the youngest winner of the 116-year event since Bobby Jones Jnr, way back in 1923.

"I couldn't be happier," McIlroy said afterwards. "I know how good Tiger was in 2000 to win by 15 at Pebble, and I was trying to go out there today and emulate him in some way.

"I played great for four days and I couldn't be happier.

"Augusta was a very valuable experience for me. I knew what I needed to do today to win and at Augusta I learned a few things about myself and my game, and I put a few different things into practice and it paid off."

From the very first hole McIlroy looked in control of his emotions and his game, finding the fairway off the tee and rolling in a twelve-footer for an opening birdie to immediately calm the nerves.

Another shot was picked up at the fourth, even as he missed out on a number of other good opportunities on the front nine. But the back nine started with perhaps the crucial shot of the day - as McIlroy fired his tee-shot at the par-three 10th to all of five inches from the hole.

Where McIlroy had seen his challenge at Augusta National fall apart after a wayward drive on the 10th, this time the tap-in birdie he left himself seemed to provide the cue for the thousands of supporters witnessing his feats to begin their victory applause.

McIlroy was not without his breaks, however - most notably at the sixth, where he made a heavy contact with a straightforward wedge shot, only to see it climb over the water at the front of the green by a matter of inches - but despite that he never left anybody in any doubt that he was the pre-eminent player in the field from almost the first hole of the opening day.

From there it was a matter of consolidating, with a bogey on the 11th followed by an important five-footer to save par at the next. With a nine-shot cushion there was no need for McIlroy to take any risks, and that he did as he regularly deferred to a long iron off each tee.

Despite finding the fairway bunker he managed to pick up a straightforward birdie at the par-five 16th - reaching 17-under for the tournament - but that was handed back at the very next as he three-putted for the first time in the event.

Nevertheless McIlroy took a healthy eight shot advantage down the last, and he made sure to take in the rapturous applause of the crowds as he safely negotiated the 72nd and final hole of the tournament.

A perfectly-weighted lag putt from all of 60 feet left him with nothing more than five inches to secure victory, and that he did to spark wild celebrations with his father, Gerry.

With McIlroy on such form second place became little more than a pub quiz question of the future (much like Miguel Angel Jimenez in 2000), but Jason Day held his nerve to take that dubious honour.

The Australian secured the runners-up spot for the second major in succession after a similarly impressive performance at The Masters, carding a round of 68 that impressively contained no bogeys to finish eight-under for the tournament.

Jason Day and the rest of the field were blown away © Getty Images

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YE Yang strolled home in a tie for third, the South Korean making three shots against par in the first ten holes before letting them slip away on the back nine. His final round 71 was nevertheless good enough to slip in behind Day alongside three others.

Lee Westwood began the day nine behind McIlroy but immediately sounded his intent with a birdie at the first. Unfortunately further advances were not forthcoming, and a bogey at the par-five sixth after finding water and missing a short putt effectively ended his challenge.

The Englishman soldiered on, however, eventually carding a round of 70 after a masterful up-and-down at the last for a six-under total to secure yet another top-five finish at a major championship.

The low American of the event was surprise package Kevin Chappell, who cruised round beneath the radar with a 66 to finish six-under and sneak into the top five. He was then joined at the mark by Robert Garrigus, who made three birdies in his final four holes on the way to a back nine of 31 and round of 70 for the day.

Sergio Garcia was in the hunt for second throughout - even holing from off the green on 13th - but ultimately his putter failed him, with a three-putt at the 18th seeing him sign for a 70, five-under for the tournament alongside Peter Hanson (67).

Current major champions Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel finished inside the top ten after final rounds of 66 and 65 respectively, while defending champion Graeme McDowell acquitted himself respectably with a final round of 69 to finish two-under over.

Next year's American Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III finished at three-under after his third round of 70 in four days.

Robert Rock capped off an eventful week with an impressive final round of 68, enough to finish one-over for the tournament and sit inside the top 25 on his first appearance in the event.

Of the other notable players lower down the field, Luke Donald closed with a decent round of 69 to finish narrowly inside the top 50 at five-over. Martin Kaymer finished three-over after a final 71, while Padraig Harrington was two shots worse off after a 73.

Phil Mickelson finished seven-over for the tournament after a level-par final round, alongside Matteo Manassero who had a 72.

Meanwhile, low amateur honours went to Patrick Cantlay, as the 19-year-old closed with a final round of 72 to finish level and see off last year's honoree Russell Henley, who finished four-over in another impressive performance after a final round 75.

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