Washington - Rory McIlroy rolled in a 14-foot birdie putt at
the fourth hole of a sudden death playoff to edge Ryan Moore for the USPGA Tour
Championship and claim the $10 million FedExCup playoff bonus.
With the playoff prize and the $1.53 million winner's check,
four-time major champion McIlroy earned a total payday of $11.53 million at
East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia.
"It was incredible," said McIlroy, who with his
victory in the Deutsche Bank Championship has won $13.81 million in the
playoffs. "All I wanted to do at the start of the day was concentrate on
winning the Tour Championship. Somehow I was able to tie it up in regulation
and get into the playoff."
World number two Dustin Johnson finished tied for sixth but
after coming into the season finale atop the FedExCup standings would have
still claimed the playoff bonus if either Moore or Kevin Chappell had won the
tournament.
Chappell was eliminated at the first hole of the playoff -
the par-five 18th where McIlroy missed a six-foot eagle attempt that would have
won it all.
Moore drained a nine-foot birdie putt at the first playoff
hole and he and McIlroy returned to play 18 again, both emerging with pars, as
they did at the third playoff hole, the par-three 15th.
The fourth playoff hole took them to the par-four 16th,
where McIlroy belted a 328-yard drive. Moore had made his par-saving putt when
McIlroy stepped up and drained his 14-foot birdie attempt.
McIlroy's triumph came at the same 16th hole where he surged
into the playoff mix by holing out from 140 yards out in the fairway for eagle.
He followed that with a tap-in birdie at 18 to cap a 64 to
join Moore, who also carded a 64, and Chappell, who shot a 66, on 12-under par
268.
"I knew I needed something to happen," McIlroy
said. "I said to myself on the 15th tee, if I can finish with three threes
I'll give myself a chance.
"I didn't quite think the eagle was going to come as
soon as it did," he added. "But when something like that happens, you
have to make the most of it. The holed shots from the fairway, it is part
skill, but there's an epic part of luck in there as well, and I took advantage
of it ... A lot of things had to go right for me today, and they did.
"Everything fell into place."
England's Paul Casey also posted a 64 to finish alone on
271. Japan's Hideki Matsuyama signed for a 69 for 274.
Johnson, whose three victories this season include his first
major title at the US Open, the WGC Bridgestone and the BMW Championship two
weeks ago, started the day tied for the lead with Chappell but carded a
three-over 73 to finished tied with Justin Thomas on 275.
Moore said it was "a blast" going head to head
with McIlroy.
"It was back and forth all day," he said.
"Obviously, Chappell was playing great along the way, too. So just coming
down the stretch there, it was fun."
Chappell, who was looking for his first tour title, said his
bogey five at the 17th followed by his par five at the last were his real
downfall.
"Played those two holes in 10, probably not going to
win too often," he said. "I gave it all I had and got some good breaks,
got some bad breaks there the last couple holes. But I'm proud of the way I
fought.
"It just wasn't enough today."
Final-round scores on Sunday in the $8.5 million US PGA Tour Championship, final event in the FedExCup playoffs at East Lake in Atlanta, Georgia (x-won at 4th playoff hole, USA unless noted, par-70):
268 - x-Rory McIlroy (NIR) 68-70-66-64, Ryan Moore 70-68-66-64, Kevin Chappell 66-68-68-66
271 - Paul Casey (ENG) 68-70-69-64
274 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 66-71-68-69
275 - Justin Thomas 68-71-69-67, Dustin Johnson 66-67-69-73
276 - Adam Scott (AUS) 69-71-71-65, Jason Dufner 73-67-66-70
278 - Kim Si-Woo (KOR) 67-72-74-65, Gary Woodland 72-70-69-67, Bubba Watson 72-73-66-67, Emiliano Grillo (ARG) 73-70-66-69, Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 74-67-66-71
279 - Daniel Berger 74-69-68-68, Matt Kuchar 69-73-68-69
280 - Sean O'Hair 74-68-73-65, Brandt Snedeker 72-69-72-67, Jordan Spieth 68-72-72-68, William McGirt 77-69-66-68, Roberto Castro 73-70-67-70
281 - Phil Mickelson 74-72-69-66
282 - Russell Knox (SCO) 73-66-71-72
283 - Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 70-73-71-69, Patrick Reed 73-70-70-70
284 - Kevin Kisner 67-70-76-71
286 - J.B. Holmes 73-71-70-72
287 - Jimmy Walker 74-74-71-68
293 - Kevin Na 77-74-72-70
Jason Day (AUS) 67-WD