US PGA Championship, Ocean course, Kiawah Island, USA. Date: 9-12 August 2012 With the last major tournament of the year, the US PGA Championship, finishing on Sunday at Kiawah Island in South Carolina - the venue of the infamous "War on the Shore" Ryder Cup battle between the United States and Europe in 1991, where the USA came out on top. Rory McIlroy takes his second Major title. Rory McIlroy has been hailed as a "wonderful ambassador for Northern Ireland" following his triumph in the US PGA Championship. He finished eight shots clear of English golfer David Lynn to claim his second Major. Northern Ireland First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness described McIlroy's victory as "magnificent". McIlroy's success follows his 2011 US Open win. Mr Robinson said: "After winning his first major golf title last year, Rory McIlroy has now become the first golfer from Northern Ireland to win a second major title. "His golfing talent knows no bounds and who knows what he may go on to achieve in his sporting career. US PGA FINAL ROUND SCORES -13: McIlroy (NI)-5: Lynn (Eng)-4: Rose (Eng), Bradley (US), Poulter (Eng), Pettersson (Swe) Selected others: -2: B Watson (US), McDowell (NI), Donaldson (Wal), Woods (US)-1: Daly (US), Harrington (Ire), Scott (Aus)+2: Donald (Eng)+3: Mickelson (US) "I don't think I have let it sink in yet - I am speechless," said McIlroy, the first Briton to claim the US PGA title since Jim Barnes won the first two tournaments in 1916 and 1919 when it was a match play event. McIlroy is also the youngest player to win two majors since Spain's Seve Ballesteros achieved the feat in 1980. "It was a great round of golf," he added. "The game plan was just to play solid. I got off to a bit of a shaky start, but settled into it and I thought my putting today was phenomenal. |
