{"id":6485,"date":"2022-10-24T12:16:35","date_gmt":"2022-10-24T12:16:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/rory-mcilroy-fulfills-promised-return-to-world-no-1-position-after-cj-cup-title-defense\/"},"modified":"2022-10-24T12:16:35","modified_gmt":"2022-10-24T12:16:35","slug":"rory-mcilroy-fulfills-promised-return-to-world-no-1-position-after-cj-cup-title-defense","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gulftimes.ae\/?p=6485","title":{"rendered":"Rory McIlroy fulfills promised return to world No.1 position after CJ Cup title defense"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n When Rory McIlroy won the 2021 CJ Cup, he insisted he was still capable of being the world\u2019s best golfer.\n <\/p>\n
\n Almost a year to the day on Sunday, the Northern Irishman delivered on his claim in emphatic style, defending his crown in South Carolina to reclaim the No. 1 ranked spot for the first time in over two years.\n <\/p>\n
\n McIlroy carded a final day 67 to end 17-under at Congaree Golf Club and clinch a one-shot victory over Kurt Kitayama, a blistering run of three straight birdies down the stretch ultimately enough to see the four-time major winner over the line despite closing with two bogeys.\n <\/p>\n
\n Kitayama closed an impressive performance with a bogey-free, four-under 67, but the American could not find the birdie he needed across the final six holes to force a play-off.\n <\/p>\n
\n McIlroy\u2019s 23rd title on the PGA Tour rewarded him with $1.89 million in prize money and enough ranking points to leapfrog Scottie Scheffler \u2013 who finished 45th \u2013 and reclaim the No. 1 spot for the first time since July 2020.\n <\/p>\n
\n It marks the ninth occasion the 33-year-old McIlroy has held top spot in his career, with only Tiger Woods and Greg Norman \u2013 both 11-time No. 1\u2019s \u2013 having achieved the feat more often.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt means a lot, I\u2019ve worked so hard over the last 12 months to get myself back to this place,\u201d a visibly emotional McIlroy said as he stood on the 18th green.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cI feel like I\u2019m enjoying the game as much as I ever have, I absolutely love the game of golf and I think that when I go out and play with that joy it\u2019s definitely shown over the last 12 months.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to celebrating with my team tonight and over the next couple of weeks because it\u2019s a big achievement. I\u2019m really proud of myself right now.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n When McIlroy clinched the same title in Las Vegas last October, he did so in the wake of a shattering Ryder Cup defeat and, by his standard, an underwhelming season.\n <\/p>\n
\n Then ranked 8th in the world, McIlroy had given a tearful interview following Europe\u2019s historic 19-9 loss at Whistling Straits, arguing he \u201cshould have done more\u201d.\n <\/p>\n
\n If victory in his first subsequent outing had been his way of exorcising any Ryder Cup demons, the Northern Irishman has just gone from strength to strength this year.\n <\/p>\n
\n Sandwiched between his CJ Cup victories have been triumphs at the Canadian Open and Tour Championship, as 10 top-10 finishes across 16 PGA Tour events saw McIlroy steadily move up the rankings.\n <\/p>\n
\n His consistency was exemplified on the biggest stage at the majors, where McIlroy finished no lower than eighth in any of the four events. The only downside was that, despite coming agonizingly close at The Masters and The Open, he could not seal a win to end his eight-year wait for a fifth major.\n <\/p>\n
\n But you won\u2019t find McIlroy dwelling on near-misses this week, as he cast his thoughts back to the Valero Texas Open in April, one of just two occasions all season he missed the cut at an event.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cIf someone had told me on the Friday night \u2026 I would be World No. 1 by October, I would have asked them what they were smoking because I would not have believed them,\u201d he told reporters.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cIt\u2019s been a wild six months. I figured a few things out with my game and I\u2019ve just been on a really good run.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cEverything feels like its come together for me and today was just a continuation of how I\u2019ve felt like I\u2019ve been playing over these last few months.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cNow it\u2019s all about going forward and trying to just keep this going \u2026 it\u2019s a lot to process right now but just really proud of myself with how I\u2019ve handled this week knowing what was at stake.\u201d\n <\/p>\n
\n McIlroy gave a special mention to his team, family and friends for supporting him on his return to the top.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cThis tournament last year was the start of me trying to build myself back up to this point,\u201d he said.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cI had a really rough Ryder Cup \u2026 I was outside the top-10 in the world, it\u2019s not a position that I\u2019m used to being in. The steady climb back to the summit of world golf and what it takes: it\u2019s not just me, it\u2019s everyone that\u2019s a part of my team.\n <\/p>\n
\n \u201cWhenever I think about that, that\u2019s what gets me a little bit choked up and emotional because it\u2019s really cool to be on this journey with other people that you want to be on the journey with.\u201d\n <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
![\"McIlroy](\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/221024122816-04-mcilroy-cj-cup.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_270,w_480,c_fill\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"McIlroy](\"https:\/\/media.cnn.com\/api\/v1\/images\/stellar\/prod\/221024122647-mcilroy-02-cj-cup.jpg?c=16x9&q=h_270,w_480,c_fill\")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n