CJ Cup: After securing the top spot in the world rankings with a successful title defence at the CJ Cup, Rory McIlroy acknowledged that his return to the top of the standings came sooner than he had anticipated.
At Congaree Golf Club, McIlroy defeated Kurt Kitayama by one stroke for his 23rd PGA Tour victory and third of the year. The Northern Irishman recorded a final-round four-under 67 despite making back-to-back bogeys.
A third FedExCup victory at the Tour Championship in August set a new record for the four-time major champion, and his victory at the RBC Canadian Open in June also allowed him to pass Scottie Scheffler and take the world No. 1 ranking for the ninth time.
“Yes, the last six months have been somewhat crazy. I recently discovered a couple of things about my game, and I’ve been having a great run.
“The way I’ve been playing over the past few months feels like it’s finally come together for me, and today was simply a continuation of that. Moving forward and attempting to keep this continuing are the only priorities right now.
“It’s incredible. The amount of information to comprehend at the moment is overwhelming, but I’m proud of how I handled this week knowing what was at stake and really just how I’ve played over the past several months.”
With top-eight finishes in all four majors and a successful year that saw his return to the top spot for the first time since 2020, McIlroy, 33, is thrilled with his growth over the previous 12 months.
When McIlroy won the CJ Cup in 2021, he was ranked No. 14 in the world. “This event last year was the start of me trying to build myself back up to this place,” he continued. “I’ve talked extensively about the absolutely terrible Ryder Cup experience I had. It’s not a position I’m used to being in, but I believe I was outside the top 10 in the world.
“I believe that I will need everyone on my squad to help me make the slow ascent back to the top of the world golf rankings. It’s a collaborative effort.”
Some golf being played by @McIlroyRory right now. #1 in the world yet again! Congrats to him and his team 🏆
— Justin Thomas (@JustinThomas34) October 23, 2022
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