Europe's Greatest? Mcilroy Wants More As Majors Record Nears

To triumph past year, McIlroy needed to hit Justin Rose - who vanished tied 3rd connected Sunday having led by 2 astatine nan move - successful a abrupt decease play-off aft bogeying nan 72nd hole.

And he did not make it overmuch easier for himself this clip around. Having scorched nan section to return a grounds six-shot lead aft 36 holes, he stuttered to a one-over 73 connected Saturday.

Tied pinch Young going into Sunday, Northern Ireland's McIlroy heaped unit connected himself pinch a sloppy double-bogey 5 connected nan 4th aft three-putting from 8 feet.

He dropped different changeable astatine nan par-three sixth, but aft mixing 4 birdies pinch 7 pars to build a two-shot lead complete world number 1 Scheffler heading to nan last, he said his "greatest stress" connected Sunday was not knowing wherever his shot ended up connected nan 18th aft flailing his thrust correct and successful among nan trees.

"It could spell anywhere. It could beryllium anywhere," added nan world number two, who besides drew level pinch Americans Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino connected six majors.

"There were a fewer others. I thought my 2nd putt connected 11 was immense to debar making bogey there."

Despite falling down Young and Rose, and pinch Scheffler creeping up nan leaderboard, McIlroy insisted he ne'er felt arsenic though his chance had slipped away.

"If I hadn't birdied nan seventh and eighth holes, I would person started to push a small bit," added nan 36-year-old, who became conscionable nan sixth wire-to-wire Masters winner.

"But I deliberation nan birdies connected 7 and eight, Justin bogeying 11 and 12, and past maine birdieing 12, I ne'er felt for illustration I was retired of it. I ne'er felt for illustration I had to property astatine all."