'Record' relief for Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods may not have had the best of finishes in the US PGA that finished on Sunday. But, there are reasons for him to cheer. World No. 1 golfer was lucky that his record of being the youngest to win a major remained intact.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates a birdie on the 15th hole during the final round of the 92nd PGA Championship on the Straits Course at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. AFP

This was after one of the most promising golfers in the current era, Rory McIlroy, failed to sizzle in the final round at Whistling Straits.
Rory McIlroy never made a move in the final round of the PGA Championship, but it almost paid off for him anyway. If Roy had won the title, he would have been one day younger than Tiger Woods was when he won the 1997 Masters.
McIlroy shot an even-par 72 as others around him faltered, and the 21-year-old from Northern Ireland finished equal third at the PGA Championship for the second straight year at 10-under 278.
But this tournament was different. McIlroy wasn't that close to the leaders at St. Andrews in this Year's British Open or at Hazeltine in last year's PGA. Here, he was within striking distance until the end.
"It's the first time I have been in contention in the last round of a major and going out in the second-to-last group," he said. "I was feeling it on the first tee and it was a new experience for me."

Northern Ireland (R) reacts on the fifth hole alongside caddie J.P. Fitzgerald (L) during the final round of the 92nd PGA Championship on the Straits Course at Whistling Straits. AFP

McIlroy finished five strokes behind winner Y.E. Yang and three strokes behind Tiger Woods last year at Hazeltine. He finished third at last month's British Open, eight strokes behind surprise winner Louis Oosthuizen.
On Sunday, McIlroy had a raucous crowd behind him, getting louder cheers than the leaders when he finished his round. He moved to 11 under after a birdie on the 14th, but gave the stroke back the next hole and finished with three straight pars.
"I felt good over the putt on 15. I read it straight and just went more left to right than I thought," he said. "The 5-iron on 16 I hit was a good shot, but the wind just didn't touch it and the 5-iron on 17 as well, a couple of yards left and it is by the hole."
McIlroy was pleased his birdies at Nos. 10 and 14 kept him close, but he said he'll have a tough time forgetting his missed opportunity at 15.

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his tee shot on the seventh hole during the final round of the 92nd PGA Championship on the Straits Course at Whistling Straits. AFP

In the majors this year, he missed the cut twice, before finishing equal third at St. Andrews.
"St. Andrews was nice," he said. "Top five here was not what I wanted, but I will take the positives out of this and there were a lot of positives. I will move on, have a week off and go into the playoffs in good spirits and hopefully give that a good run."
And the budding star remains even hungrier for a breakthrough. "I feel I am ready to win one," he said. Another European player, Ian Poulter of England, withdrew from the final round because of a chest infection.
Poulter was at 5-over 221 after three rounds and said Saturday night on Twitter that he might not be able to play. Poulter was No. 3 in the European points standings for the Ryder Cup, with the top five qualifying, and was supposed to play with Jeff Overton, also virtually assured a spot in the Ryder Cup.
Overton played alone, and finished his round in 2 hours, 9 minutes, to break the unofficial PGA Championship record for quickest round.