Rory McIlroy: Win at Pebble Beach was 'cool' and I know more success can follow
Rory McIlroy says winning at Pebble Beach for the first time in his career was “very cool” and outlined his vision of becoming the world’s best golfer once again.
McIlroy claimed the 27th PGA Tour title of his career with an impressive victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last weekend.
He made an eagle and five birdies in a superb final round of 66 to finish 21 under par, a shot outside the tournament record set by Brandt Snedeker in 2015.
Playing partner Shane Lowry birdied the 18th to secure outright second on 19 under, with Justin Rose making an eagle on the same hole to share third place with American Lucas Glover.
Writing in a piece for the PGA Tour website, McIlroy shared his thoughts on his success and how his experience over the years playing different types of courses finally paid off.
His blog said: "There are a few venues in our game that I would call cathedrals of golf – Pebble Beach, Augusta National, St Andrews, obviously, and maybe a few more that you could add in there. They mean a bit more than others which is probably to do with the history and the golfers who have won on those courses, and what those people have meant to the game of golf.
"Starting the week, I had a big fat zero on all of those venues, and to finally knock one off at Pebble is very cool. I'm a big historian of the game and I remember all the championships that have been played here, and to add my name to that list is pretty cool.
"It's been a great week for a lot of different reasons: hole-in-one during the first round, playing (Cypress Point Club) for the first time, and obviously getting a win. I couldn't have wished for a better start for my PGA TOUR season. I've been on a nice run of form since last fall and I've played some really good golf and continued that into this year. It’s a great way to start my year.
"Coming down the last hole at Pebble with a three-shot lead and being able to enjoy it somewhat was really nice. It was special to have the time to stand on the 18th tee box and just honestly look at one of the most beautiful holes in golf and enjoy it, enjoy the stroll up the 18th and not feel like there was too much pressure.
"Halfway up 18, I was rooting for Shane (Lowry) to make 4 so he would finish second on his own. It was nice to be able to have that and to also share this win with Harry (Diamond, McIlroy's caddie). I'm the one who gets to lift the trophy, but there's a lot of people behind me and it's good to be able to share it with them.
"Pebble Beach is a very different test than what you would typically expect at a U.S. Open. However, I do feel my game can travel to any sort of golf course in any conditions, in any set-up. I feel like I'm a very well-rounded golfer and I can adapt to whatever I need to adapt to. I was able to show that this weekend, especially during the third round with the wind and rainy conditions. I can win on different venues, different tests, firm courses, soft courses, windy, calm, rain, long golf courses, short golf courses. Anything that I feel is thrown my way, I feel like I'm prepared to handle it.
“With more experience, I’ve become better with strategy and picking conservative targets at times, and maybe picking more conservative clubs off the tees too. Another big thing is obviously my short game. Last year, it was a little up and down where I would have a good week, then I'd have a bad week. There wasn't a ton of consistency in it. The up-and-down on the first hole during the final round for example, it's a big up-and-down just to get things going.”
McIlroy is currently behind Americans Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler in the world rankings.
However, the Northern Irishman feels if he can master the mental side of the game then more success can come in the future.
He wrote: "I’m a big admirer of Scottie Scheffler for a lot of different reasons, and every time I play with him and watch how he plays and how disciplined he is, it's a really cool thing to watch. And I'm trying to take a little bit of a leaf from out of his book. When one of your peers has the year like he had last year, and honestly the year like he had in 2023 as well, you start to take notice at what he is doing and what has made him or helped him separate himself from the rest of the fields. There are impulses that I have on the golf course that it looks like Scottie doesn't have and I have to rein those in, and I have to try to be a little more disciplined about it.
“For me, it's really about trying to get the best out of myself. I know if I can play to my capabilities and do what I did out there a little bit more, the world rankings or the career PGA TOUR wins will take care of themselves. Scottie is and has been the best player in our game for the last couple of years and I feel like I've been close. That's motivating to try to get the best out of myself and try to become the best player in the world again.
“I want to do the right things every day, and that’s being consistent, being disciplined, getting enough sleep, eating the right diet, doing the right amount of practice, recovering, making time for other interests in my life that can get me away from golf a little bit, too.
“It’s always been the mental side for me. That probably is the biggest barrier between me being good and being great. For the most part over the course of my career, I've had the physical attributes and hit the ball long and been able to do things that maybe some other guys aren't able to do, but it's sometimes been my mind or my thought processes that has held me back a little bit. I think I'm much better equipped now to handle whatever is thrown my way.”