Rory McIlroy shows true colors as Amanda Balionis asks about ‘mind and body’
Rory McIlroy informed Amanda Balionis that he did not get ahead of himself despite holding a comfortable lead in the final four holes of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am
Rory McIlroy kept a level head in the closing stages of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which he comfortably won by two shots.
On Sunday, McIlroy emerged victorious in the second Signature Event of the season, finishing six-under 66 to win on 21 under par. The dominant performance marked his 27th victory on the PGA Tour and first since the Wells Fargo Championship last May.
“To win at one of the cathedrals of golf is really, really cool. I knew today was going to be tough and exciting, there were so many guys around the lead,” McIlroy told CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis following his first PGA Tour event of the year.
“With it being Pebble Beach, I had to put that to the back of my mind and just go out there and try to shoot a score, which I was able to. But yeah, really cool to have that walk up 18, sort of take it all in.”
After entering the final round trailing Sepp Straka, McIlroy powered his way towards the front of the pack by going 1-under on Sunday’s first front nine. The Northern Irishman subsequently birdied the 10th and 12th holes before sinking an eagle from 26-feet out at the 14th – thereby extending his cushion to four shots.
Despite holding a sizable lead heading into the final stretch of the tournament, McIlroy still had Shane Lowry breathing down his neck. The 37-year-old gained strokes at the 11th, 12th, 14th and 16th holes, but ultimately had to settle for solo second once he missed a birdie putt on 17.
