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McIlroy officially will be back to No. 1 Monday for the first
time since July 18, 2020. He surpassed Scottie Scheffler, whom
he also defeated at the Tour Championship in September to win
the FedEx Cup title.
"I've worked so hard over the last 12 months to get myself back
to this place," McIlroy said. "I feel like I'm enjoying the game
as much as I ever have. I absolutely love the game of golf and I
think that when I go out there and I play with that joy, it's
definitely showed over these last 12 months."
McIlroy broke away late with birdies at Nos. 12, 14, 15 and 16
at Congaree Golf Club, highlighted by a 13-foot birdie putt at
the 14th and a 22-footer at the 16th. He bogeyed his final two
holes but still finished at 17-under 267 and beat Kurt Kitayama
by one stroke.
"There was sort of four of us in it the whole day and I think
the birdie on 14 was the real turning point for me," McIlroy
said. "It's a really tough par 3. To make 2 there felt like I
picked up at least a shot and a half on the field."
McIlroy also won the CJ Cup in 2021 when it was held at The
Summit Club in Las Vegas.
The four-time major champion made seven birdies and three bogeys
in all. Kitayama also shot a 67, but with four birdies and no
bogeys on his card. He parred his final six holes to come up
just shy of forcing a playoff with McIlroy or surpassing him
outright.
"It was a battle," Kitayama said. "I was kind of coming down the
stretch there, I was grinding to get in with a bunch of pars it
felt like. Yeah, it was tough, but Rory came out three in a row
right there and that was tough to compete with."
South Korea's K.H. Lee (68 Sunday) finished third at 15 under.
Jon Rahm of Spain (69) tied for fourth at 14 under with
Englishman Tommy Fleetwood (65).
Taylor Montgomery fired a 62 for the round of the day. An eagle
and four birdies on the back nine helped him finish the day in
6-under 29. He tied for 13th at 9 under.
--Field Level Media
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