McIlroy wins first Major as he takes US Open

By Brendon Hanley Jun 19, 2011, 23:36 GMT

Bethesda, Maryland - Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy on Sunday won the US Open with the lowest-ever score finishing on 16-under after carding a two-under 69 in the fourth round.

The 22-year-old finished eight shots ahead of Jason Day, who finished Sunday's round on three-under for a total of eight-under for the tournament to finish second for the second consecutive Major.

Behind the Australian, South Korean 2009 PGA Champion YE Yang, Kevin Chappell, Robert Garrigus and Lee Westwood tied for third place on six-under.

McIlroy led the event from start to finish and any hopes the chasing pack had of a flame-out like the last time he went into the final round of a Major with a lead, practically fizzled out at the very first hole when a birdie took him to 15-under.

McIlroy said that the lesson he learnt from the Masters in April, when he had a four shot lead going into the final round but finished ten off the pace, had been very important.

'Augusta was a very valuable experience for me. I knew what I needed to do today. In Augusta I learnt a few things about myself and my game and I put a few different things into practise and it paid off.'

The young Irishman continued to play consistent golf as he birdied the fourth to go out in 34. He came very close to a hole in one on the 10th, when his ball went agonizingly close past the cup.

He birdied the hole and said that was when he realized that he was close to winning. 'After making two at one of the most difficult holes on the course, I knew it was mine to lose.'

He finally dropped his first shot of the day on the 12th, when he bogeyed the par-four.

He birdied the 16th, but then dropped another shot on the 17th, before playing a comfortable par on the 18th for a historic victory.

McIlroy is the youngest US Open Champion since World War II at the age of 22 years and one month, beating Jack Nicklaus, who was 22 and four months when he first won it in 1962.

Moments after holing his final putt he embraced his father Gerry who had followed him throughout the tournament and said: 'Happy Father's Day.'

Later, as he received the trophy, he again thanked his parents. 'It means the world to me to have him here. I can't thank my parents enough for everything they have done for me over the years.'

He said he was looking forward to celebrating his victory. 'I think there will be lots of pints of Guinness going down, and I can't wait to get back to my friends and party with them.'

Defending champion Graeme McDowell, who finished Sunday's round with a 69 to end the tournament on two-under tied for 14th, said it was like winning the lotto for Northern Irish golfers to win in consecutive years.

'McIlroy was streaks ahead of us in the tournament and it was really a case of the rest of us playing for second place from the beginning,' he said.