McIlroy victory freshens golf landscape

Rory McIlroy's brilliant 10-under-par 62 finish in capturing the Quail Hollow Championship today stole the spotlight from runner-up Phil Mickelson and added an exclamation point to the coming out party of a fast-rising Irish star two days shy of his 21st birthday.

McIlroy's course-record 62 included a back nine 30 that saw him record 3s on his last six holes, an amazing accomplishment considering the last three holes at Quail Hollow Golf Club are considered among the toughest three-hole-finishing stretches on the PGA Tour. His first victory in the United States solidified his status as one of the game's most promising players and even prompted CBS announcer Jim Nantz to wonder if we will look back on this tournament as a watershed moment in the sport.

Only time will tell if the likable McIlroy will continue to climb to the top of the world golf rankings, but his scintillating breakthrough victory on U.S. soil coming on the same weekend that Tiger Woods missed his first cut in a regular PGA Tour event since 2005 made it easy to wonder if a glimpse of golf's new world order was beginning to take shape.

Mickelson narrowed the gap on Woods' lead in the world golf rankings with his second-place finish and could move into the top spot with a victory this week in the Players Championship and another outside-the-top-five finish by Woods. McIlroy, ranked 13th in the world entering the Quail Hollow Championship, will move into the top 10 for the second time in his career when the new rankings are released Monday.

McIlroy sank a 40-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to finish in style and bring a roar of approval from the gallery gathered around the final hole. He finished at 15-under 273 and won $1.17 million.

"I suppose I got into the zone," McIlroy told CBS analyst David Feherty afterward. "I hadn't realized I was going in 9, 10 under. I just know I got my nose in front and I was just trying to stay there."

Mickelson, expected to face Woods in the showdown of the No. 1- and No. 2-ranked players in the world at the start of the tournament, appeared in good position to challenge for the lead until he had to play a right-handed shot from the woods on the 10th hole and made bogey. When he finally got around to making a charge, McIlroy was too far ahead. Mickelson closed with a 68, which he figured would be good enough to win, and finished four shots back.

"I've got to congratulate Rory," Mickelson said. "He played some incredible golf. He's an amazing talent. You knew he was going to come out and win out here. He is some kind of player."

Two-time major winner Angel Cabrera was tied for the lead with eight holes to play until his putter let him down. The former Masters and U.S. Open champion missed five putts inside 10 feet on the back nine and shot 68 to finish alone in third five shots back.

Oldgolfdawg didn't watch McIlroy's amazing closing round unfold so he won't offer a critique on its entertainment value. But he knows he picked a bad week to attend a Quarter Century Club gathering sponsored by his former employer. From watching the tournament highlights and catching the last half-hour of the telecast, it appears McIlroy put on a truly memorable performance.

Information from the Associated Press contributed to this post.