Rory crosses Major hurdle

McIlroy proves doubters wrong by winning the PGA championship with an eight-shot margin

Rory McIlroy brushed aside any lingering doubts over his ability to be a dominant force in golf by storming to a second major title with a stunning eight-shot victory at the PGA Championship on Sunday. McIlroys first big triumph,a similar eight-shot victory at last years U.. Open,was followed by a series of poor showings in the majors,including a missed the cut in his title defence and tying for 60th place at the British Open last month.

The latter result prompted questions to be raised about whether the Northern Irishman was practicing enough or simply spending too much time with girlfriend Caroline Wozniacki. On Sunday,shooting a six-under-par 66 on the tough Ocean Course,the longest track ever for a major,he gave a resounding answer to his critics .

I was a little frustrated with how I was playing earlier on in the year,but a few people in this media room were probably pushing panic buttons for no reason, the 23-year-old said. The criticism clearly stung and McIlroy said he had provided the perfect reply. I dont think I could have answered it in any better way and to be honest8230; it did motivate me. I did want to go out there and prove a few people wrong and thats what I did. It took me all of four weeks to get my game back and get out of my mini-slump.

But those words were,typically for the affable Northern Irishman,said with a wry smile rather than a snarl,helped of course by the enormity of his achievement on Sunday. The victory margin eclipsed the previous best for the PGA Championship of seven set by Jack Nicklaus in 1980 and he also became the youngest player to win two major titles since the-then 23-year-old Seve Ballesteros clinched that years Masters.

BIG RELIEF

The win also sent him back to the top of the world rankings but the relief of claiming a second major and escaping the ranks of players with just one big title on their CV seemed to mean more to McIlroy. There are a few emotions going through. Theres quite a bit of relief to get the second one out of the way. I am just so happy that I was able to play like this and win another major, he said. I feel these days when I give myself a chance to win one of these big tournaments,I can draw on the memories of Augusta where he blew a four-shot lead at the 2011 U.S. Masters,of Congressional,and now of today,and know what I did out there and know what to do again, he added.

McIlroy has won two majors at a younger age than Tiger Woods but he was quick to deflect the inevitable suggestion that he could enjoy a similar career to the 14-times major winner. Tiger went on that incredible run from 2000 to 2002 and won so many. Id love to sit up here and tell you that Im going to do the same thing but I just dont know, McIlroy said. It was also not lost on many that McIlroy wore a red shirt on Sunday,matching Woodss final round colour of choice. If I was playing with him,I wouldnt wear it,he said.