McIlroy admits to relief after final-hole win over Adam Scott gives Northern Irishman a first win of year
A win in the Australian Open may not rank among the most high-profile in Rory McIlroy's career but it is unquestionably one of the more significant.
Encouraging signs that McIlroy has indeed emerged from the slump which has overshadowed his game this year arrived at Royal Sydney, where he dramatically pipped Adam Scott to his home Open title. McIlroy thereby ends his season on a high note and avoids a winless year, which would have been in stark contrast to his epic success during 2012.
"Since the end of September I have felt better with how my swing was, I felt that everything was coming together the way I wanted it to," McIlroy explained.
"It has been a frustrating year – I have worked hard and it's been a process, trying to get back to winning golf tournaments again. It was nice to be able to do it."
The style displayed by McIlroy in victory was as important as the result itself. The Northern Irishman had trailed Scott by four strokes heading into the final round but returned a 66 to win by a shot. By the 8th, McIlroy tied the lead having followed up an eagle with a birdie. As Scott stumbled to a bogey on the 72nd hole and a fourth-round 71, McIlroy birdied. Scott had missed the green, before overhitting a chip.
Scott thereby failed in his quest to win a second Australian Open title and the triple crown of Australian golf – the Australian Masters, PGA and Open in the same season – achieved only once before, by Robert Allenby in 2005.
"I wanted to get a win by the end of the season and finally I have been able to get one," added McIlroy.
"But more satisfying than that is being able to take one of the best players in the world down the stretch and come out on top.
"Adam is a phenomenal golfer and a great competitor, and probably even a better guy. I feel a bit sorry I was the one to ruin the triple crown for him. Adam should be very proud of himself. He is a credit to the game and a credit to this country.
"It is a very prestigious tournament. Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, it seems like most of the greats of the game have won this tournament, and I am honoured to put my name on that trophy."
Scott, the Masters champion, did little to hide his disappointment. The one negative, recurring aspect of his career has been the failure to close out victories when within his grasp. Scott's talent, in short, has not delivered the number of successes it should have.
"I felt I did everything right," he said. "I was concerned how I was going to hit it today because I haven't been swinging the club very well for the last two weeks and I played really nicely, but the putter didn't behave itself. But that's the way golf is.
"I'm gutted, I felt I'd never have a better chance to win the Aussie Open. I just slightly misjudged a few putts, overplayed the break, missed a lot of putts on the high side and didn't quite have the eye in. And it always gets a lot trickier on the Sunday.
"I just misjudged on the last and a player as good as Rory is going to take that opportunity."
McIlroy admitted during last month's DP World Tour Championship in Dubai that distractions away from the course had impacted on his game. The former world No1 remains locked in a high-profile legal battle with his former management company.
Earlier, during the Open Championship at Muirfield, McIlroy had offered an alarming insight into his mindset by claiming he felt "brain dead" during tournament play.
In Sydney, John Senden, Rhein Gibson and Bryden Macpherson also had cause for summer celebration, having become the first players to qualify for the 2014 Open at Royal Liverpool via the newly-introduced Open Qualifying Series. This series involves 14 nominated events in nine countries and five continents.
Peter Unsworth, the chairman of the Royal & Ancient's championship committee, said: "I would like to congratulate John, Rhein and Bryden on qualifying for the Open Championship. We have introduced the new Open Qualifying Series to further enhance the global appeal of the Open and improve the qualifying process for the players.
"The series has got off to an excellent start here in Sydney and we have received very positive feedback from the players who relished the opportunity to qualify at a 72-hole championship. We look forward to the series continuing next year as we build up to the Open."