ATLANTA – Rory McIlroy holed two shots on the 16th hole at East Lake that made him a most unlikely FedEx Cup champion on Sunday.
The first one he didn't even see go in.
Three shots behind with three holes to play at the Tour Championship, McIlroy holed a pitching wedge from 137 yards for eagle that gave him the spark he needed to close with a 6-under 64 and join a three-way playoff with the FedEx Cup title riding on the outcome.
"I knew I was right back in the golf tournament," he said.
Four playoff holes later on the 16th, after Ryan Moore made a par putt from just outside 15 feet, McIlroy knocked in his 15-foot birdie putt to win two trophies that he desperately wanted — the Tour Championship and the FedEx Cup.
Next McIlroy will play for Europe and Moore for the U.S. in the Ryder Cup this week at Hazeltine National. Moore was the U.S. captain's last pick, announced Sunday night.
"Just to see that ball drop, and everything that's come together for me this year … to pull it off was really special," McIlroy said, his voice still hoarse from screaming over so many quality shots over the final two hours at East Lake.
McIlroy picked up $11.53 million in one day — the $10 million FedEx Cup bonus and $1.53 million for the Tour Championship, his second victory in three weeks that made him the first player to win four FedEx Cup playoff events.
