Rory McIlroy Reflects on Pebble Beach Performance Despite £251k Prize
McIlroy's Pebble Beach Reflection After £251k Win

Rory McIlroy's Mixed Fortunes at Pebble Beach Pro-am

Rory McIlroy secured a substantial six-figure payout at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-am, yet the Northern Irish golfer expressed a single regret about his performance. Despite finishing with a strong final round, McIlroy highlighted key moments he wished to revisit.

Strong Finish and Financial Reward

On Sunday, McIlroy delivered his best round of the tournament, shooting an impeccable 64 without any bogeys. This effort propelled him into a four-way tie for 14th place at the prestigious California event. His late surge included four birdies in a five-hole stretch during the final round, followed by three more birdies in four holes starting from the 11th.

Ultimately, McIlroy ended the competition five strokes behind the winner, Collin Morikawa. For his efforts, he banked a handsome prize of £251,234. However, the world number two's week was a rollercoaster, marred by several costly mistakes.

Costly Errors and Reflections

Throughout the tournament, McIlroy carded three bogeys, three double bogeys, and a triple bogey, alongside two eagles. These lapses hindered his title defence, which never gained momentum. Reflecting on his performance, McIlroy pinpointed four specific holes that he felt were pivotal.

"I wish I could have those four holes back this week," McIlroy stated. "I played 68 really good ones, and even if you turn those three doubles into bogeys and that triple into a bogey, that's five shots, and all of a sudden you're looking at a lead."

Optimism for Future Tournaments

Despite the setbacks, McIlroy remained positive about his overall game. He described feeling "pretty encouraged" by his efforts and noted that only minor adjustments were needed. "That's all I felt like I needed to tidy up, because the good stuff in there is really, really good," he explained.

McIlroy praised his iron play and driving, acknowledging only a couple of destructive tee shots in the third round. "Everything feels in pretty good shape. All in all, some really good stuff this week and pretty encouraging going into next week, for sure," he added.

Other Notable Performances

McIlroy's close friend Shane Lowry finished one stroke better, tying for eighth place in a six-way split and earning £377,546. Meanwhile, world number one Scottie Scheffler narrowly missed victory in a gripping final round, extending his remarkable streak to 18 consecutive top-10 finishes.

McIlroy began the final day eight shots off the lead. Although he recorded the first three-eagle round of his PGA Tour career and carded a 63, it wasn't enough to secure the win. Looking ahead, he aims to carry the positives into The Genesis Invitational later this week, where he finished tied for 17th last year. This California tournament is another Signature Event on the PGA Tour and features defending champion Ludvig Aberg.