McIlroy answers big questions

Former world No 1 finds his stride after sessions with putting guru

Rory McIlroy has built a record that would seem to make him immune from too much skepticism about his golf game.

He already had four majors at age 25, including the US Open scoring record (268) and the largest margin of victory (eight shots) in the US PGA Championship. In the 30 years of the world ranking, only Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, and Nick Faldo have spent more time at No 1 than McIlroy.

Over the long US Labor Day weekend, McIlroy managed to answer three big questions.

He had a reputation for playing his best golf in pristine conditions, strange for a kid who grew up in Northern Ireland.

But when the TPC Boston was at its most dangerous in 40 mph (65 kph) gusts as Hurricane Hermine headed out to the Atlantic, he made seven birdies and closed with a 6-under 65 to make up a six-shot deficit and win the Deutsche Bank Championship.

"Wow, very impressive. Yeah, that's a mighty round of golf," said Paul Casey, who had to settle for a runner-up finish.

Worse yet, McIlroy had a tendency to lose the will to battle when he was falling too far behind. That opportunity presented itself early in the first round, when McIlroy had to make a 15-foot putt to salvage triple bogey and already was 4-over-par just three holes into the tournament.

He played the next 15 holes in 4 under to get back to even par, which contributed mightily to his 20th victory worldwide.

"I don't know if I quit, but I definitely let my shoulders slump and let my head drop," McIlroy said. "I've just not been as positive about the situation as I could have been. It's happened to me many times before, but you learn with experience and a little bit more maturity that it's four-round golf tournaments. It's a long time. There's a lot that can happen, and I proved that to myself this week."

He shot 67 in the second round, then ended his third round with a 3-iron that caught the lip of the cup on the par-5 18th hole, settling for a tap-in eagle and a 66. And then he went one shot better in the final round, a 65 that matched Adam Scott for the best score of the final round.