Rory McIlroy Feels Close To His Best After Pebble Beach Win

Rory McIlroy feels he's nearing his peak form after a victorious start to the PGA Tour season at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He secured a two-shot win over Shane Lowry, his close friend and former Olympic team-mate from Ireland, with a six-under-par 66 in the final round. McIlroy began the last day one shot behind Sepp Straka, who eventually tied for seventh.

An eagle on the par-five 14th hole was pivotal for McIlroy, who finished 21 under for the tournament. Reflecting on his performance, he told Sky Sports that this victory sets him up well for a season where he aims to end an 11-year wait for a fifth major title. "I'm close [to my best], I'm pretty close," McIlroy stated.

McIlroy Confident After Pebble Beach Win

He added, "I feel like I controlled my ball flight well in the crosswinds; this week I drove the ball really well." Despite always seeking improvement, McIlroy acknowledged that his game is in excellent shape as he enters February. "I'm really happy with where everything is," he concluded.

Shane Lowry had a challenging start in Sunday's final round but made a strong comeback with birdies on holes 11, 12, 14, and 16. This kept him within reach of McIlroy until a missed birdie putt at the 17th gave McIlroy some breathing room. McIlroy then parred the last two holes to secure his win.

"There's still a few scenarios playing through your head," McIlroy admitted. He considered how different it would have been if Lowry had made birdie at 17. "I was relieved to see him not hole that," he said. The competition was intense with many contenders near the lead.

Looking Ahead

McIlroy expressed satisfaction with how he managed to focus and achieve a winning score despite the pressure. "To have that walk up 18 and take it all in was really cool," he shared. His triumph at Pebble Beach marks an encouraging start as he looks forward to more successes this season.