Rory McIlroy shoots 61 to win the Canadian Open four days before US Open starts

The Canadian Open is the second PGA Tour title from Rory McIlroy in 2019 after he won the Players Championship in March. Final final leaderboard of the Canadian Open-22 R McIlroy (NI); -15 W Simpson (USA), S Lowry (Ire); -13 B Snedeker (USA), M Kuchar (USA); -12 A Hadwin (Can); -11 Sung-jae Im (Kor) Other selected: -10 G McDowell (NI), D Willett (Eng); -7 D Johnson (USA), J Thomas (USA); -2 B Koepka (US), M Laird (Sco)

Northern Ireland Rory McIlroy shot a nine-under-61 to win the Canadian Open with seven shots for his 16th PGA Tour title.

A bird on the 18th would have given him a round of 59, but he bogeyed after finding a greenside bunker.

It's the perfect preparation for the US Open, the third gentleman major of the year, which starts on Thursday.

"I just let it go," McIlroy said. "I said at the start of the day that I wanted to be aggressive."

Speaking to Sky Sports, he added: "I played with so much freedom during the weekend, more freedom than I had for a while, which is exciting.

" To win one to achieve next week is huge. "

Colleague Northern Irish Graeme McDowell qualified for the Open Championship on his home course at Royal Portrush in July after finishing eighth out of ten under, alongside Danny Willett of England ( 67).

McDowell also did it in style, with an opening of 30 feet for par on the 18th and a round of 68.

The three best finishers in the top 10 in Canada who had not yet placed Open Places that qualified for the men's final.

McIlroy & # 39; s victory – seven shots ahead of Webb Simpson (68) and Irishman Shane Lowry (67) – is the largest profit margin on it tournament since the American Johnny Palmer won it with 11 slage n in 1952.

[1] 9459003] He is only the seventh golfer to complete the triple victory crown during the Canadian Open, US Open and Open Championship – the three oldest events on the tour.

McIlroy hit five birdies on the first nine, before four more followed each other in the eleventh hole. He then hit an eagle on the par-five 17th, wedged in by two bogeys.

Dustin Johnson finished 20th in seventh under a 69, while world number one and the US Open defender, Brooks Koepka, was second in seventh after a 70.