Rory McIlroy Celebrates Victory at AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

by | Feb 2, 2025 | Pro News

Rory McIlroy started his 2025 PGA Tour season with a convincing 2-shot victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

He shot a final-round 6-under-par 66 to finish 21 under par, two shots better than fellow Irishman Shane Lowry, who closed with a 68. Lucas Glover and Justin Rose tied for third at 18 under. Sepp Straka, who led McIlroy and Lowry by a shot heading into Sunday, shot 72 to finish tied for seventh.

The 35-year-old McIlroy’s 27th career victory earned him $3.6 million in the signature event.

McIlroy opened with a 66 at Spyglass Hill, including a hole-in-one that slammed into the cup on the fly on the par-3 15th hole. He followed with rounds of 70 and 65 on the iconic Pebble Beach Golf Links.

His booming tee shots highlighted his performance – he led the field in driving distance at 336.7 yards — par-saving short game and excellent putting.

“I only made one bogey over the weekend, which I think is big,” McIlroy said. “I’ve talked a lot about it this year, trying to limit the mistakes, and I’m trying to keep the big numbers and the destructive swings off the scorecard. And for the most part this week, I did that, and the game can start to become pretty simple and feel pretty easy when you’re not making bogeys.”

World No. 3 McIlroy took control of the tournament on the back nine Sunday, going 5-under-par in a six-hole stretch. He had birdies on Nos. 10, 12, and 15, and sank an eagle putt on the par-5 14th. His good friend Lowry played the final eight holes 5 under, making a birdie on the par-5 18th to break a three-way tie and move into solo second.

Solid short game propels McIlroy

McIlroy demonstrated his touch from around the green on Sunday’s first hole when his approach shot landed in the rough. He got up and down for par from the gnarly lie while Straka bogeyed to move into a tie for the lead.

“I know I’m going to hit enough good golf shots to give myself plenty of birdie opportunities, and it’s just a matter of getting that up and down to keep the round and the momentum of the round going,” McIlroy said. “And I did that really well this week. I scrambled well (Saturday) in the bad conditions, and I took advantage of my ball striking a little bit Sunday.

“I think my short game was really good this week. My short game last year, it was very volatile, very up-and-down. I’d have some good weeks, but then I’d have some bad weeks. So I’m trying to just get a little bit more consistency in there.

“And these poa annua greens at this time of the year can be a little bit tricky, and I didn’t really miss many short putts this week. I missed a little one on six for birdie, but apart from that, I was really solid with the putter inside six feet, and that was a key to building a good score.”

Scheffler ties for 9th

Making his 2025 PGA Tour debut, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler shot rounds of 67-70-69-67 to tie for ninth place at 15 under. Scheffler hadn’t played any golf since injuring his hand on a broken glass while preparing Christmas dinner at his home.

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Taylor to defend Title in Phoenix

Nick Taylor, who defeated Charlie Hoffman on the second playoff hole last year, will defend his title at this week’s WM Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course. Scheffler, who won the tournament in 2022 and 2023 and finished tied for third last year, is also in the field along with past winners Rickie Fowler, Hideki Matsuyama, and Webb Simpson.

Taylor, who won the Sony Open in Hawaii last month, opened with an 11-under 60 last year, then shot rounds of 70-68-65 to finish tied with Hoffman at 21 under. Hoffman strung together rounds of 67-68-64-64 to catch Taylor and force a playoff.

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