“Conversations with Champions presented by Sentry” is a weekly series from Golfweek. This week: Rory McIlroy, winner of the 2022 CJ Cup in South Carolina.
Win No. 23 meant a return to No. 1 for Rory McIlroy.
Despite a bogey-bogey finish, McIlroy held off Kurt Kitayama and the rest of the field at the 2022 CJ Cup in South Carolina for his 23rd PGA Tour victory. He’s 28th on the all-time PGA Tour wins list, one back of Gary Player and Dustin Johnson.
On Monday, McIlroy returned to the top spot in the Official World Golf Ranking, supplanting Scottie Scheffler. Cameron Smith slipped one spot to No. 3. McIlroy is No. 1 for the ninth time in his career spanning a total of 106 weeks.
He also defended his title at the CJ Cup, held a year ago in Las Vegas, and has at least one victory in each of the last six Tour seasons.
Here’s what McIlroy said after his win Sunday.
Q: This looked to be anybody’s tournament until you went birdie, birdie, birdie on 14, 15 and 16. What were you able to do in that stretch either mechanically, strategically or mentally to separate and ultimately win?
RM: Yeah, as you said, it was a bit of a — there was sort of four of us in it the whole day and I think the birdie on 14 was the real turning point for me. It’s a really tough par 3, to make 2 there felt like I picked up at least a shot and a half on the field. And then knowing 15 was birdie-able, getting that up and down out of the bunker, and 16 was a bit of a bonus to give myself a cushion, which ultimately I needed over the last two holes. Yeah, it feels great. It feels great to go out there, go out there with a lead, shoot a great score, play really well and get the win. It’s an awesome way to start the season, I guess, and obviously just a continuation of how I feel like I’ve been playing over the last few months.
Rory McIlroy plays from the fourth fairway bunker during the final round of the 2022 CJ Cup in South Carolina in Ridgeland, South Carolina. (Photo: David Yeazell-USA TODAY Sports)
Q: For the ninth time in your career, you’re No. 1 in the world once again, first time since July of 2020. You said since the summer of 2020 that life’s been an adventure for you on and off the golf course. That being said, how meaningful is it for you to be back on top of the golf world?
RM: Yeah, it means a lot. I’ve worked so hard over the last 12 months to get myself back to this place. I feel like I’m enjoying the game as much as I ever have. I absolutely love…
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