Published Sunday, 12 August 2012
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates after putting on the 18th green (© Getty)
The 23-year-old Holywood golfer stormed to victory on Sunday, finishing on 13 under par and eight shots ahead of second-placed David Lynn of England.
Closing with a 66 to follow a 67 earlier in the day - when he completed the third round, McIlroy birdied the 18th to end a majestic, bogey-free round just as the flame was being put out at the London Olympics.
He made history with this perfect round, winning with the largest margin at a PGA Championship and becoming the youngest winner of the tournament since it became a stroke play event in 1958.
An emotional McIlroy said: "I don't think I have let it sink in yet.
"It was a great round of golf - I am speechless.
"The game-plan was just to play solid. I got off to a bit of a shaky start, but settled into it and I thought my putting today was phenomenal."
McIlroy received a standing ovation from the crowds at the Ocean Course as he walked up the 18th to seal victory.
It means an awful lot to look at the names on that trophy and put mine alongside them.
Rory McIlroy
McIlroy hugged his father Gerry after winning the championship.
"Thanks dad and thanks mum - I'm sure she's watching at home. I had a good feeling at the start, but I never imagined doing this," he said.
McIlroy won the Honda Classic in Florida earlier this year to claim the world number one ranking, but he later lost it to Luke Donald.
He admitted during the summer that he may have taken his eye off the ball during a run of four missed cuts in five starts. He finished a lowly 60th in the Open Championship at Lytham St Annes last month.
McIlroy won the US Open by eight last year. He now becomes the fifth youngest player in history to win two majors.
It is the fourth major title clinched by a Northern Irish golfer in over two years, including Graeme McDowell's win at the US Open in 2010 and Darren Clarke's victory at the Open last year.