While Rory McIlroy’s main reason for celebrating at the US PGA Championship was undoubtedly a second Major Championship victory – again by eight shots – the win came with an added bonus.
McIlroy’s triumph propelled him back to the top of the Official World Golf Ranking, ten weeks after being dethroned by Ryder Cup teammate Luke Donald.
The 23 year old took top spot earlier in the year with victory at the US PGA Tour's Honda Classic, before Donald regained pole position with his BMW PGA Championship success at Wentworth in May.
That tournament saw McIlroy endure the second of three consecutive missed cuts, but top ten finishes at the Irish Open and WGC-Bridgestone Invitational hinted at the Northern Irishman’s return to form, before he blew the field away at Kiawah Island for a record-breaking win.
“It's nice,” he said. “To win my second Major and get to World Number One all in the same day is very special.
“I had a little taste of it, and switched back and forth with Luke a couple of times, went back down to Number Three and back up to World Number One now.
“It's something that completely wasn't on my mind today. I just wanted to go out and try and win this, but it's a great bonus on top of an already great day.”
Donald, who closed with a final round 66 at Kiawah Island for a share of 32nd place, is now second on the Official World Golf Ranking, followed by Tiger Woods in third and Lee Westwood in fourth, meaning European Tour Members continue to hold three of the top four spots.
