McIlroy wins U.S. Open by historic proportions, qualifies for Bermuda

From where Rory McIlroy stood, it must have looked like this U.S. Open week, the best week of his golfing life, was about to get impossibly better.

McIlroy's approach Sunday to the par-3 10th hole had landed on the green, just past the flag. And as it trickled down the slope, the collage of humanity on the hillside behind the green rose to its feet. Then it started roaring, football-stadium loud.

Even from 218 yards away, McIlroy surely could tell the people were acting like the ball was bound for the hole.

It stopped a few inches short, thus ending the only real drama of the day. No, Rory McIlroy would not make an ace at the 111th U.S. Open. That was about the only thing he didn't accomplish.

McIlroy shot a 2-under 69 on Sunday to finish at 16-under par, running away with the U.S. Open title and his first major championship. Australian Jason Day finished a distant second, eight shots behind.

McIlroy’s win booked him a place in the PGA Grand Slam of Golf to be held at the Port Royal Golf Course in October.

Rory McIlroy won the US Open on Sunday and joins masters’ winner Charl Schwartzelas golfers who have booked their ticket to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Bermuda for October.

"It's a great thing for me," McIlroy said. "I can always call myself a major champion now and I can go ahead and focus on trying to get some more. ... There's a lot of joy in this victory. There's also a lot of relief."

McIlroy has long been deemed worthy of winning a major championship. In the last 12 months, the 22-year-old from Northern Ireland began to realize that potential.

Last year, in the British Open at St. Andrews, McIlroy shot a major championship record-tying 63 in the first round, but followed it with an 80 in the second round. He just missed a playoff at last year's PGA championship. Then, at this year's Masters, he shot a painful 80 in the final round to squander a four-shot lead.

All week at Congressional Country Club, McIlroy had insisted he was past The Masters.

"I'm not sure if (people) believed me, but here you go," McIlroy said, nodding at the big silver trophy next to him. "Nice to prove some people wrong."

On the final hole, McIlroy gazed into the gallery of tens of thousands, trying to find one of the people who had believed in him all along.

Near the green, he finally spotted his father, Gerry.

McIlroy grinned like a little kid, and pumped his fist a few times. Moments later, after making history, he walked off the green and hugged his dad.

Happy Father's Day, he told him.

Minutes later, during the trophy presentation, Gerry McIlroy stood beaming near the 18th green.

He had always believed in his son, even after the struggle at The Masters. But this was almost too much to process.

"Maybe at age 24 or 25 we thought we could have seen this," he said. "But this is just unbelievable. ... After The Masters and after winning this, I think he'll go on leaps and bounds. He should do well, and he's keen to do well."

Rory McIlroy already has done well enough that he basically re-wrote the U.S. Open history book.

McIlroy's finishing score of 268 is now the standard, surpassing Jim Furyk's record of 272, set in 2003 at Olympia Fields. McIlroy also finished at 16-under, besting Tiger Woods' mark of 12-under, set in 2000 at Pebble Beach.

The 22-year-old became the youngest winner since the legendary Bobby Jones won the U.S. Open at age 21 in 1923. Jack Nicklaus, who won 18 major championships and has taken an interest in McIlroy's career, also won the U.S. Open at age 22. But he was a few months older than McIlroy is now.

"He's ahead of my major pace," Nicklaus told NBC Sports with a laugh. "And his score is way ahead of my pace."

McIlroy also became the youngest major winner since Woods won The Masters in 1997 at age 21.

"What a performance from start to finish," Woods said in a statement, according to the Associated Press. "Enjoy the win. Well done."