McIlroy Goes From Miserable Start to Memorable Finish

By ESPN

Three holes into the Deutsche Bank Championship, Rory McIlroy had to make a 15-foot putt just to escape with triple bogey.

He already was 4-over-par and had every reason to believe this tournament was headed for an outcome that was becoming far too familiar for a player of his class. But there was one difference.

His head didn't drop. His shoulders didn't sag.

McIlroy went from a miserable start to a memorable finish, closing with a 6-under 65 on Monday to make up a six-shot deficit and win the Deutsche Bank Championship for his 20th career title around the world.

"It's just incredible, this game, how quickly things can change," McIlroy said after his two-shot victory over Paul Casey. "It's been a great lesson for me this week not to get down on myself, to stay patient. After three holes Friday, there was so much going through my head, and none of those things involved sitting beside a trophy."

Not just a trophy, but a belt, too.

Deutsche Bank gave him the blue belt with a large silver buckle when McIlroy won four years ago, and because this was the last year it is sponsoring the tournament, the company wanted him to keep it.