CARMEL, Indiana — Like Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus and other golfing greats before him, Rory McIlroy has raised his game to a level where he fully expects to be lifting a trophy at the end of the week. For the second time in seven days, and third in four starts, the mop-haired Northern Irishman stole the show, his victory Sunday at the BMW Championship coming on the heels of his Deutsche Bank Championship triumph last Monday. The win consolidated McIlroy's lead atop the world rankings, while Tiger Woods has gone back to second as his main challenger. The Irishman stormed ahead in the world rankings with 12.80 points, with Woods overtaking Donald on 9.63 points. Donald drops to third with 9.17 points with another former No. 1, Lee Westwood of England, in fourth on 7.57 points. McIlroy has produced a dominating stretch of golf not seen on the PGA Tour since 2009, when Woods was the last to claim back-to-back titles winning at the Buick Open and WGC Bridgestone Invitational. “I've always had an appreciation for what Tiger did over the years — winning seven, eight, nine times in a season for I don't know how long, 10 years,” McIlroy told reporters following his two shot victory over Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson. “It's the more you put yourself in this position and the more you win and the more you pick up trophies, it becomes normal and it feels like this is what you're supposed to do. “I'm sure that's how he felt when he was on that run and how he still feels. He still won three times this year. “I don't think I'm quite there yet but I'm getting to that stage where I'm thinking, ‘this is what I should be doing. I should be lifting a trophy at the end of the week.'” It would not be going out on a limb to predict there will be many more titles in the 23-year-old's future. In fact, there could be more silverware coming his way before the end of the month. McIlroy will head to Atlanta in two weeks for the season-ending Tour Championship, leading the FedExCup standings. He has already won more than $7 million this year and could push that close to $20 million with a win at East Lake Golf Club where the points leader will walk away with a $10 million bonus. His four wins, including a second major at the PGA Championship, top the PGA Tour this season and make him the heavy favorite for player of the year honors. American Woods spent the week gushing over McIlroy's talents. “Rory was putting on a show out there,” said Woods, who partnered McIlroy through the opening two rounds. “He's doing the things he needs to do and as he said, he's feeling very confident about his game. Right now, he's just really playing well and makes a ton of putts. That a great combo.” With a glittering leaderboard featuring six major winners and four players who have held the No. 1 ranking packed into the top 10, McIlroy carded a five-under 67 to collect his fourth PGA Tour win of the season and second in seven days. The mop-topped Northern Irishman finished 20 under par and will head to the Sept. 20-23 Tour Championship in Atlanta as the favourite to walk away with the $10 million bonus that will go to the FedEx Cup points leader. Former world No. 1 Lee Westwood of Britain and four-time major champion Phil Mickelson of the US tied for second place at 18 under par. Woods is also headed back to Atlanta's East Lake Golf Club with an eye on the collecting the $10 million prize for a third time after returning a three-under 68 to finish in a tie for fourth with American compatriot Robert Garrigus (69) at 17-under. — Agencies
