Rory McIlroy: Northern Irishman returns to top of world rankings with CJ Cup win

The triumph sees McIlroy ascent to the apical of the satellite rankings for a ninth time

Rory McIlroy returned to the apical of the satellite rankings for the archetypal clip successful much than 2 years by retaining his CJ Cup rubric successful South Carolina.

American Kurt Kitayama besides deed 67 connected Sunday, and concisely drew level with McIlroy acknowledgment to a birdie astatine the 12th.

However McIlroy made 3 consecutive birdies of his ain to propulsion clear.

"It means a lot," said an affectional McIlroy aft claiming his 23rd PGA Tour win.

"I've worked truthful hard implicit the past 12 months to get myself backmost to this place. I consciousness similar I'm enjoying this crippled arsenic overmuch arsenic I ever have.

"I perfectly emotion the crippled of play and erstwhile I spell retired determination and play with that joy, it has decidedly showed implicit these past 12 months. It feels awesome."

'I'm truly arrogant of myself'

Holding a 1 changeable pb coming into the last day, McIlroy knew a triumph would instrumentality him supra Scottie Scheffler and to the apical of the satellite rankings for a ninth time.

A 2nd spot decorativeness would besides person seen him leapfrog Scheffler, due to the fact that the American finished successful a necktie for 45th connected 1 under.

For McIlroy, birdies astatine the 14th, 15th and 16th holes gave him a three-shot cushion implicit his closest rival Kitayama.

The pb allowed the four-time large victor to travel location successful comparative comfortableness contempt bogeying the past 2 holes.

"It's a large achievement, I'm truly arrogant of myself close now," helium continued.

"The travel of trying to get the champion retired of myself, that's the satisfying thing.

"I ne'er consciousness similar I've figured this crippled out, I don't deliberation I ever volition fig it out, but each time I aftermath up trying to get closer."