Toying with his opponents had come to an end. That seems an exaggeration of Rory McIlroy’s standing and prowess in professional golf, given the past few years have been noted not for what he has done so much as what almost was.

McIlroy shot a final-round 6-under 66 on Sunday to erase a one-stroke deficit and rolled to a two-stroke victory over Shane Lowry at his PGA Tour 2025 season debut. "To win at one of the cathedrals of golf is really, really cool," McIlroy said.