Rory was the Story in 2014..

Rory McIlroy finally grew up to become a man in front of our eyes this year as he took the golf world by storm and emerged as the best player on the planet, the undisputed world #1


His sensational summer started late in May after a much publicized break up with fiancé Caroline Wozniacki, days after sitting down to send out their wedding invitations he celebrated with his first win of the season at the BMW PGA Championship where he beat Shane Lowry by one shot


However he really caught fire with a 2-shot victory at the Open Championship played at Royal Liverpool for his third career major title. He shot three rounds in the 60s, enough to beat out Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler by two. Rickie and Sergio seemed to be step and step with Rory all summer..




Rory made it two straight events with a 2-shot victory over Garcia again at the WGC - Bridgestone Invitational then in the dark he claimed his 4th major at the PGA Championship at Valhalla holding off Phil Mickelson and Rickie again.
Of course he led a wildly successful European squad to a resounding win over Tom Watson's USA team at Gleneagles, perhaps the icing on his summer of summers.


He concluded his season with a pair of runner-up finishes at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship and the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai winning the Race to Dubai and Player of the Year honours on both sides of the Atlantic along with nearly every other award ( Vardon etc)


Rory has always been shy by nature, after the public embarrassment of splitting with Caroline, he decided to dedicate himself much like the Tiger of old to becoming the world's best. He hit the gym, his physique is now more powerful than ever, and he seems set for a long run as the dominant player in the game.


Every week is like another chapter, I remember Billy Horschel getting hot a just the right time during the Fed Ex playoffs, and in a 2 week span swept the BMW, the Tour Championship and the Cup along with the $10m bonus, securing the future of his daughter, born a week after his win ..


The majors if you forgot went like this..
*10–13 April: Masters Tournament – Bubba Watson won by three strokes to claim his second Masters championship.

12–15 June: U.S. Open – Martin Kaymer won at Pinehurst by eight strokes, becoming the first German player to win the U.S. Open, and the first player to win the Players Championship and the U.S. Open in the same year. This was his second major victory.

17–20 July: The Open Championship – Rory McIlroy won by two strokes over Rickie Fowler and Sergio García at Royal Liverpool. It was his third career major championship, and his first Open Championship. With the win, he became the fourth player ever of 25 years old or under to have won at least three majors.

7–10 August: PGA Championship – Rory McIlroy won by one stroke over Phil Mickelson at Valhalla. It was his fourth career major and his second PGA Championship. It was also his third win in three starts, dating back to the Open Championship three weeks earlier.

Canadian Golf highlights
Brooke Henderson, now 17, was an integral member of Golf Canada’s National Amateur Team across the past three years. This summer she won the individual title at the 2014 Women’s World Amateur Team Championship and led Canada to a silver medal. As a 16-year-old, she was runner-up at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur and tied for 10th at the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst No. 2.


She won three professional tournaments including two Canadian Women’s Tour events and the 2014 PGA of Canada Women’s Championship. Henderson’s Canadian Women’s Tour victory in 2012 at the age of 14 years, 9 months and 3 days made her the youngest player (male or female) ever to win a professional golf event.


Adam Hadwin had a great year on the Web.com tour and he won full status on the PGA Tour for this season. Rod Spittle was 5th at the very tough Champions Tour Q school and he will have full status as a result next year..


Corey Conners from Listowel, was the runner-up at the US Amateur and led the men's amateur to a 2nd place finish at the World Championships in Japan, He will remain an amateur next year as he has invites to play in the US Open, the Masters and  possibly the Open Championship


Nick Taylor hit the jackpot winning the Sanderson Farms in November to get a full 2 year exemption on the PGA Tour.


Others I will remember..


Kiwi teenager Lydia Ko became the first player on the LPGA Tour to win over $2m in a season when she scooped up the $1m bonus for winning the Race to CME Globe, and she seems set to be a dominant force in women's golf


Stacy Lewis became the first American in 21 years to sweep 3 major trophies, the Vare for lowest scoring , the money title and Player of the Year..


Veteran Jimmy Walker had a career year with 2 wins early on, Patrick Reed and
Jordan Speith emerged with wins and a stunning partnership at the Ryder Cup..


There was more but dominating it all was the summer of summers for Rickie and Sergio and of course Rory, who was the story of 2014...




Bryan Angus..

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