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Ranking the 10 best career moments of TaylorMade Driving Relief players

By Tim Letcher

ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 18: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holds the trophy after his two shot victory during the final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 18, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)
ORLANDO, FL - MARCH 18: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holds the trophy after his two shot victory during the final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented By MasterCard at Bay Hill Club and Lodge on March 18, 2018 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images) /
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Rory McIlroy
BETHESDA, MD – JUNE 19: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland speaks with the media after his eight-stroke during the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club on June 19, 2011 in Bethesda, Maryland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Images) /

No. 1 – Rory Rebounds from Masters Disappointment to Win U.S. Open

Everyone remembers the 2011 Masters. Rory McIlroy held the lead heading to the final nine holes of the tournament only to explode with a 43 on the back side. That took him from the lead to 15th place, where he would finish. It was a round from which many players might never recover.

But McIlroy was just 21 years old at the time and he wanted nothing more than another shot. And he got that chance at the 2011 U.S. Open.

Playing at Congressional Country Club, McIlroy stormed to the lead on the first day with a 6-under par round of 65. He held a three-shot advantage over Charl Schwartzel and Y.E. Yang after 18 holes. McIlroy extended his lead to six shots over Yang with a 66 on Friday.

McIlroy was able to make the lead even bigger on Saturday by shooting a 68. He led Yang by eight shots heading into Sunday’s final round.

While the thoughts of Augusta were on everyone’s mind during Sunday’s round, McIlroy would experience no such issues this time around. He would shoot 69 to win by eight shots, earning his first major championship in record-setting fashion.

His 16-under par score was the best ever in relation to par in U.S. Open history. His aggregate score of 268 was also a record. He also reached double digits under par quicker than any player in U.S. Open history. It was truly the beginning of something special for McIlroy.

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