It's no secret that Rory McIlroy has a mean drive in his locker - but even he was surprised by his simply outrageous tee shot on the 18th at the WGC-Dell Match Play on Thursday.
McIlroy was up against American Denny McCarthy, and spent the entire front nine chasing a deficit after McCarthy took an early lead. An eagle for McCarthy at the 6th brought him further ahead, before McIlroy began to claw back the deficit, and eventually took a 1UP advantage into the final hole.
Merely needing to half the hole to win the game and progress to the weekend in Austin, McIlroy pulled out a stunning 375-yard drive at the par four 18th to leave himself within a few feet of the hole - and leave the watching world in disbelief.
Scarcely believable Rory McIlroy drive wins the day at WGC Match Play
Most players chose a wood or iron club off the 18th, but Rory McIlroy plumped for a driver on the tee box to conclude his Thursday match against Denny McCarthy - and it proved to be a spectacular shot.
One of the greatest drives you will EVER see 🤯@McIlroyRory drives the ball to 3 FEET at the 375-yard par-4 18th with a 349-yard carry to the green! pic.twitter.com/HzhMBtyKkr
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 23, 2023
The commentators could scarcely believe what they were seeing as the ball not only landed on the green, but made inroads towards the hole. McIlroy would ultimately claim the hole with just one shot, winning the final hole and, in turn, Thursday's match in spectacular fashion.
Incredibly, Rory McIlroy wasn't even aware that his ball had hit the green until he was told while walking down the fairway, in a brilliant representation of just how much distance he got on the tee shot.
After his awe-inspiring 375-yard drive, McIlroy was asked if the shot was up there with the best of his career - a suggestion he laughed off, though he did admit it was a deeply satisfying moment:
I was 1-up and there's certainly a lot of other ways to make birdie on that hole without having to do that. But, yeah, it was a great swing and it was great time to do it.
I certainly didn't expect to fly it on the green. It's almost one of those, when it's that far much downwind, it's almost like I could have hit 3-wood to get the down slope to get the skid. Like, I was imagining the driver was going to land into the upslope and sort of stay 10, 20 yards short. But as I said, I didn't imagine I could fly it on the green.
Rory McIlroy will now face Keegan Bradley, who won the other game in group three on Thursday against fellow American Scott Stallings, for a place in the knockout stages of the match play tournament in Austin. Their match will tee off at 5:13pm Irish time on Friday evening.
SEE ALSO: "Shame On Them" - LIV Man Ian Poulter Comments On Ryder Cup Selection
