McGirt: I needed to walk slow
William McGirt claimed an unlikely victory on Sunday at the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and the 36-year-old revealed after his triumph that his plan for the day was simply to swing slowly and walk slowly.
McGirt has played a fair bit of golf in his time, most of it being on developmental mini-tours such as the Tar Heel Tour, the Hooters Tour, the Carolina Mountain Tour, the All-Star Tour, the Carolinas Pro Tour and the Gateway Tour.
However, on Sunday, the Wofford College graduate starred on one of the biggest stages of them all. If the Players Championship is golf's unofficial fifth major then the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village is surely the sports unofficial sixth major.
McGirt was in a share of the lead heading into the final round at Jack's place and after carding a rock-solid one-under-par 71, which featured a 17-foot birdie putt at the fifth and no bogeys, it came down to a play-off with Jon Curran.
McGirt and Curran both made par on the 18th the first time they played it in the play-off but the second time round Curran made bogey and so McGirt's four was enough to earn him his first victory on the PGA Tour.
Speaking after the round McGirt said his primary objective on Sunday was to ensure that he never allowed himself to feel rushed at any point.
"The few times I've been in this position, everything sped up, but I learned what my tendencies were," McGirt began.
"So I knew starting today I needed to walk as slow as I possibly could all day long. And the same thing on my golf swing, I knew I needed to try to swing as slow as I possibly could.
"It's just been years and years of practice and getting your nose bloodied and learning from it."
Latest
-
NewsGolfers warned of further sanctions if they continue to play in LIV breakaway
The DP World Tour has issued fines of £100,000 and tournament bans to its members who played in the inaugural LIV Golf event earlier this month
-
European TourDP World Tour hits members who played inaugural LIV series with £100,000 fines
They have also been banned from several forthcoming tournaments including the Scottish Open.
-
NewsRory McIlroy not impressed as Brooks Koepka becomes latest big name to join LIV
The world number two labelled the players who have joined the new series as “duplicitous” for the way they have handled their breakaway.
-
The OpenR&A confirms LIV Golf Series players will be allowed to compete at Open
The 150th Open Championship will get underway at St Andrews in three weeks’ time.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick turns to other major winners for advice on dealing with fame
Fitzpatrick won the US Open on Sunday.
-
NewsBrooks Koepka set to join Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series
Koepka’s brother Chase played in the opening event at Centurion Club earlier this month.
-
US OpenGary Player urges Matt Fitzpatrick to avoid ‘poison’ of modern-day coaching
Player tells US Open champion Fitzpatrick to learn from mistakes of recent major winners, saying: “The teaching today is the worst it has ever been.”
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick’s caddie Billy Foster ready for ‘long party’ after US Open win
Foster won his first major after a 40-year career which includes spells working for the likes of Seve Ballesteros, Lee Westwood and Darren Clarke.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick backed to become a dominant force after winning first major
The Englishman claimed his first major title at Brookline.
-
US OpenMatt Fitzpatrick: A Blade with plenty of support who can really cut it
The Sheffield golfer landed his first major – and first professional win in America – at Brookline on Sunday.