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
-
NewsFormer Open champion Francesco Molinari confident career is back on track
Despite the PGA Tour resuming after the coronavirus shutdown in June last year, Molinari did not return to action until October.
-
NewsMatt Fitzpatrick shares Scottish Open lead with Thomas Detry
World number one Jon Rahm was ominously poised a shot off the pace.
-
NewsDean Burmester dedicates stunning third round to European Tour’s Clare Lipscombe
Tournament recorder Lipscombe died on Friday at the age of 43.
-
NewsLee Westwood aiming to build on previous amateur success at Royal St George’s
The bad news for his prospects of winning a first major title at the 88th attempt is that the victory in question was in an amateur event.
-
NewsJon Rahm warns he can get better after claiming share of Scottish Open lead
A second round of 65 gave him a halfway total of 11 under par.
-
NewsI can do better: Jon Rahm warns rivals after taking lead at Scottish Open
The US Open champion holds a one-shot lead over South Africa’s George Coetzee after a second round of 65.
-
NewsSpectator ejected after taking club from Rory McIlroy’s bag at Scottish Open
The Northern Irishman was waiting to get his round under way on Friday morning.
-
NewsSpectator takes club from Rory McIlroy’s bag on second day at Scottish Open
McIlroy was waiting to get his round under way at 8am at the Renaissance Club alongside US Open champion Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas.
-
NewsRory McIlroy disturbed on tee at Scottish Open as man grabs club from his bag
McIlroy was waiting to get his round under way at 8am at the Renaissance Club alongside US Open champion Jon Rahm and Justin Thomas.
-
NewsJon Rahm admits ego got in the way for his opening tee shot at Scottish Open
Rahm was announced on the first tee as the US Open champion, Race to Dubai leader and world number one.