Rory McIlroy sent a confident message to his rivals after winning the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, telling his caddie Harry Diamond “start as you mean to go on” during their victory walk up the 18th hole.
The Northern Irishman secured his first PGA Tour victory of 2025 with a commanding performance at one of golf’s most iconic venues.
“I’m just as determined this year in any of the years I’ve been out here on the PGA Tour,” McIlroy told reporters after clinching the win.
The victory marked McIlroy’s 27th PGA Tour title, as he finished two shots clear of his nearest rival with a final round of 66.
Rory McIlroy has sent a warning out to his golfing rivals ahead of the Majors this year
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The 35-year-old’s performance earned him a substantial prize purse of £2.9million ($3.6m).
The win ensures McIlroy has now secured at least one PGA Tour victory in each of the last eight seasons.
His impressive display included a hole-in-one during the opening round, setting the tone for a tournament that saw him finish at 21-under-par.
Speaking to Sky Sports, McIlroy expressed confidence about nearing his peak form. “Yeah I’m close, I’m pretty close,” he said.
The County Down native highlighted his satisfaction with his current game.
“It is in a really good shape and probably as sharp as it’s ever been at the end of January, start of February, heading into the season,” he added.
His determination was evident as he expressed hopes to “keep the momentum going into Torrey Pines in a couple of weeks’ time.”
McIlroy detailed specific aspects of his strong performance at Pebble Beach.
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Reuters
“I feel like I controlled my ball flight well in the crosswinds this week I drove the ball really well,” he said.
The champion acknowledged his perfectionist nature: “I think I’ll always nitpick and there’s always things about my game that I want to try to get better, because that’s just who I am.”
McIlroy will next compete at The Genesis Invitational, which has been relocated to Torrey Pines Golf Course due to Los Angeles wildfires.
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McIlroy’s dominant display serves as a warning to rivals, including seven former Masters champions who have joined LIV Golf but remain eligible to compete at Augusta in April.
The upcoming Masters will see LIV rebels Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Sergio García, Bubba Watson, Charl Schwartzel and Phil Mickelson in the field.
McIlroy celebrated his victory at “one of the cathedrals of golf,” telling CBS: “I knew today was going to be tough, it was going to be exciting, there were so many guys around the lead.”