Rory Mcllroy Gets First Win of 2013

While it might not have taken place on the PGA Tour, Rory Mcllroy is a champion and major winner in 2013. After going winless on both the PGA and European Tours in 2013, Mclrroy decided to head "Down Under" to try and change his luck, competing in the PGA Tour of Australia's Australian Open.

Entering the day four shots back of home town hero Adam Scott, the Palm Beach Gardens resident shot a 6-under 66 to beat Scott by one stroke and spoil Scott's chance of winning his home country's triple crown.

"I wanted to get a win and finally I've been able to get one," McIlroy said. "But more satisfying than that is being able to take one of the best players in the world down the stretch and come out on top."

Mcllroy eagled the seventh and birdied the eighth on Sunday to erase that four shot defecit and went shot for shot with Scott, heading to the 18th hole in a two-way tie. After both players hit irons off the tee to almost identical spots on the fairway, Scott's approach shot took a bad bounce and ended up going off the back of the green. Mcllroy hit his approach shot to 10 feet of the hole and sank his birdie putt to win the event.

After winning both the Australian Masters and Australian PGA, Scott was looking to become only the second golfer ever to win Australia's Triple Crown by winning all three events in the same season. The only golfer ever to achieve that goal was Jupiter and Admirals Cove resident Robert Allenby in 2005.

While Mcllroy was getting his first win of 2013 in Australia, Old Palm resident Charl Schwartzel was doing the same in his native South Africa. Schwartzel successfully defended his title at the Alfred Dunhill Championship with a 4-under 68 on Sunday. It was his third time winning the Afred Dunhill Championship and, like Mcllroy, his first win of 2013.

Up next for Mcllroy is Tiger Woods' Northwestern Mutual World Challenge this weekend while Schwartzel will stay in South Africa and compete in the Nedbank Golf Challenge.