Every Tuesday, SI Golf will rank nine newsmakers from the golf world. Sometimes, we'll cast a wide net. Tell us what you think on the SI Golf X account.
1. Rory McIlroy: The luck of the Irish. The five-time major winner holed a dramatic eagle on the 72nd hole to force a playoff at the Irish Open. Then, after three dramatic bonus holes, he won his first title since the Masters behind a raucous crowd. McIlroy said afterward that this one of the best years of his storied career. A Ryder Cup win in a few weeks—as McIlroy boldly predicted to the European Walker Cup team on video—would make it even sweeter.
