Rory McIlroy sails past Gary Woodland for WGC Match Play title

Rory McIlroy would kindly like to remind you he has no plans on giving up the world No. 1 ranking to Jordan Spieth anytime soon.

McIlroy finished off three opponents on Sunday in the WGC-Cadillac Match Play en route to his 10th PGA Tour win, just a day before he turns 26. His day at TPC Harding Park culminated in a 4 and 2 win over long-hitting Gary Woodland to capture his second World Golf Championships event in his last three tries.

The Ulsterman began his day by making a 60-foot bomb to finish off Paul Casey on the 22nd hole of their quarterfinal match that resumed Sunday after darkness halted play the night prior.

The four-time major winner then drew Jim Furyk in the semifinal round. A tight match all the way through, McIlroy prevailed 1 up when he played the final three holes in 4 under par, including an eagle at the par-5 finishing hole to secure a place in the final.

Both McIlroy and Woodland played sloppy early, backing up a birdie at the par-5 first each with a pair of bogeys. However, McIlroy set a lead with a par at the fourth hole and never looked back. He made three consecutive birdies on the next three holes to take a 4-up lead at the turn. To his credit, Woodland won the 11th and 12th holes to make McIlroy sweat a little, but McIlroy’s win at the par-4 14th forced Woodland to press with few holes left to make a charge. Woodland conceded the 16th hole and the match to McIlroy.

This is McIlroy’s first WGC-Match Play title, but follows on his WGC breakthrough last August at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational, which was the sandwich in two major championship victories at the Open Championship and PGA Championship.

With the win, McIlroy joins some elite company. Only two players other than McIlroy in PGA Tour history have earned at least 10 PGA Tour wins before turning 26: Jack Nicklaus (17) and Tiger Woods (29).

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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