Fanling, Hong Kong – They say a sleeping giant should not be awaken.
That's exactly what happened on Sunday in Hong Kong, however, when Rory McIlroy -- using some extra sleep -- roared from behind with a five-under 65 to win the Hong Kong Open by two strokes.
And McIlroy didn't just win -- he finished the tournament by holing a bunker shot on the 18th, resulting in a display of exuberant joy across the 18th green. At 12-under 268, McIlroy kept his Race to Dubai hopes alive, moving into second past Martin Kaymer with a chance to catch Luke Donald next week.
The 22-year-old needed to finish second or better to have a chance to overtake Donald at next week's season-ending Dubai World Championship, and now McIlroy has that opportunity.
McIlroy, who held part of the lead after the first and second rounds, stumbled to an even-par 70 on Saturday and admitted he wasn't feeling his best after slipping three back. Instead of staying out late that night, McIlroy got nearly 12 hours of sleep and put on a flawless display at Hong Kong Golf Club on Sunday.
It's the third European Tour victory for McIlroy and second win overall of the year after capturing the U.S. Open in grand fashion. He also ran his streak of top-five finishes to five; his last result outside the top five came in August, when an injured wrist saw him finish tied for 64th at the PGA Championship.
MORE TO FOLLOW.
