McIlroy pips Thomas, Finau in Canadian Open thriller

Rory McIlroy came through a final-round tussle with Justin Thomas and Tony Finau to successfully defend his title after a remarkable finish at the RBC Canadian Open.

McIlroy birdied eight of his opening 12 holes and then squandered a three-shot lead during a low-scoring Sunday at Royal George's Golf and Country Club, only to finish strongly and register his 21st PGA Tour title.

The former world No 1 birdied his final two holes to close a brilliant eight-under 62 and end the week on 19 under, which was enough to give McIlroy a second win of the season and ensure he successfully defended a title for the first time in his PGA Tour career.

Finau closed a final-round 64 to finish two strokes back in second ahead of Thomas, who briefly shared the lead on the back nine, while Justin Rose claimed a share of fourth alongside Sam Burns after threatening PGA Tour history during his final-round 60.

McIlroy started the day tied for the lead but edged ahead with a 25-foot birdie at the first, only for Finau to respond by holing from 20 feet at the next to join the Northern Irishman on 12 under.

A brilliant approach at the fourth set up a four-foot birdie for McIlroy, while Finau picked up a shot from a similar distance at the next, before McIlroy moved back ahead with a delightful chip-in birdie from just off the sixth green.

McIlroy doubled his advantage when he flicked a wedge to tap-in range at the seventh, but Wyndham Clark - playing in the group ahead - took advantage of the par-five ninth to register a fifth birdie of the day and close the gap back to one.

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