Rory McIlroy aims dig at Greg Norman after retaining Canadian Open title

Rory McIlroy hit a superb final round of 62 to retain his RBC Canadian Open title before taking aim at Greg Norman, the figurehead of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Series.

McIlroy, who started the day in a share of the lead with Tony Finau, hit 10 birdies in his eight-under-par round to finish two shots clear of the American on 19 under and land his 21st PGA Tour crown. That is one more than Norman, the CEO of the breakaway LIV series, managed in his career.

“This is a day I’ll remember for a long, long time,” McIlroy said on CBS immediately after his victory at St George’s Golf and Country Club in Toronto. “Twenty-first PGA Tour win, one more than someone else – that gave me a little extra incentive today and happy to get it done.” McIlroy, who finished with back-to-back birdies on the 17th and 18th, doubled down on his criticism in the ensuing press conference. When the moderator introduced the world No 8, saying he’d won a PGA Tour title for the 21st time, McIlroy interjected: “And one more than Norman.”“I had [the] extra motivation of what’s going on across the pond,” McIlroy added. “The guy that’s spearheading that tour has 20 wins on the PGA Tour. I was tied with him and I wanted to get one ahead of him. And I did. So, that was really cool for me, just a little sense of pride on that one.”

He added: “It’s incredible, playing with Tony [Finau] and JT [Justin Thomas, who came third] today, two of the top players in the world and all of just playing the way we did,” added McIlroy after claiming his first Tour win of the year.

“I think after Covid I just needed a complete reset, sort of rededicated myself to the game a little bit,” the Northern Irishman concluded. “[I] sort of realised what made me happy, and this makes me