Rory McIlroy's shot in the arm for the PGA Tour and dig in the ribs of Greg Norman with Canadian Open title defence

If the PGA Tour could script a storyline in a week of turmoil, the sight of Rory McIlroy delivering a masterclass to defend his RBC Canadian Open title would be it. LIV Golf has thrown millions (maybe billions) in a bid to disrupt the world of golf; and the PGA Tour has handed suspensions to those who teed it up in St Albans. That sent a message, McIlroy did as well.

Ad/> Money is no object to LIV Golf, and more players will sign up, but those who crave competition and the thrill of the heat of battle would surely be thinking twice if they had watched McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Tony Finau slug it out on Sunday. /> GolfMcIlroy digs out Liv Golf chief Norman after defending Canadian Open title2 HOURS AGO Thomas and Finau went round in 64 blows, but were made to look ordinary as McIlroy signed for a 62 to win by two. In recent years, McIlroy has improved his putting statistics — and that left his approach play with the wedge as the gremlin in an otherwise well-oiled machine.

On Sunday at St. George's Golf and Country Club in Ontario, with the masses in support of McIlroy, he put on a wedge-play clinic: high, full swings, knock-down shots, spin-off holders. Ball control at its finest.

/> At times the ball was on a string. When it was off the string, he appeared to bend it to his will. He chipped in on six, and went within half a roll of repeating the dose on 10.

/> For 12 holes, he was exemplary. On 13 he missed a tiddler. It was more pressure than an issue with his stroke.

A further miss from close range opened the door for Justin Thomas and they stood on the 17th locked together. Thomas had momentum, but that is not always telling and it swung back in McIlroy’s favour with a two-shot swing. /> Thomas’ race was run when he