Rory McIlroy shot a 67th final round at the CJ Cup in South Carolina to defend his title at the tournament and return to No. 1 in the Official World Golf Ranking on Sunday.
McIlroy produced seven birdies to finish at 17 under par, one stroke ahead of American Kurt Kitayama, despite bogeying the final two holes.
I can’t ask for a better start to the season than this. Extremely proud of the work I’ve done to get back to world number 1. So grateful for the support from my team and my fans around the world. @congareegolf is an amazing place and the fans this week were amazing. pic.twitter.com/LHK9PfQdSa
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) October 24, 2022
“At the end of the day, I just want to win this golf tournament. If I win the golf tournament, then it’ll be all right,” McIlroy said after his 4-under 67.
“So for me, tomorrow I have to go, set myself a score that I want to shoot, try to do it,” he said.
6 consecutive seasons with at least 1 win for @McIlroyRory. pic.twitter.com/1fJWaz8e4H
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 23, 2022
“Focusing on that, I hope it ends with a few things, a trophy and a return to the top of the world rankings.”
McIlroy also won the CJ Cup in 2021 when it was held at the Summit Club in Las Vegas.
Serie A: Napoli champion Roma
Victor Osimhen scored with 10 minutes remaining and Serie A leaders Napoli won 1-0 at the Stadio Olimpico on Sunday to equal a club record with their 11th straight win in all competitions.
Osimhen collected a ball over the top, smashed his way past imposing Roma centre-back Chris Smalling and fired a low shot into the other side of the net from an almost impossible angle on the right flank.
The only other time Napoli have won 11 games in a row came in 1986 when Diego Maradona played for the club. Maradona, who died in 2020, then led Napoli to their only two Serie A titles in 1987 and 1990.
Napoli have won seven in a row in Serie A with four Champions League wins – qualifying for the knockout stage with two games to spare with lopsided wins over Liverpool, Rangers and Ajax.
Napoli have a three-point lead at the top with 29 after 11 games, three ahead of second-placed Milan. Roma are fifth with 22 points.
La Liga: Dembele stars in Barcelona win
Ousmane Dembele scored and provided assists for Sergi Roberto, Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres as Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 4-0.
Dembele netted with a header in the 12th, Roberto increased the lead from close range in the 18th and Lewandowski netted his fifth goal in four matches from inside the box in the 22nd. Ferran Torres sealed the victory in the 73rd.
🍿 HIGHLIGHTS! All the goals and best plays from a stellar evening at Spotify Camp Nou! #BarçaAthletic
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) October 23, 2022
Barcelona remain second in the standings with 28 points, three behind leaders Real Madrid and five ahead of third-placed Atlético Madrid.
Athletic, winless in four consecutive games and led by former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde, remained in sixth place.
The league win comes three days before the Catalan club are looking for a near miracle to avoid Champions League elimination. Barcelona host Bayern Munich but need Inter Milan not to beat bottom-placed Viktoria Plzen at home in the other group game.
