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A16 sports
Tuesday 30 augusT 2022
McIlroy a 'Super Bowl' champ in a year without winning major

ATLANTA (AP) — Rory Mc- Tour Championship and the
Ilroy walked toward the symbolism of the strongest
stage in the media room at voice in the fight against
East Lake, the FedEx Cup LIV Golf winning what the
silver and shiny on the ta- PGA Tour describes as
ble, when he raised his arm its "ultimate prize." It was
and declared with a smile, about more than money.
"Super Bowl champ!" For McIlroy — and the entire
That was more another dig FedEx Cup playoffs, for that
at LIV Golf than sizing up his matter — it was a remind-
season. er that while winning starts
The reference was banter with having a chance, it
he had exchanged with a can require a little more.
reporter at the start of the Will Zalatoris hit a tee shot in
FedEx Cup playoffs when Memphis that nearly went
asked if it was the hard- out-of-bounds. Patrick
est trophy to win. McIlroy Cantlay hit a drive in Wilm-
would know better than ington that landed in just
anyone now that he's a the right spot to bounce
three-time winner, who also over a bunker and into the
twice failed to win as the fairway. McIlroy hit a chip
No. 1 seed. in Atlanta that should have
"Is the Super Bowl the hard- gone off the green on the
est trophy to win in foot- Rory McIlroy reacts after making a birdie putt on the fifteenth green during the final round of the 70th hole except the pin
ball?" he asked on Aug 10. Tour Championship golf tournament at East Lake Golf Club Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Atlanta. got in the way.
Few things are lost on Mc- Associated Press McIlroy knows what it's like
Ilroy. The lead attorney for to be the MVP without win-
LIV Golf had argued in a Smith, but he was good He ended his praise by a major. That remains the ning the Super Bowl. He
court hearing the day be- enough to have a chance keeping score, and that ultimate measure. won two majors in 2014
fore that the FedEx Cup at the end. He was a long also was telling. McIlroy was the only play- and lost to Billy Horschel on
was the "Super Bowl of golf" shot at the start and going "I told him we're 1-all in er to finish in the top 10 at the final day at East Lake in
in his unsuccessful bid for into the final round, but he Georgia," McIlroy said. "He all the majors this year. Of 2014. He won two playoff
three players from the Sau- played his best on Sunday got the Masters. I got this." the three times he was in events in 2012 and lost the
di-funded league to play — with a lot of help from McIlroy was runner-up to the mix, none crushed him FedEx Cup to Brandt Sne-
the postseason. Scheffler and a little from Scheffler at Augusta Na- more than the British Open deker.
McIlroy rarely resists trolling Sungjae Im — to rally from tional, though he was nev- at St. Andrews, where Smith "The more times you just put
LIV Golf or Greg Norman. six shots down and claim er seriously in contention. simply outplayed him. yourself in the position, the
There also was plenty of the $18 million prize. And it's foolish to even ask "I've been knocking on the law of averages suggests
truth to his eventual answer Super Bowl champ? Sure. which one McIlroy or any door so much this year. St. that you're going to get it
— McIlroy is not big on "yes" Before he laid his hands on player would rather have. Andrews was really hard for done at some point," McIl-
or "no" — on the difficulty of the trophy, however, McIl- There are the majors. And me," McIlroy said. "This soft- roy said. "And that's sort of
winning the FedEx Cup. roy was quick to point out there is the FedEx Cup. ens the blow a little bit. It what I've done in this tour-
"It's a weird one," he said, that Scheffler was the MVP. At this stage in his career, doesn't make it that much nament."
and no one would dispute "Firstly, there's only thing I money is not as meaningful easier to get over, but it's Tiger Woods once said
that when it comes to any want to say: I feel like Scot- as winning. McIlroy spoke of great to end the season on it can't be considered a
playoff system in golf. "You tie deserves at least half of the three "Calamity Jane" a high note like this." great year without a ma-
have to play consistently this today," McIlroy said at putters in his trophy case Perhaps that's why his best jor. That's still true. It was a
good golf over the course the trophy presentation. — the prize for winning the friend and caddie, Harry great year for Scheffler.
of a 30-week season and "He had an unbelievable Tour Championship. Diamond, said to McIlroy All things considered —
then you have to get hot at season. I feel sort of bad He is the only three-time when they finished, "All the three wins, a third FedEx
the end of it again, as well." that I pipped him to the winner of the FedEx Cup. good golf you played this Cup and his role in helping
And that's what he did. He post, but he's a hell of a Left unsaid is that those year, you deserve this." to reshape the PGA Tour —
wasn't as good as Scot- competitor. He's an even "very cool" trophies all were There was a lot to unpack McIlroy's year wasn't too far
tie Scheffler or Cameron better guy." won since he last captured from McIlroy winning the behind.q

Dejah Mulipola wins Athletes Unlimited softball championship

By CLIFF BRUNT for Team USA at the Tokyo players were separated
Dejah Mulipola is the 2022 Olympics, considers it one by just 288 points heading
Athletes Unlimited softball of her greatest accom- into the final weekend.
champion. plishments as a softball Mulipola fell behind Alys-
The former University of player. sa Denham in the stand-
Arizona star scored 1,782 "I definitely say top three, ings heading into the final
points to claim the individ- just because the women game but responded by
ual title in a 60-player field. in this league are the best going 2-for-2 with a triple,
The winner was deter- of the best," the California a home run and two walks.
mined during a 30-game native said. "It's a chal- "I was like, you know, I
Arizona baserunner Dejah Mulipola (8) rounds the basses after season at Parkway Bank lenging league." could either pout about it
hitting a home run against Arkansas during an NCAA college Sports Complex in Rose- It was the closest race in or I could be optimistic and
softball game in Fayetteville, Ark., Friday, May 28, 2021. mont, Illinois. three years of Athletes Un- be like, 'I have no pressure
Associated Press Mulipola, a silver medalist limited softball. The top 10 on my back now. q