Rory McIlroy scorches past elite field to win BMW Championship

Rory McIlroy (GETTY IMAGES)

World No 1 Rory McIlroy continued his red-hot form when he cruised to his third win in four starts with a two-shot victory at the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Indiana yesterday.

With a glittering leaderboard featuring six major winners and four players who have held the No 1 ranking packed into the top 10, McIlroy carded a five-under 67 at to collect his fourth PGA Tour win of the season.

Former world No 1 Lee Westwood of Britain and four-times major champion Phil Mickelson of the United States tied for second place on 18 under par.

McIlroy began the day a shot back of overnight leaders Mickelson and Vijay Singh, but was on the move quickly with birdies at the second and fifth before moving top of the leaderboard to stay with back-to-back birdies at nine and 10.

The Northern Irishman then pulled away from the field with birdies at 15 and 16 to open up a three-shot cushion with two to play.

Mickelson tried to keep pace with birdies on 15 and 16 but a bogey on 17 removed any suspense, allowing McIlroy a leisurely victory stroll up the 18th where he signed off with his only bogey of the day, a small fist pump and winning total of 268.