Rory McIlroy didnt have his best stuff this week and, if youre a professional golfer, thats very, very scary. For a while on Sunday during the final round of the PGA Championship, one of the most exciting and memorable in many years, it appeared as if the Northern Irishman was going to let the peloton of chasers pass him, that his run of exacting play was going to end. When he stood in the 10th fairway waiting to play his second shot, he saw Rickie Fowler birdie to go up three shots. Phil Mickelson and Henrik Stenson were also ahead of him. It was, he admitted later, time to make something happen, and thats just what he did. “I needed to sort of stay patient and just sort of bide my time and wait for something to click,” McIlroy said. “Something to happen and that something happened on the 10th-hole. To make eagle there was a big turning point in the tournament and, from there, I kicked on and played some great golf down the stretch.” Great golf, but not the kind of golf that saw him win his last Majors by three, six and eight shots. This time, he had to grind it out and push himself uphill to the finish line. But he did just that and its that performance that makes it all the more satisfying. “To win it in this fashion and this style, it means a lot,” said the 25-year-old. “It means that I know that I can do it. I know that I can come from behind. I know that I can mix it up with the best players in the world down the stretch in a major and come out on top. “Phil Mickelson, the second-best player in this year and this generation, to be able to beat him on the back nine on a Sunday; its great to have in the memory bank and great to have in the locker going forward.” If it was impressive to watch him lap the field in his previous Majors, it was stunning to see him control the back nine on this occasion. Over the final five holes, each of the trio of chasers made a bogey: Stenson and Fowler on the 14th, Mickelson on the 16th. McIlroy played that stretch in one-under. Oh, there was that helping hand from the PGA of America on the final hole. As the sun was setting, Mickelson and Fowler allowed McIlroy and Austrian Bernd Wiesberger to hit their tee shots before the former pair had played their second.But then the PGA, hustling to get finished before enduring a massive logistical and possibly financial nightmare to come back for a Monday finish, told the last two to play their second shots to the green. It was a breach of etiquette and one a gracious McIlroy made sure to acknowledge to Mickelson and Fowler in the scorers room, as well as in his thank you speech on the 18th-green (a ceremony that took place basically in the pitch black). What Rory did was simple: Control the ball. Control his emotions. Control the game. And thats whats scary if youre a golfer. Or impressive if youre a fan. Earlier this year, McIlroy sat down with Jack Nicklaus and had a long conversation about all things golf. The Golden Bear told the Holywood Kid that he only had his best stuff in about five of the 18 majors he won. The other times, he simply found a way to win. Thats what McIlroy seemed to discover yesterday - that he can beat the best without his best. McIlroy refused to call this a new era, a passing of the baton from that broken-down, old Tiger Woods. “People can call it what they want, thats for them to decide,” he stated. “I just know that I can win tournaments.” Its easy to get ahead of ourselves so soon after a victory, to anoint the new king before the old one is gone, but it sure seems as if the next few years are going to be fun to watch if yesterday was any indication. Cheap Jordan 3 Shoes For Sale . The Earthquakes (6-9-7) were coming off a 5-0 loss at home last Saturday to FC Dallas. Even with the draw, the Sounders (13-7-3) climbed back into a tie for both the Western Conference and overall top spot in MLS. Seattle, West co-leader Real Salt Lake and East leader Sporting Kansas City all have 42 points. Wholesale Air Jordan 3 . The 23-year-old restricted free agent appeared in all 48 games last season, finishing second among all Sabres skaters with 15 goals and 34 points. http://www.cheapairjordan3.com/.com) - Mike Miller scored a season-high 21 points in a rare start and the Cleveland Cavaliers bounced back from their worst loss of the season with a 95-91 win over the Brooklyn Nets. Cheap Air Jordan 3 From China . Some teams got significantly better, some teams divested themselves of talent and some teams had quiet afternoons, keeping the status quo. Cheap Wholesale Jordan 3 Shoes . "Hes over there," the first baseman said. "You dont need to talk to anybody else." Indeed, Peralta did it all as the majors top team won again.Northern Ireland warm up for a trip to Germany on Tuesday with a seemingly straightforward home clash against San Marino. San Marino have never won a World Cup qualifier, losing 55 and drawing two, and have lost all 20 of their matches against the home nations (Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales), scoring just three goals in that time and conceding 86.Michael ONeills team will be confident of adding to a strong home record which has seen them win six of their last eight home matches at Windsor Park. The manager, whose team drew 0-0 with Czech Republic in their opening Group C game, is keen to embrace home surroundings during this campaign.You cannot have a good campaign and drop points at home, ONeill said.Before we played our first match of this campaign, at our training camp in Austria we had a good meeting with the players and told them where we believed we had to deliver points and at home was a big factor in that.Getting as many points on the board here against San Marino, Azerbaijan and Norway would set us up for the Czech Republic and Germany games to come. Northern Ireland fans will be expecting a convincing victory Team newsONeill has a fully fit squad to choose from and hes likely to keep to his tried and tested starting XI that performed so admirably at the Euros.The only real dilemma is whether to start Kyle Lafferty, who has been out of favour at Norwich this season.Either QPRs Conor Washington or Charltons Josh Magennis could replace him as the lone striker. Northern Ireland manager Michael ONeill isnt worried by the expectation on his teams shoulders heading into their World Cup qualifier against San Marino StatsNorthern Ireland have won both of their previous encounters with San Marino, scoring a combined seven goals while conceding none.ddddddddddddGareth McAuley scored the last time these two sides met - a 3-0 away win in 2009. The defender has had two shots, more than any other Northern Ireland player in World Cup 2018 qualifying.Northern Ireland have also have conceded just two goals in their last six home matches and kept four clean sheets in that time (W4 D2). Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis says they must make home advantage count if theyre to reach the World Cup finals Charlies prediction This looks like a good little opportunity for Northern Ireland to get a few goals in the bag for once, but these teams can be frustrating initially.Lafferty had a pretty miserable Euros after being talked up and I think it could take a while for them to break San Marino down.Id be expecting late goals from Northern Ireland as theyre not used to going straight out and attacking, but these sort of teams get tired late on, so it might take something from a set-piece to get them going with Gareth McAuley their main threat.Charlie predicts: 3-0 and McAuley to score first (35/1 with Sky Bet) Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just £6.99. No contract. BettingNorthern Ireland are just 1/40 with Sky Bet to see off San Marino, who are up against odds of 66/1 for the victory and 14/1 just to secure a draw. Kyle Lafferty is rated the hosts main threat at 9/4 to score first and just 6/1 to score a hat-trick, while Charlie Nicholas is tipping Gareth McAuley to break the deadlock in a 3-0 victory at 35/1 in his Sky Bet prediction.You can watch Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus Premier League football and the Japan Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! ' ' '