Rory McIlroy wins Canadian Open with career-tying 61

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Rory McIlroy ran away with the Canadian Open, closing with a 9-under 61 on Sunday for a seven-shot victory.

The 30-year-old golfer from Northern Ireland got to work right away, chipping his approach at one onto the green where the pole robbed him of an eagle, en route to birdies at five of his first seven holes. Webb Simpson of the U.S. came in tied with McIlroy and Matt Kuchar, and the birdie at 13 helped the 2012 U.S. Open winner finished joint second, at 15 under par.

Shane Lowry began the day one shot behind, and his approach at 13 set up the third of his four birdies on the afternoon, as the burly Irishman went on to close the weekend seven off the pace to share second place with Simpson.

McIlroy continued to create distance, as his birdie at 14 capped a run of four in a row, giving him 11 in the session. The Northern Irishman later added an eagle at 17. Closing with a bogey at 18 did nothing to spoil the mood as the four-time major winner claimed his second victory of the season.

McIlroy tied the course record of 61 and blew away the field at 22 under par, sending a clear message that he's ready for the U.S. Open. Runners-up Lowry and Simpson were unlikely to disagree, nor Kuchar, who slipped to fourth alongside Brandt Snedeker. World number one Brooks Koepka ended up 20 back.