Sunday’s final round in Pebble Beach gave golf what it has sorely lacked in its recent ratings lull: a compelling tournament at a compelling golf course won by a very compelling golfer. That McIlroy’s providential ball-striking ability provided a handful of otherworldly highlights? Well, we’ll call that extra.

That seems an exaggeration of Rory McIlroy’s standing and prowess in professional golf, given the past few years have been noted not for what he has done so much as what almost was. It also seems too dismissive of this field,