Toying with his opponents had come to an end. 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.

For Rory McIlroy, it's all about location. He won at Pebble Beach and that was important to him. He already was looking ahead to major championship venues like Quail Hollow and Royal Portrush.

One year after winning the pro-am portion of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, Rory McIlroy etched his name into the portion of the wall of champions reserved for individual winners at Pebble Beach Golf Links in Pebble Beach,