It's hard to pinpoint the moment exactly, amid the echoing cheers and crashing surf at the Ocean Course here, but while an aging Woods was battling demons and salvaging pars three groups ahead, the youthful McIlroy was posting birdies, banging drives 60 yards past his peers and conjuring short-game magic the way Woods used to do.

WSJ: Rory McIlroy Wins the PGA Championship