Rory McIlroy believes he is ‘pretty close’ to his best after making a winning start to the PGA Tour season with an impressive two-shot victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

The world No 3 made an eagle and three birdies in a six-hole stretch on his way to a final-round 66 at the PGA Tour’s Signature Event, seeing him end the week on 21 under and two shots clear of Ryder Cup teammate Shane Lowry.

McIlroy’s 27th PGA Tour victory is his second win in three worldwide starts and sixth top-four finish in his last seven appearances, with the Northern Irishman pleased with the state of his game so early in the year.

When asked how close he felt to being in peak form, McIlroy told Sky Sports: “Yeah I’m close, I’m pretty close. I feel like I controlled my ball flight well in the crosswinds this week I drove the ball really well.

“I think I’ll always nitpick and there’s always things about my game that I want to try to get better, because that’s just who I am. I’m trying to get the most out of myself all the time, but I also have to accept at the same time where my game’s at right now.

“It is in a really good shape and probably as sharp as it’s ever been at the end of January, start of February, heading into the season. So really, really happy with where everything is.”

McIlroy went into the final round a shot behind Sepp Straka and was in a share of the lead until his back-nine birdie charge, with a stunning eagle at the par-five 14th pulling him further clear of a congested leaderboard.

“I’ve talked a lot about this year trying to limit the mistakes and trying to keep the big numbers and the destructive swings off the scorecard,” McIlroy added. “For the most part this week, I did that. The game can start to become pretty simple and feel pretty easy when you’re not making bogeys.

“I know I’m going to hit enough good golf shots to give myself plenty of birdie opportunities, it’s just a matter of, getting that odd up and down to keep the round and the momentum of the round going. I did that really well this week.

“I think my short game was really good this week. I looked at my short game last year, it was very, it was very volatile, very up and down. I’d have some good weeks, but then I’d have some bad weeks. Just trying to just get a little bit more consistency in there.

“These Poa annua greens at this time of the year can be a little bit tricky and I didn’t really miss many short putts this week. That was a key to building a good score and ultimately winning this week.”

Lowry: McIlroy ‘took control’ of tournament

McIlroy was four shots ahead with three holes to play but saw his winning margin halved by Lowry’s fast finish, with five birdies over the eight holes seeing the Irishman secure solo second ahead of Lucas Glover and Justin Rose.

“He [McIlroy] is just so in control,” said Lowry, who played alongside McIlroy and Straka during the final round. “He drives the ball incredibly well, he always does. He was in control of his ball today and he putted nicely. It all came together.

“He just played great today, that’s what he did. He took control of the tournament. When I was making birdies, he was throwing birdies back. Then he made eagle on 14 and that was pretty much it.”

Straka added: “He turned it on for the back nine. I asked him how many that was for him [wins] and 27 is pretty unbelievable. I think he’s the most impressive player I’ve ever played with.

“He just strikes it unbelievably well, hits it far but also so straight for how far he hits it. That 14th hole sums it up, just a bomb drive down there. We both hit seven there, but his was seven-iron and mine was a seven-wood. It’s really impressive.”

Majors to come for ‘unstoppable’ McIlroy?

McIlroy’s major drought extends into an 11th year, which would equal the biggest gap between major victories in men’s golf, although an early-season victory raises the prospect of him claiming an elusive fifth major title in 2025.

Speaking during commentary of the final round at Pebble Beach, Dame Laura Davies told Sky Sports: “I personally think he [McIlroy] will win The Masters this year.

“I think he played so well at the end of last year, winning that tournament [DP World Tour Championship] the way he did. His wedge game’s getting better, he’s full of confidence.

“This is just yet another confidence boost, if he needed any more. I don’t think anyone can put any pressure on him that he’s not put on himself. He’ll be in the same position he has been in the last ten years, but I think his game is in a really good position now.”

She later added: “He played strategic golf. He played clever golf. He was hitting a lot of knockdown shots, feel shots. It just showed he has got every shot in the game. If he chooses to use that throughout the whole year, he’d almost be unstoppable.

“As good as Scottie Scheffler is, I still think – on their day and if they both play their best – Rory’s just a little bit better. I think: could he push Scheffler right to the limit this year?”

Watch Rory McIlroy feature on the PGA Tour and DP World Tour throughout 2025 live on Sky Sports. McIlroy is next in action at the Genesis Invitational, live from February 13-16 on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.