Rory McIlroy played a game nearly as magnificent as the Pebble Beach scenery Sunday as he powered his way past a pack of contenders and closed with a 6-under 66 for a two-shot victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

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.

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,