Open Championship Round 4 grades

FARRELL EVANS via <a href="http://espn.go.com/" title="ESPN" class="espn_sc_byline">ESPN </a>

July 20, 2014, 3:15 PM ET

17 min read

— -- No matter that Adam Scott came into this week at Hoylake as the No. 1-ranked player in the world, Rory McIlroy is the best golfer on the planet. With a wire-to-wire victory at Hoylake, McIlroy answered any lingering questions there might be about his management decisions, his club changes, his nerve or the impact of his recent breakup with former fiancée Caroline Wozniacki.

McIlroy's performance should serve notice to all the players on my board and the entire golf world that he is the new face of the game to lead the sport into a new era that will define its own terms and goals, and not by what Tiger Woods accomplished in his prime.

This is Rory McIlroy's time.

Adam Scott World Ranking: No. 1 | Scores: 68-73-69-66

The No. 1 player in the world played to that lofty stature in the final round with a 6-under 66 that included eight birdies. After getting three early birdies, his momentum was halted with a double-bogey at the seventh hole, when he hit his drive into the gorse bushes. Still, a 12-under finish and a tie for fifth was an excellent week.

Henrik Stenson World Ranking: No. 2 | Scores: 72-73-73-69

On Sunday, Stenson broke 70 for the first time during the tournament with a 3-under 69. After Thursday's meltdown at the 17th hole, where he broke his club over his knee, Stenson managed to control his emotions for a 1-under total at Hoylake and a tie for 39th.

Justin Rose World Ranking: No. 3 | Scores: 72-70-69-72

Matt Kuchar World Ranking: No. 5 | Scores: 73-71-74-72

An even-par 72 on Sunday capped off Kuchar's 2-over total to finish in a tie for 54th in a week when he never was able to break 70. Considered one of the best players to not win a major, the top-10 machine has just six top-10s in 36 major championships.

Jason Day World Ranking: No. 6 | Scores: 73-73-74-71

Day had his best score of the tournament Sunday with a final-round 1-under 71. When Day gets healthy, he should contend in every tournament he enters. First, he has to overcome nagging wrist and thumb injuries.

Tiger Woods World Ranking: No. 7 | Scores: 69-77-73-75