(CNN) -- Rory McIlroy stormed to his second major title on Sunday as he won the PGA Championship by eight shots at Kiawah Island in South Carolina and returned to the top of the world golf rankings.
The Northern Irishman played 27 holes after coming back to the Ocean Course early to complete his third round, after which he had built a three-shot lead.
And, in similar fashion to his eight-shot victory at last year's U.S. Open, the 23-year-old showed no nerves as he bounced back after struggling in the season's first three majors. He has won his two majors at a younger age than Tiger Woods did.
It was the biggest winning margin since the tournament changed to a strokeplay format in 1958, eclipsing Jack Nicklaus' seven-shot victory 32 years ago.
McIlroy broke the streak of 16 different winners in the past 16 majors as he followed his third-round 67 with a six-under-par 66, becoming the first player from his country to win the event.
Rory McIlroy kisses his prize after winning the 94th PGA Championship on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina on Sunday, August 12. See how the action unfolded here.
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"It was a great round of golf -- I am speechless," he told reporters after becoming the fifth youngest player to win the PGA.
"The game-plan was just to play solid. I got off to a bit of a shaky start, but settled into it and I thought my putting today was phenomenal.
"I had a good feeling at the start, but I never imagined doing this. It means an awful lot to look at the names on that trophy and put mine alongside them."
His closest challenger was unheralded Englishman David Lynn, playing only his second major tournament nine years since his first at the British Open.
The 38-year-old carded 68 for second outright on five-under 283, having started the final round in a tie for 10th place.
Defending champion Keegan Bradley of the U.S. closed with 68 to tie for third with Sweden's Carl Petterson and Englishmen Justin Rose (66) and Ian Poulter (69).
Poulter had reached seven under in his final round but bogeyed three holes in a row to fall away in his bid for a first major crown.
Petterson had led for the first half of a tournament was hit by heavy rain and thunderstorms, but faltered with a third-round 72 and received a two-shot penalty in his opening hole of the decider.
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He found a water hazard and was then ruled to have illegally moved a leaf while making the stroke, and again finished with a par round.
Woods must continue his four-year wait for a 15th major title after finishing tied for 11th, closing with 74 and 72.
The American ended on 286 in a group including British Open runner-up Adam Scott of Australia, Masters champion Bubba Watson, 2010 U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and fellow former major winners Geoff Ogilvy and Ben Curtis.
Former PGA champions John Daly and Padraig Harrington were tied for 19th, while previous world No. 1 Luke Donald was equal 32nd.
Veteran Vijay Singh could not keep up his strong form of the first half of the tournament as the 49-year-old Fijian closed with 77 to tie for 36th along with 1995 winner Phil Mickelson 36th alongside Woods' 2009 conqueror Y.E. Yang of South Korea.
British Open champion Ernie Els tied for 48th after his second successive 73.
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Carl Pettersson digs in during the final round.
Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh concluding their round.
The crowd goes crazy as Rory McIlroy wins.
Ian Poulter buries himself in bogeys late on Sunday.
Rory McIlroy sinking the winning putt.
Carl Pettersson of Sweden hits out of the sand on the 10th hole.
A general view of the 18th hole during the final round.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland reacts after a putt at the 18th hole.
Adam Scott of Australia lines up a putt during round three. Play in the third round resumed Sunday after it was suspended late Saturday due to bad weather.
The Ocean Course's Shingle-style clubhouse overlooks the 18th green. The course previously hosted the 1991 Ryder Cup.
Graeme McDowell of Northern Ireland hits out of a bunker on the 18th hole during round three.
Tiger Woods lines up a putt during the third round.
Tim Clark of South Africa hits off the15th tee.
Trevor Immelman of South Africa and his caddy examine the green before a putt.
Woods catches a ball tossed by caddie Joe LaCava on the 14th green.
Tiger Woods hits out of the sand on the 17th hole during the third round.
Vijay Singh, who started the day near the top of the leaderboard, ponders his options before making a putt on the back nine on Sunday.
Surrounded by the gallery, Woods jumps to see his ball after his shot on the15th hole.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland watches his drive from the 16th tee. He took a three-shot lead into the final 18 holes.
Spectators file along the course near the 16th hole to stake out a position for viewing.
Woods, who finished the third round with a 74, wipes his brow between holes.
Singh hits off the 16th tee.
Graeme McDowell blasts out of a sand bunker on Sunday.
Woods tries to reach the green from a bunker on the 17th hole.
Phil Mickelson finished the third round with a 73.
Adam Scott of Australia walks off the course under dark clouds as play is suspended due to rain on Saturday, August 11.
Tiger Woods, left, and Vijay Singh of Fiji walk off the course after the suspension of play.
Changes are made to the leaderboard during a delay in play due to weather Saturday.
Carl Pettersson of Sweden tries a putt from the edge of the green as storm clouds move in.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland, who goes into Sunday's play in the lead at 6 under par, hits off the sixth tee.
Woods, who dropped significantly in position Saturday, reacts after a missed putt on the fourth green.
Singh putts on the 18th green Saturday.
Bo Van Pelt of the United States hits a tee shot on the sixth hole.
Phil Mickelson tries for the green from the fairway on the 7th hole.
Aaron Baddeley has experienced peaks and valleys during this championship.
Fans watch the pairing of Graeme McDowell and Phil Mickelson on Saturday.
Jamie Donaldson of Wales hits from the seventh tee.
David Lynn of England hits out of the sand on the 18th hole.
Tiger Woods of the United States hits out of the sand on the seventh hole.
Blake Adams of the United States hits off the first tee.
Jamie Donaldson of Wales, left, and his caddie Mick Donaghy look on from the first tee.
Bill Haas of the United States hits a shot on the seventh hole during round three.
Tiger Woods of the United States hits off the first tee.
Bubba Watson of the United States prepares to hit a shot on the second hole.
Ryo Ishikawa of Japan hits off the fourth tee during round three in South Carolina on Saturday.
Bubba Watson of the United States hits off the seventh tee during Round Three.
Spectators look on as Bubba Watson putts on the first green.
Trevor Immelman of South Africa hits a tee shot during round two.
Justin Rose of England hits a shot off the first fairway during round three on Saturday.
Australia's Adam Scott putts on the 11th green during the second round of the 94th PGA Championship.
Rickie Fowler punches a ball on the 17th hole on Friday.
Hunter Mahan hits out of the sand on the 10th hole.
The wind whips the PGA flags on Friday.
Golf fans watch during the second round of the championship.
Graeme McDowell hits off the 18th tee.
Adam Scott studies the green on the 16th hole.
Phil Mickelson fans for onlookers.
A spectator watches the players from a tree.
Graeme McDowell walks with caddies.
Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia lines up a putt on the 10th green.
England's Roger Chapman, from left, Mark Brooks of the United States and South Africa's Retief Goosen talk on the 2nd tee.
Spain's Sergio Garcia hits off the 15th tee.
Luke Donald of England hits a shot on the 2nd hole.
U.S. player Dustin Johnson hits off the 15th tee during the first round of the 94th PGA Championship on Thursday.
Martin Kaymer of Germany hits a shot from the 10th fairway on Thursday.
U.S. player Tiger Woods hits off the 15th tee.
Woods hits a shot onto the 17th green during round one.
South Africa's Rory Sabbatini hits off the 15th tee.
Woods hits out of a bunker on the 14th hole.
Australian player Greg Chalmers chips in for birdie on the fifth hole.
Martin Kaymer of Germany lines up a putt on the 11th green.
Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland hits off the 12th tee.
Woods walks toward the 10th fairway.
Kaymer hits a shot on the 11th hole.
The PGA Championship got off to a gorgeous start Thursday.
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