Rory McIlroy storms to Wells Fargo Championship victory ahead of next major bid
Rory McIlroy has a full head of steam heading into this week’s PGA Championship. McIlroy won the Wells Fargo Championship for a record fourth time on Sunday with another dominating performance at Quail Hollow, easily overcoming a two-stroke deficit to triumph from Xander Schauffele by five shots.
No other player has won the event more than twice. McIlroy closed with a six-under 65, playing the final 11 holes in six under even with a double bogey on the 18th hole. He finished at 17-under 267 after four straight rounds in the 60s and won his second straight PGA Tour event after teaming with Shane Lowry to take the Zurich Classic two weeks ago in New Orleans.
That should give 35-year-old McIlroy plenty of momentum heading to Kentucky for the PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club, the site of the four-time major champion’s last major win 10 years ago. “I really got some confidence,” McIlroy said. “My golf swing feels a lot more comfortable than it has. “So going to a venue next week where I’ve won, it feels like the stars are a lining a little bit.
“But I’ve got a lot of golf to play and a lot of great players to try to beat next week. Going into the next major of the year feeling really good about myself.” Schauffele shot 71 while South Korea’s An Byeong-hun was third on nine under after a 66. Australia’s former world No.1 Jason Day continued his career resurgence, finishing tied fourth with Sungjae Im at six under after a closing 70. Countryman Adam Scott (71, two over) was tied 21st while Cam Davis faltered with a 77 to be tied 38th at four over.
McIlroy trailed by two after Schauffele made an eagle on the par-5 seventh, but the world’s second-ranked player quickly shifted into another gear. The star from Northern Ireland pulled even after birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 and then made a 33-foot eagle putt on the 10th for his first lead of the tournament after Schauffele settled for birdie. Schauffele’s bogey at 12 gave McIlroy more breathing room.
McIlroy then essentially sealed the win on 13 when he made birdie and Schauffele missed another putt for bogey, resulting in a four-shot advantage.
But McIlroy wasn’t done.
He made another birdie on 14 and then punctuated the victory by chipping in from the sand for another eagle on No.15 to move to 19 under, completing a remarkable stretch of playing eight holes in eight-under par.
“He’s Rory McIlroy, you know?” Schauffele said. “He hits it 350 yards in the air downwind and he has shorter clubs into firm greens than anyone else. When he’s on, he’s on. Hats off to him for winning. He played unbelievably well.”
At that point the only question was if McIlroy could match his own course record of 61 and tournament record of 21 under.
He didn’t.
But he managed a smile when he blew his second shot on No. 18 over the green and into the water and had to take a drop. He tapped in for a double bogey victory as the crowd chanted his name.
McIlroy has long called Quail Hollow one of his favourite courses because it allows for him to take advantage of his length off the tee. But it was his putting that won him the 26th career PGA Tour title on Sunday.
He needed just 25 putts, making five longer than 10 feet.
