Joy for Rory McIlroy on Sunday’s 18th green at Quail Hollow
| -10 R. McIlroy (NI), -9 An ancer (mex);; -8th V. Hovland (Nor), K. Mitchell (USA); -7 G Woodland (USA); -5 L List (USA), P Reed (USA), M Wallace (Eng); -4 B DeChambeau (USA), A Wise (USA) |
| Selected others: -3 B Watson (USA); -2 T Fleetwood (Eng), X Schauffele (USA); -1 R Knox (Sco); level J Thomas (USA); +4 S force (Irish); +6 S Lowry (Irish); +7 P Mickelson (USA) Full ranking |
Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy ended his run without a win by winning the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow for the third time – just six weeks later Start of work with trainer Pete Cowen.
The number 15 in the world, whose last success came in November 2019, shot a final shot of 68 and won with one shot.
McIlroy, 32, was scared on the final hole when he scored a one-shot penalty but made a decisive bogey.
“It’s just great – it feels like a long time since the last win,” he said.
Abraham Ancer finished second with Victor Hovland and front runner Keith Mitchell overnight.
The win is the perfect preparation for McIlroy’s bid for a third USPGA championship later this month. The Ryder Cup player is aiming for a second success on Kiawah Island.
Good start in Charlotte
He started the day two shots behind Mitchell, but sat up on the seventh with a birdie, his second of the round, and then shared the lead – first with Gary Woodland, then with Mitchell and Ancer.
At the birdies at 14 and 15, the four-time major winner cleared twice, but he pulled his final drive and was lucky enough to see the ball settle in danger two feet from a creek.
McIlroy’s caddy Harry Diamond encouraged him to take a penalty, however, and it turned out to be a wise move when he hit his eight-iron on the green and made two puttings to victory.
Rory McIlroy plays the green on the seventh hole in the finals
Improved putting was key to winning the 19th PGA Tour, with McIlroy not missing from two meters in all four rounds.
It’s a timely boost for McIlroy, who has slipped to its lowest world rank since 2009 and started the tournament 51st in the FedEx Cup standings.
McIlroy believes the return of viewers after the Covid-19 ban helped lead him to victory in North Carolina.
“The world is a completely different place than it used to be, when everyone was hit by the pandemic,” he told CBS Television.
“Life has changed a lot for me, being a father and winning on Mother’s Day when I think of Erica and my mother at home.
Rory McIlroy’s wife Erica and daughter Poppy attend the celebrations
“This is one of my favorite places in the world – overcoming the drought by winning here is great.
“It’s great to play in front of these people again. When we got back from the pandemic, I thought I’d enjoy the quiet a little.
“I quickly realized that I need this to get the best out of myself and I feel all the energy so much. Maybe here more than anywhere else because it’s the first place I’ve won three times. The crowd has me really got through today. “”
