Rory McIlroy runs away with fourth Wells Fargo Championship title

Washington – Once Rory McIlroy gets rolling at Quail Hollow Club, he is usually headed for something special.

His eagle on the par-five 10th hole added to his final-round momentum on his way to winning the Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time on May 12 in Charlotte.

“I just went on a run that for whatever reason I’m able to go on at this golf course. Quail Hollow (and) Charlotte in general have been really good to me,” McIlroy said.

The Northern Irishman shot a six-under 65 for a tournament total of 17-under 267, good for a five-stroke advantage on runner-up Xander Schauffele, who had 71 in the final round.

South Korea’s An Byeong-hun shot 66 for one of the lowest rounds of the day to place third at nine under, while Australian Jason Day’s 70 and South Korean Im Sung-jae’s 73 left them tied for fourth place at six under.

With birdies on Nos. 8 and 9, McIlroy overcame Schauffele. The 34-foot eagle putt at No. 10 matched Schauffele’s eagle on the seventh hole, and he pushed his lead to four shots with another birdie at the par-three 13th.

In a six-hole span, the four-time Major champion charged from two shots behind to a four-shot lead. That was before a birdie on No. 14 and another eagle on the par-five 15th.

He excelled at times when it might have looked challenging. On the 14th hole, he blasted out of the bunker and sank the ensuing putt for birdie. He knocked in a 35-foot shot from a greenside bunker for eagle on No. 15.

McIlroy also won the tournament in 2010, 2015 and 2021.

The margin of victory in 2015 was seven shots, something that appeared likely again until a mishap on the final hole when his approach shot bounced into the water behind the green and he ended up with a double bogey.

That was about the only glitch for McIlroy over the last 11 holes. It could have gone the other way earlier.

“That was a big moment on seven. I three-putted (for par) and Xander made eagle,” McIlroy said.

Now, he owns 26 career victories on the PGA Tour and two in 2024. The world No. 2 also won April’s Zurich Classic of New Orleans, a team event with Shane Lowry.

The 35-year-old now heads into the second Major of the season, the PGA Championship at Valhalla, Kentucky with back-to-back wins. He has not won a Major since this event at Valhalla 10 years ago but he is now in a buoyant mood.

“My golf swing feels a lot more comfortable than it has done, so going to the venue next week where I’ve won, it feels like the stars are aligning 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, but I’m going into the next Major of the year feeling really good about myself,” he said.

He won for the first time on the PGA Tour on Quail Hollow in 2010 and he said he has been well-received by the community.

“I feel like these people have kind of watched me grow up (from) winning here as a 20-year-old. They’ve kind of seen my progression through the years and I’ve been lucky enough to win here four times. The support I get here is absolutely amazing,” he said.

Schauffele, who led after each of the first three rounds, held a one-shot edge on McIlroy entering the final day. It was a two-man showdown in the last round.

“He played unbelievable. Looked up at the board and I’m like dang, he’s six under through six on the back nine, it’s something else.

“He’s Rory McIlroy, you know? 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,” Schauffele said.

The 30-year-old American notched his eighth top-10 finish in 2024, but he has yet to win this year. He was also the runner-up in 2023 in Charlotte. REUTERS, AFP