Rory McIlroy was masterful in his Sunday march to victory at the Wells Fargo Championship. It came as no surprise given his history with the course and event. Rory already had three wins there. He easily charged back from a two-shot deficit to overtake Xander Schauffele, firing a final-round six-under-par 65 to win by five. McIlroy also won his last start, the Zurich Classic, a team event played with fellow countryman, Shane Lowry.
McIlroy Sprints To The Finish
https://gty.im/2152121077
McIlroy started the day a shot behind the leader, Schauffele, who shot an even-par 71 in the final round. The two played in the final group together both Saturday and Sunday. After doing battle on Saturday, Sunday started off looking like a similar story. Xander took a two-shot lead on Rory after making eagle on the par-5-seventh. That was when McIlroy hit his stride. And Schauffele couldn’t match his fire power.
The number two ranked player in the world pulled into a tie for the lead with Schauffele after birdies at eight and nine. Then, he took the lead outright by burying a 33-footer for eagle on the par-5-tenth. Xander made birdie. It didn’t matter. Rory wouldn’t relinquish the lead again. He went streaking, making birdies on 13 and 14, then chipping in for an eagle on 15 to reach 19-under par for the tournament. McIlroy cruised home from there.
McIlroy and Quail Hollow, A Love Affair
https://gty.im/2152121409
Rory McIlroy’s fourth win at Quail Hollow is the most by player at the Wells Fargo Championship. The next closest is two-time winner Max Homa. And no one else has won it more than once. To say McIlroy plays well at the venue would be an understatement. He went six under over his final 11 holes to cruise to victory. And that included a double bogey on the finishing hole.
McIlroy’s five-shot blowout win was the second-largest margin of victory he’s had in his four wins at Quail Hollow, despite the double-bogey finish. Utter domination. Had he parred the last, it would’ve tied the mark of seven clear of second, which happened in 2015, when he won the event by that many, setting their 72-hole tournament scoring record at 21-under-par.
Momentum For McIlroy Headed Into PGA
https://gty.im/2152648677
The timing of the win raises expectations through the roof. This being his second win in as many starts with the PGA Championship up next immediately makes McIlroy a favorite, even more so than he already was. After all, the host venue of this year’s upcoming major is the very same course where he won his last PGA Championship, Valhalla, in Louisville, Kentucky. That win came in 2014, McIlroy’s last of four major championship wins.
Rory didn’t shy away from the obvious connections. Instead, he acknowledged and embraced them:
“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 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. Going into the next major of the year feeling really good about myself.”
After the victory at Quail Hollow Sunday night, McIlroy’s odds of winning next week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla improved. He’s now the second favorite behind Masters champion and world number one, Scottie Scheffler, who is a +300 favorite. Rory now jumps to +600 according to Caesar’s Sportsbook. Defending champion, Brooks Koepka, has the third lowest odds at +1000.
About The Author
Colton is a Hollywood screenwriter turned sports columnist. Originally from the suburbs of Detroit, he is a Michigan State University grad who spent fifteen years in Los Angeles after receiving a Bachelor’s in Journalism from MSU. An award-winning filmmaker with multiple projects still in development, Colton is currently co-authoring a biography, “The Boy from the Bronx,” with renowned businessman, Michael Weisser.
Eric is a recent and welcome addition to Total Apex Sports. He’s a highly knowledgeable and respected voice in the sports community, both in Michigan and nationally. Eric Colton resides in New York City with his wife and two daughters.
