Rory McIlroy wins Wells Fargo Championship by FIVE shots in stunning triumph before next week’s PGA at Valhalla
Rory McIlroy powered his way to a stunning five-shot victory in the Wells Fargo Championship on Sunday, sounding a warning sign ahead of the second Major of the year next week.
McIlroy left Xander Schauffle behind with an incredible final round of six under. The world number 2 started day one with a shot back from the American but stormed home with an incoming 32 to win in style.
The Northern Irishman heads into the upcoming US PGA Championship in brilliant form as he looks to end his 10-year major drought.
It is McIlroy’s fourth career victory at Quail Hollow and his 26th PGA Tour title.
“For whatever reason, I can continue on this golf course. Charlotte has been very good to me throughout my career, another great day to add to the rest,” McIlroy said on the 18th green after recording his win.
He now heads to Valhalla for the PGA Championship, where he won his last Major in 2014.
“It feels like the stars have aligned a little bit,” McIlroy admitted. “But I’ve got a lot of golf to play and a lot of great players to try to beat.
“I’m going into the next major of the year feeling really good about myself.”
Schauffele finished five back in second place after stumbling to a 71, while South Korea’s An Byeong-hun was third at nine under after a 66.
McIlroy made the first birdie after a nice approach from within five feet. However, he gave the shot back in the fourth after failing to get up and down from a bunker on the green.
Schauffele’s string of pars ended with a three-putt bogey on the sixth, but he bounced back in style on the next, firing his approach to the par five to twelve feet and looking for eagle.
McIlroy found himself two shots back when he made par on the same hole after three putts.
However, the Northern Irishman stormed back with birdies at the eighth and ninth, before producing an eagle of his own from 33 feet on the 10th.
Schauffele was just one under for the same three-hole stretch, leaving the four-time major winner one ahead.
McIlroy twice went in front when Schauffele dropped a shot on the 12th and piled the pressure on his playing partner with a birdie from 13 feet on the short next.
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