World Number Two embarks on PGA Championship fresh from stunning victory
HE WAS simply untouchable on route to his 26th PGA Tour victory last weekend, and now Rory McIlroy will be hoping to carry that winning feeling into the second major championship of the year.
Xander Schauffele had no answer to the Holywood man on Sunday afternoon at the final round of the Wells Fargo Championship, as he and McIlroy battled it out for glory at the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina.
But what had the early makings of a matchplay-style duel soon became no contest at all.
Quail Hollow was the site of McIlroy’s first PGA Tour win back in 2010.
It’s a venue he went on to win at twice more, in 2015 and 2021, and Sunday brought a fourth and record-breaking triumph for Rory at the Charlotte course.
A majestic back nine saw McIlroy reel in overnight leader Schauffele to storm to victory and pocket a neat $3.6m in the process. He trailed the American by two shots after seven holes, but four birdies and two eagles in the next eight saw the 35 year-old open up a six-shot lead, eventually coding a round of 65 to win by five.
Speaking to NBC after the win, McIlroy said: “I really got some confidence winning in New Orleans with Shane [Lowry].
“Coming into this week, at a golf course I am comfortable with, my swing feels more comfortable than it has done. I am going into the next major of the year feeling really good about myself.”
Is it any wonder McIlroy feels ‘like the stars are aligning’ as focus turns to this week’s PGA Championship at Valhalla. Remarkably, it’s the scene of his most recent major title – some 10 years ago in 2014.
But if he can replicate anything like the sort of form which he showed at the Wells Fargo, World Number One Scottie Scheffler might even struggle to contain Rory.
McIlroy has been paired with LIV Golf’s Dustin Johnson and England’s Justin Rose for the first two rounds in Valhalla, getting underway today (Thursday) at 13:15 BST.
