McIlroy "Revival Shot in Winning Territory"... 'Hulk' DeChambeau 9th Place

Wells Fargo Championship Final Day 3-Under Par '1-Stroke Victory', 19th Career Win, Anser 2nd, Mitchell Tied 3rd

Rory McIlroy is cheering immediately after winning the Wells Fargo Championship. Charlotte, North Carolina, USA = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] It is Rory McIlroy's (Northern Ireland) 'resurrection shot.'

On the 10th (Korean time), at the Quail Hollow Golf Club (par 71, 7,551 yards) in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, McIlroy added 3 under par on the final day of the PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship (total prize money $8.1 million) to secure a one-stroke victory (10 under par 274). This marks his third win at this tournament and his 19th career victory, coming one year and six months after the World Golf Championships (WGC) HSBC Champions in November 2019. The winner's prize money was $1,458,000 (?1.634 billion).

McIlroy started tied for second and combined four birdies with one bogey. He had a strong start with birdies on holes 3 and 7, and showcased brilliant short game skills with consecutive birdies on holes 14 and 15. On the 14th hole (par 4), his tee shot aiming for one shot on the green landed in a greenside bunker, but his second shot was excellent. On the 15th hole (par 5), his third bunker shot landed very close to the hole. On the final 18th hole (par 4), despite a tee shot mistake that resulted in a one-stroke penalty and a crisis, he managed to save par.

It is interesting that Quail Hollow is McIlroy’s 'winning ground,' where he earned his first PGA Tour victory in 2010 (Quail Hollow Championship) and his second win in 2015. In 2015, he achieved a dominant victory by seven strokes over the runner-up, set a course record with 11 under par in the third round, and recorded the tournament’s lowest score (21 under par 267). He earned the nickname 'Man of Quail Hollow' after finishing second in 2012. In fact, he has played this tournament 10 times, achieving three wins and finishing in the top 10 eight times.

On this day, he unleashed a long drive of up to 372 yards and combined it with a green hit rate of 77.78% and pinpoint iron shots. Most importantly for McIlroy, this victory signifies breaking out of a slump ahead of the second major of the 2021 season, the PGA Championship, which begins on the 20th. It also holds special meaning as his first win since becoming a father. McIlroy’s wife, Erica, gave birth to their daughter Poppy last year. He expressed his joy, saying, "I waited too long."

Abraham Ancer (Mexico) posted a 5-under-par daily best to finish second (9 under par 275), while the previous day’s leader Keith Mitchell (USA) fell back to a tie for third (8 under par 276) after a 1-over-par stumble. 'Hulk' Bryson DeChambeau tied for ninth (4 under par 280). World No. 2 Justin Thomas (USA) remained tied for 26th (even par 284) after two consecutive even-par rounds. From Korea, Lee Kyung-hoon (30, CJ Logistics) tied for 58th (5 over par 289), and 'Tank' Choi Kyung-ju (51, SK Telecom) tied for 70th (8 over par 292).

Rory McIlroy is taking a commemorative photo with his wife and daughter immediately after winning the Wells Fargo Championship. Charlotte (North Carolina, USA) = Getty Images / Multibits Photo by Getty Images

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