RORY’S MOVE FALLS SHORT

DESPITE a bright start, Rory McIlroy’s charge at the start of his final round of the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow proved a false dawn. Having improved on his second round 76 by a full 10 shots in his third round, he started yesterday on three under, seven shots behind overnight leader Jason Day. McIlroy, though, built up a head of steam and found himself in the top 10 after sinking birdies at seven and eight. And although the chance of victory was still some way off, his closing day form augured well for this week’s Players Championship. However, it all fell away after the turn and bogeys at the 11th and 14th holes ended his interest in top spot. Next up for McIlroy (below) is ding-dong first round battle at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday, where he tees it up with Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas. Seamus Power, meanwhile, finished two shots worse off than McIlroy on one under. Tiger Woods, though, had a rare birdie-free round to finish among the also-rans at in North Carolina. Woods closed with a 74 to finish at two-over-par 286. He again lamented poor putting, though in truth he did not hit his approach shots close enough to give himself real opportunities. In fact, he had only one birdie chance from inside 10 feet — a five-footer that he missed at the par-five 10th. ‘I didn’t putt well again,’ Woods said. ‘I hit a few good drives down the middle. I felt I drove it pretty decent but I made nothing and the chances I did have I missed them all. ‘It was just a bad week.’ In his seventh start of the year, Woods, 42, is well into a full-throttled comeback after last April’s successful back surgery. He seemed to be nearing his old form when he contended for victory in consecutive events in Florida in March, but he stalled with a tie for 32nd at the Masters, and was even further off the pace here. The 14-times major champion said he would work on all facets of his game before Sawgrass on Thursday. ‘I need to do some practice with my putter but I know those greens, know the putts.’