World No. 1 Rory McIlroy
Fires course-record 61 in third round
fired a course record 61 at Quail Hollow on Saturday to take a 4-stroke lead at the Wells Fargo Championship.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — When Rory McIlroy rolled in an 8-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole, he started thinking about shooting 59.
He didn’t quite get there Saturday, settling for an 11-under 61 to break the Quail Hollow record and take a four-shot lead in the Wells Fargo Championship.
After making nine birdies in 10 holes, the top-ranked McIlroy pushed his 7-iron on the par-3 17th hole to the right side of the green 40 feet from the cup. He settled for par and the dream was out of reach.
“I was little disappointed with not finishing it off the way I wanted to, but still it was a great run,” McIlroy said.
It was McIlroy’s best round on the PGA Tour.
He started the balmy afternoon three shots behind Webb Simpson and Robert Streb.
But after two pars to start the day, he made five birdies on the front nine for a 31. He didn’t let up on the back, birdieing six of the first seven holes.
McIlroy said he had a sense early that this could be his day to go low after he saw Justin Thomas shoot a 65 and a few others go low in the morning.
“I knew that there were scores out there to be had — and I got a little more aggressive,” McIlroy said.
That included driving the green on the 345-yard, par-4 14th hole for the fourth time in his career — more than any player in tournament history.
“I feel like it’s one of these courses I can get on a roll with,” McIlroy said.
McIlroy is looking to become the first two-time winner of the event. At 18-under 198, he’s on pace to shatter the tournament record of 16 under set by Anthony Kim in 2008.
McIlroy said the Quail Hollow course sets up perfectly for him. He set the previous course record of 62 in the final round of his 2010 Wells Fargo victory, and Brendon de Jonge matched it last year.
“Five years of experience,” McIlroy, 26, said of the difference between his game today and 2010. “Five years of being out here, competing, winning majors, losing majors. That’s the biggest thing.”
McIlroy broke or tied four other course records Saturday, including lowest 54-hole score, lowest third-round score, most birdies in one round (10) and consecutive birdies (five).
Simpson was second after three rounds, four strokes back after a 68. Streb shot a 71 and was seven shots behind heading into the final round today.
Phil Mickelson was playing well before a triple bogey on the 18th hole, which has become his nemesis. That dropped Mickelson to 71 on the day and left him 10 shots behind McIlroy and out of contention for a tournament he has never won.
Mickelson double bogeyed the 18th hole Thursday.
When asked what he took away from McIlroy’s round, playing partner Will MacKenzie said: “That he’s way better than me at golf.”
McIlroy’s run was demoralizing for the competition.
Simpson looked up at the scoreboard after his birdie at 13 figuring he was tied for the lead. He was three shots back.
“I gave that look like, ‘Oh, really — on this golf course?’ ” Simpson said.
OTHER EVENTS
Champions Tour Regions Tradition at Birmingham: Jeff Maggert birdied the final two holes for a 4-under 68 and sole possession of the lead after the third round.
Finishing in heavy rain, Maggert reached 14 under after entering the day tied for the top spot with Kevin Sutherland at Shoal Creek. Sutherland was a stroke back. His birdie attempt on No. 18 was short by a couple of inches to set up a tap-in for a 69 under the downpour.
“I made some nice par-saving putts,” Maggert said. “I was just trying to hang around, be patient. Kevin had a one-, two-shot lead on me most of the day and I just didn’t want him to run away from me too far. “
Sutherland was alone at the top until a bogey on No. 16 brought him even with Maggert, who had a bogey-free round. Both birdied No. 17.
On 18, they were left huddling under umbrellas with their caddies on the suddenly wet green.
“That green, I think, slowed up a little bit,” Maggert said. “Kevin had a really good putt and it just rolled up a little bit short of the hole. ... Mine just ran out of gas right on the front and dropped in.”
Fred Funk was third at 18 under after a 67.
LPGA Kingsmill Championship at Williamsburg, Va.: France’s Perrine Delacour took advantage of Alison Lee’s late twohole meltdown to take the thirdround lead.
The 21-year-old Delacour birdied three of the final five holes for a 4-under 67. She had an 11-under 202 total on Kingsmill Resort’s River Course.
After opening a four-stroke lead, Lee dropped back with a bogey on the par-4 16th and a double bogey on the par-3 17th. She finished with a 70, leaving her a stroke behind.
Paula Creamer, So Yeon Ryu and Minjee Lee were 9 under.