ROARIN’ RORY
McIlroy sets course record with 61, leads at Wells Fargo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)—Rory McIlroy shot an 11-under 61 on Saturday to break the Quail Hollow record and take the third-round lead in the Wells Fargo Championship.
McIlroy set the previous record of 62 in his 2010 victory, and Brendon de Jonge matched it last year.
Needing to birdie the final two holes for a 59, the top-ranked McIlroy closed with two pars.
McIlroy started the day three shots behind Webb Simpson and Robert Streb, and had five birdies in a frontnine 31. He didn’t let up on the back, birdieing six of the first seven holes.
In all, he had nine birdies during a 10-hole stretch.
“I feel like it’s one of these courses I can get on a roll with,” McIlroy said.
The highlight of the day came when McIlroy drove the green on the 345yard, par-4 14th hole for the fourth time in his career—more than any player in tournament history.
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.
Simpson was second, four strokes back after a 68.
Streb shot 71 and was seven shots behind heading into the final round Sunday.
Phil Mickelson was in contention before a triple bogey the 18th hole, which has become his nemesis. That dropped Mickelson to 71 on the day and left him 10 shots behind McIlroy.
Mickelson double bogeyed the 18th hole Thursday. McIlroy flirted with history. “I was thinking about 59 from the 14th teebox,” McIlroy said.
Six players have shot 59 in official PGA Tour events. Al Geiberger did it in the 1977 Memphis Classic, Chip Beck in the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational, David Duval in the final round of his 1999 victory in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Paul Goydos in the 2010 John Deere Classic, Stuart Appleby in the 2010 Greenbrier Classic and Jim Furyk in the 2013 BMW Championship.
Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa shot the lowest round on a major tour, a 12-under 58 to win the 2010 Crowns on the Japan Tour.