Rory McIlroy has produced a stunning final round to prevail at the Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time in his career.
The Northern Irishman's first-ever PGA Tour title came at Quail Hollow and he showed all of his experience at this course as he overpowered Xander Schauffele over the closing 11 holes.
At one point, McIlroy found himself two shots adrift of the American after failing to take advantage of the par-five seventh, watching his rival eagle that same hole.
However, the disappointment of that hole acted as the catalyst for a quite sensational turnaround, with McIlroy posting birdies at eight and nine before turning the screw on the back nine.
McIlroy would eagle the 10th to establish a sizeable lead over Schauffele, who could only manage a birdie, and bogeys at 12 and 13 effectively took Schauffele out of the equation.
HOLE-OUT EAGLE FOR RORY!!!
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
He now leads by SIX! pic.twitter.com/UE49lwfwNC
McIlroy finds second eagle in six holes
The advantage would be relentlessly extended at 13 and 14, McIlroy recording birdies, before he holed out from the bunker at 15 to leave the remaining holes a precession.
A seven-shot win was within McIlroy's grasp heading down the 18th, but his second shot would go through the green and into the water, leading to a double-bogey.
Nevertheless, McIlroy was more than satisfied with what turned out to be a final-round 65, claiming his 27th PGA Tour win and first individual PGA Tour trophy since the 2022 CJ Cup.
McIlroy now heads to Valhalla - the site of his last major win in 2014 - for the US PGA Championship as a justified challenger to Scottie Scheffler, who will go off as the favourite.
Another winning moment in Charlotte for @McIlroyRory 👏 pic.twitter.com/QJdq7bXXy0
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 12, 2024
Who were the best of the rest?
Byeong Hun An would finish three shots adrift of Schauffele, continuing his excellent recent form with a final-round 66, and the South Korean finished three shots clear of fourth.
Jason Day and Sungjae Im would share that position, with Mackenzie Hughes and Denny McCarthy in a tie for sixth spot.
Max Homa, who twice holed out from distance during Sunday's final round and Sepp Straka would complete the top 10.
Darren Plant
