RORY MCILROY’S FINAL round charge never materialised at Quail Hollow as the slow greens played havoc with his putting.
The Northern Irishman, who turned 25 on Sunday, was given the nasty surprise of final day greens that were lacking the zip of the third round, during which he carded a superb 65. In the end, McIlroy signed off with a 70 for a finishing total of 8-under and an eighth place finish.
Heading into the Players’ Championship at Sawgrass, next weekend, McIlroy believes his game is heading in the right direction. “ I feel like I’m improving a little bit each and every week and, you know, hopefully one of these weeks it will all come together for me,” he said.
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The Holywood native jabbed his finger squarely at his second round failure, when he carded 76, as the main reason he could not challenge eventual winner JB Holmes. He said, “my game is in good shape. It’s consistent. I’m playing solid. I just feel like the last few weeks it’s been one bad round a tournament that has derailed me from, you know, being right there in contention.
If I hadn’t shot you know, like 70 on Friday, I would have been right there in the mix, but it’s getting there. I just need to put four good rounds together. Like I’m putting three good rounds together at the minute; I’m not able to quite get the fourth one in. But maybe that will all change next… going into the Players.”
As it was, Holmes finishing round of 71 was just about enough to claim victory at Quail Hollow. The American, who had brain surgery in 2011, won his first PGA title in six years but endured some nervy moments, including two bogeys, over the closing stretch.
His closest challenger was Jim Furyk, who sank this impressive clip from 65-feet on his was to a closing round of 65.
Furyk finished one shot back while first round leader Martin Flores finished third. Phil Mickelson was back in a tie for 11th after struggling to a closing round of 76. That was 13 shots worse than his 9-under round on Saturday.
Birthday boy Rory McIlroy 75% of the way towards challenging for majors
RORY MCILROY’S FINAL round charge never materialised at Quail Hollow as the slow greens played havoc with his putting.
The Northern Irishman, who turned 25 on Sunday, was given the nasty surprise of final day greens that were lacking the zip of the third round, during which he carded a superb 65. In the end, McIlroy signed off with a 70 for a finishing total of 8-under and an eighth place finish.
Heading into the Players’ Championship at Sawgrass, next weekend, McIlroy believes his game is heading in the right direction. “ I feel like I’m improving a little bit each and every week and, you know, hopefully one of these weeks it will all come together for me,” he said.
The Holywood native jabbed his finger squarely at his second round failure, when he carded 76, as the main reason he could not challenge eventual winner JB Holmes. He said, “my game is in good shape. It’s consistent. I’m playing solid. I just feel like the last few weeks it’s been one bad round a tournament that has derailed me from, you know, being right there in contention.
As it was, Holmes finishing round of 71 was just about enough to claim victory at Quail Hollow. The American, who had brain surgery in 2011, won his first PGA title in six years but endured some nervy moments, including two bogeys, over the closing stretch.
His closest challenger was Jim Furyk, who sank this impressive clip from 65-feet on his was to a closing round of 65.
Furyk finished one shot back while first round leader Martin Flores finished third. Phil Mickelson was back in a tie for 11th after struggling to a closing round of 76. That was 13 shots worse than his 9-under round on Saturday.
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Getting there Golf JB Holmes Phil Mickelson Players Championship Quail Hollow Rory McIlroy Sawgrass Wells Fargo Championship