Best moments from Rory McIlroy’s sizzling final round at Wells Fargo Invitational

On the par-4 12th, Schauffele failed to capitalize on a beautiful drive, leaving his approach well shot of the target. A birdie opportunity turned into a bogey, while McIlroy comfortably sunk a birdie to nab a two-shot lead. “Rory!” chants engulfed Quail Hollow.

“I feel like these people have sort of watched me grow up from winning here as a 20-year-old to being the ripe old age of 35 now,” McIlroy said in a post-round interview.

McIlroy, with 9-iron, stuck his tee shot on the par-3 13th, setting up another birdie. A shell-shocked Schauffele (say that five times fast!) bricked his par putt. McIroy would comfortably birdie 14, as well.

For the cherry on top, McIlroy holed out for eagle on no. 15.

Overall, McIlroy played holes nos. 8 through 15 at 8-under par — an electric display only a few current golfers can deliver. By the time the final pair reached Quail Hollow’s “Green Mile” closing stretch, McIlroy held a commanding six shot advantage. (McIlroy double-bogeyed no. 18, with no consequence.)

Schauffele has eight top-10 finishes and ranks third on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: total in 2024. His last PGA Tour win came in July 2022.

“He played unbelievable,” Schauffele said. “Looked up at the board and I’m like ‘Dang, he’s 6 under through 6 on the back nine.’ It’s something else. With that being said … I felt like I was doing pretty well for most of the day and then had that costly stretch and he capitalized like no other. Big reversal there.”

McIlroy will swagger into Valhalla as a winner of back-to-back events. The world no. 2 earned his 25th career PGA Tour victory with Shane Lowry at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. (McIlroy’s recent surge has to feel extra sweet as he beefs with the policy board).

Scheffler, the world no. 1, has four wins and one runner-up in his last five PGA Tour stars. He dominated the RBC Heritage days after winning the Masters, despite not getting a full practice round. (He skipped the Zurich and Wells Fargo.)

Koepka will be seeking to win his fourth, and second-straight, PGA Championship. Koepka owns five career majors — one more than McIlroy.

Quail Hollow is considered an apt corollary for Valhalla, due to its grueling, lengthy layout. McIlroy’s first victory at Quail Hollow came in 2014, weeks before his last major championship win: the PGA Championship at Valhalla.