By ,
Published May 03, 2016
Charlotte, NC (SportsNetwork.com) - Rory McIlroy put the finishing touches on a dominant win Sunday at the Wells Fargo Championship.
The world No. 1 closed with a 3-under 69 to end at 21-under-par 267. His total of 267 smashed Anthony Kim's tournament record score of 272. Kim set that mark in 2008.
"I think the golf course sets up perfect for me. I had a goal today to go out there and birdie the par-5s and the two drivable par-4s. I knew if I made six birdies out there, there was pretty much no chance anyone could catch me," said McIlroy, who earned his first PGA Tour win at this event in 2010. "With my length and the way I've been driving it, it's a big advantage around here and it showed this week."
Patrick Rodgers had climbed within three of McIlroy's lead late in the round, but dropped three strokes in the final two holes at Quail Hollow to end seven back. Rodgers carded a 4-under 68 to share of second place at minus-14. He was joined there by Webb Simpson, who managed a 72 on Sunday.
Phil Mickelson, the 2010 runner-up, posted a 4-under 68 to end tied for fourth at 12-under-par 276. He ended alongside Gary Woodland (67) and Robert Streb (71). Geoff Ogilvy (68) and Justin Thomas (70) shared seventh at minus-11.
McIlroy got off to a slow start with three pars and a 3-putt bogey on the second. He reached the green in two at the par-5 fifth and 2-putted for birdie to move back to minus-18.
The Ulsterman again 2-putted for birdie at the par-5 seventh to push his lead to six over Simpson. McIlroy ran off four straight pars from the eighth.
Meanwhile, Rodgers was making a run. After playing the first five holes in even-par, he birdied the seventh and ninth to turn at 12-under. He kept rolling with an eagle at 10 to go with birdie at 11. That burst moved Rodgers to 15-under.
McIlroy stuffed his approach at the 12th inside two feet and kicked that in for birdie. Rodgers picked up another stroke with a birdie at 14. Just after McIlroy chipped to tap-in range at 14, Rodgers birdied the 15th to inch within three.
However, McIlroy kicked in his birdie at 14 and made another short birdie at 16 to climb to 22-under.
Rodgers found water off the tee at 17 and that led to a double-bogey. He also bogeyed the last to end at minus-14.
McIlroy made a mess of the 17th and carded a bogey, which dropped him to minus-21. He parred the last to seal the dominating win.
"The great thing is I have fallen into that trap before," McIlroy said when asked about getting over-confident. "Now that I'm in this position, I'll realize if I ever get into that mind set again."
Rodgers, who needed a solo second-place finish to gain special temporary status on the PGA Tour, posted his first top-10 finish in his 16th career start.
"It was awesome. I'm 22 years old and in the thick of a PGA Tour event. It doesn't get much than that. It was a lot of fun being out there, pushing Rory a little bit," said Rodgers.
Simpson wrapped bogeys at one and three around a birdie at the second. After a par on four, he birdied the fifth.
The 2012 U.S. Open winner faltered to a double-bogey at the sixth, where he 3- putted from four feet. Simpson got one stroke back as he birdied the seventh.
Around the turn, birdies at 11 and 13 moved Simpson to 15-under. He stumbled to a bogey at 15 and parred the final three holes to share second place.
NOTES: McIlroy will play on the European Tour the next two weeks ... He earned $1.278 million for the win ... McIlroy's 11 PGA Tour wins have been by a combined 37 strokes ... He became the first repeat winner in event history ... Rodgers needs 10 more FedExCup points to earn special temporary membership, which would give him unlimited sponsor exemptions for the remainder of the season ... The tour heads to Texas next week for the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial, where Adam Scott beat Jason Dufner in a playoff last year.
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/mcilroy-rolls-to-7-shot-win-at-quail-hollow