Spieth? Fowler? Meh
That was the message from Rory McIlroy at Quail Hollow as the golf’s world No.1 smashed his own course record at the Wells Fargo Championship yesterday.
The Irishman fired 11 birdies, including a run of nine in the space of 10 holes en route to a stunning round of 61 to seize control of the tournament where he registered his maiden PGA Tour victory five years ago, when he last brought the course to its knees with the previous record 62.
And he made sure to remind everyone that despite the anointing of Masters winner Jordan Spieth and Players champion Rickie Fowler as the duo ready to challenge for the top spot in world golf, McIlroy is still by some distance the man to beat.
The 25-year-old has praised his rivals’ results but you can’t help but feel like he was trying to make a statement when he followed his round by saying: “I feel like the best player in the world and I wanted to go out there and prove that.”
And don’t think America’s young guns, not in the field this week, didn’t notice.
Play any good today @McIlroyRory??
— Rickie Fowler (@RickieFowler) May 16, 2015
Crazy good playing by @McIlroyRory .. 11 birds and all inside 15 feet. That's nice ball striking
— Jordan Spieth (@JordanSpieth) May 17, 2015
McIlroy was especially dialled in with his irons, meaning he was looking at makeable putts all the way around and he admitted he began thinking of posting the PGA Tour’s first ever score of 59 on the 14th hole.
Distance of Rory McIlroy's 11 made birdies today:
8 feet, 2 feet, 6 feet, 4 feet, 7 feet, 13 feet, 5 feet, 8 feet, 3 feet, 10 feet, 14 feet— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 16, 2015
Rory’s brilliant round catapulted him from four shots off the lead to four in front at 18 under par, with only Quail Hollow member Webb Simpson within seven.
Silly narrative for tomorrow's final pairing: Webb Simpson is a member at Quail Hollow… but Rory McIlroy OWNS IT.
— Jason Sobel (@JasonSobelGolf) May 16, 2015
Here’s Rory himself to talk you through all the highlights…
Hear from Rory McIlroy as he takes a look back at the shots that led to his historic round. Highlights:https://t.co/f0HiwMWVhP
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 16, 2015
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