McIlroy fails to make most of chances

Rory McIlroy looked set for another top-10 finish as the Wells Fargo Championship built to a climax at Quail Hollow, North Carolina last night.

The Northern Irishman could not, however, reproduce the heroics of four years ago – when he shot a final round of 10-under-par 62 to claim a maiden PGA Tour victory – and had to settle for a final round of 70 which could have been one or two better.

McIlroy had raised hopes of another run at the title with a brilliant 65 on Saturday. That round had been built on prowess with the putter but yesterday – in keeping with much of this season – he again struggled to hole out from from inside 10 feet.

The trend started at the first where he missed from six feet for par and continued to the end with a missed nine-footer for birdie at the last.

In between McIlroy had birdies at the seventh, eighth, 12th, 14th and 15th but failed to convert five-footers for par at the ninth and 13th.

Veteran Jim Furyk made a run for the title with a brilliant final round yesterday. Furyk, who started the day six strokes off the pace, stormed home with a seven-under-par 65 on another perfect spring day at Quail Hollow.

He finished at 13-under 275, setting a score for other players to chase as they started the back nine.

Challenge
Fellow American JB Holmes took up the challenge and was two strokes ahead of Furyk at 15 under through 14 holes. He was tied for the lead at the turn, but pulled ahead with birdies at the par-five 10th and par-four 11th, holing a 30-footer at the latter.

Joining Furyk on 13 under was Martin Flores (15 holes), while Jason Bohn (17 holes) was 12-under.

Phil Mickelson, who vaulted into contention with a 63 on Saturday, could not produce an encore performance, dropping three shots in 16 holes to fall out of contention at eight-under par.