Rory McIlroy cracks Scottie Scheffler joke after proud day at Wells Fargo before storming to victory
Rory McIlroy flourished in the absence of Scottie Scheffler this week, but the World No.1 is still the first name on his lips.
The Northern Irishman started the final round one shot behind leader Xander Schauffele following a sublime third 18 holes at Quail Hollow.
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The 35-year-old then continued his remarkable form by carding a stunning six-under 65 in the final round to claim victory by five shots.
The four-time major champion is finding some form to bounce back from his frustrating start to the PGA Tour season.
McIlroy could not resist making a joke about Scheffler after that third round that put him in touching distance of a win, who is not in the field due to his wife, Meredith, giving birth to their first child.
"Two straight bogey-free rounds, this is what it must feel like to be Scottie Scheffler," McIlroy said.
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"I think I've held out pretty well for the most part inside six feet, and then I think because I know this golf course so well, I've missed it in the right spots when I have missed the green.
"I think I've held out pretty well for the most part inside six feet, and then I think because I know this golf course so well, I've missed it in the right spots when I have missed the green.
"To play two rounds in a row on this golf course in these conditions bogey free is a bit of a feather in my cap, I'm pretty proud of that."
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Scheffler's absence from Charlotte comes after he picked up his second Masters title last month.
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The two-time Major winner then backed it up with another victory at the RBC Heritage a week later.
The 27-year-old is expected to go for his third major title at the PGA Championship next week providing his child has been born by then.
McIlroy, a winner at the Quail Hollow tournament in 2010, 2015 and 2021, added a fourth triumph to help him set down a marker.
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McIlroy told Sky Sports: "Coming into this week, at a golf course I am comfortable with, my golf swing feels more comfortable than it has done.
"Going to a venue next week where I have won, it feels like the stars are aligning a little bit. But I have a lot of golf to play and a lot of great players to try to beat.
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"I am going into the next major of the year feeling really good about myself."
Schauffele finished five behind in second after stumbling to a 71, with South Korea's An Byeong-hun third on nine under after a 66.
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