Rory McIlroy was saved by his tee time.
McIlroy said on Sunday he nearly withdrew from the Wells Fargo Championship before the start of the tournament after tweaking his neck on the range on Wednesday. McIlroy said he was “barely able to make a swing” before going on to snap his 18-month drought with the one-stroke victory on Sunday at Quail Hollow.
“If I had been playing Thursday morning, I would have withdrawn, but I had enough time to get treatment Thursday morning, get it loosened up,” McIlroy, 32, said, according to The Telegraph. “I was on the range on Wednesday and I hit a three‑iron, flushed it and as I turned back to talk to Harry [Diamond, his caddie], the left side of my neck just completely locked up and I couldn’t move it.
“It was really, really strange. I iced it all of Wednesday afternoon, Wednesday night, but I woke up on Thursday and didn’t have much movement. I was trying to make a back swing and could only maybe take it half the way back before it started to catch. Even after the treatment, it was still bothering me. People probably saw the tape that was on my neck on Thursday afternoon, but it sort of loosened up as the week went on.”
After an opening-round 72, Mcilroy shot 66 on Friday and then a pair of 68s on the weekend. McIlroy took a two-shot lead to the 18th hole but drove his ball to an unplayable lie just left of a creek on the 18th hole. After taking a drop, he hit a brilliant 8-iron to the green and was able to two putt for bogey and the victory.
McIlroy credited Diamond for the difficult decision on 18 about whether to take a drop or not.
“Harry was awesome out there today, especially that decision on the last,” McIlroy said. “I was ready to get in there and try to play that with a lob wedge and he said, ‘Pal, let’s take a step back, let’s think about this. Where’s the best place you’re hitting your third from?’ It was the right decision.
“This is my and Harry’s sixth win together and it’s probably been our best. Bay Hill back in 2018 was great because I hadn’t won in a while, but this is even better just because Harry’s been there every step of the way. The sort of tough parts that I’ve sort of had to endure over the last few months, he’s been with me through all that and it’s nice to come through all that with him and to get into the winner’s circle again.”
It was McIlroy’s third victory at Quail Hollow, and his first since winning the HSBC Champions in Shanghai in November 2019.