We’re less than two weeks away from the year’s second major, the PGA Championship at Bethpage Black in New York, and many of the world’s best players are using this week’s PGA Tour event, the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, to prepare.
Here’s everything you missed from Thursday’s action in Charlotte.
Rory McIlroy headed into this week as as the heavy favorite, with 6/1 odds. The Northern Irishman has not only won the Wells Fargo twice (2010 and 2015) but he’s also firing on all cylinders thus far this season, with a prestigious win at the Players Championship and six other top-10 finishes.
So it’s really no surprise to see him taking charge at the top of the leaderboard from the very beginning at Quail Hollow. An opening round of 66 (five under) included six birdies and a bogey, giving McIlroy a one-shot lead over a five-player lock in second at four under par.
? 339-yard drive
? Stick the approach
? Third birdie in a rowThe only two-time @WellsFargoGolf champion @McIlroyRory has the solo lead.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/CtpMCjWbwg
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 2, 2019
A win this week would mark No. 16 of McIlroy’s PGA Tour career.
Joel Dahmen managed to keep his scorecard sparkling clean on Thursday, with five birdies and no bogeys to match McIlroy’s 66. Though he has five career top-1o finishes on Tour, Dahmen is still seeking his first PGA Tour win.
Well within striking distance of McIlroy and Dahmen’s lead is a slew of big-name players. Patrick Reed is one shot back at four under par while defending champion Jason Day is two back at three under par. Sergio Garcia is also just four shots back at two under par.
That’s some serious break.@TheSergioGarcia plays it perfectly.#QuickHits pic.twitter.com/tkyWLbordB
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 2, 2019
Phil Mickelson had a so-so round of even par on Thursday, carding two birdies and two bogeys, and is currently T47. Rickie Fowler was right there with him, also carding two birdies and two bogeys, while Justin Rose made four birdies and three bogeys to shoot one under par overall, which is currently T27.
In a touching show of support for the victims of Tuesday’s shooting at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, players donned green ribbons on their hats. The attack left two students dead and four others injured. The university is located about 10 miles east of uptown Charlotte, and just over 17 miles north of Quail Hollow.
Players are honoring victims of the UNC Charlotte tragedy with green ribbons @WellsFargoGolf.#CharlotteStrong pic.twitter.com/0g3N6fA0pV
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 2, 2019
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