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McIlroy Ends Drought on PGA Tour

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PGA Tour Brunch’s Wrap-Up of Wells Fargo Championship

CHARLOTTE – Rory McIlroy won his 19th career title and first in more than a year (1 year, 6 months, 6 days) while taking the Wells Fargo Championship for the third time (2010, 2015, 2021).

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Third-round leader Keith Mitchell finished T-3 after holding a 54-hole lead/co-lead for the first time. He closed with a (72) and (-8), two strokes off the lead.

In search of his first-ever PGA Tour title, Abraham Ancer recorded his fourth career runner-up in his 115th start of his career. Ancer shot as (66) in the final round and finished only one back of McIlroy.

After losing the FedExCup points lead to Justin Thomas following last week’s Valspar Championship, Bryson DeChambeau returned to the No. 1 spot in the FedExCup standings with a T-9 finish. DeChambeau thought he had missed the cut on Friday and returned to Dallas before refueling his charter and returning to Dallas for Saturday’s third round.

First-round leader Phil Mickelson followed an opening (64) with rounds of (75-76-76) to finish 69th and has yet to finish inside the Top 10 in 14 starts this season.

PGATourBrunch will be posting at 12:00 Noon (EDT) Wednesday with a look at the AT&T Byron Nelson Classic.

This Week: The AT&T Byron Nelson Classic (McKinney, Texas) – (First Look)

2021 Wells Fargo – Final Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy 72-66-68-68—274 (-10)

Abraham Ancer 69-70-70-66—275 (-9)

Viktor Hovland 69-72-68-67—276 (-8)

Keith Mitchell 67-71-66-72—276 (-8)

Gary Woodland 67-69-70-71—277 (-7)

Final Leaderboard: (link)

Third-round leader Keith Mitchell finished T-3 after holding a 54-hole lead/co-lead for the first time. He closed with a (72) and (-8), two strokes off the lead.

In search of his first-ever PGA Tour title, Abraham Ancer recorded his fourth career runner-up in his 115th start of his career. Ancer shot as (66) in the final round and finished only one back of McIlroy.

After losing the FedExCup points lead to Justin Thomas following last week’s Valspar Championship, Bryson DeChambeau returned to the No. 1 spot in the FedExCup standings with a T-9 finish. DeChambeau thought he had missed the cut on Friday and returned to Dallas before refueling his charter and returning to Dallas for Saturday’s third round.

First-round leader Phil Mickelson followed an opening (64) with rounds of (75-76-76) to finish 69th and has yet to finish inside the Top 10 in 14 starts this season.

PGATourBrunch will be posting at 12:00 Noon (EDT) Wednesday with a look at the AT&T Byron Nelson Classic.

This Week: The AT&T Byron Nelson Classic (McKinney, Texas)

 

2021 Wells Fargo – Final Leaderboard

Rory McIlroy 72-66-68-68—274 (-10)

Abraham Ancer 69-70-70-66—275 (-9)

Viktor Hovland 69-72-68-67—276 (-8)

Keith Mitchell 67-71-66-72—276 (-8)

Gary Woodland 67-69-70-71—277 (-7)

Final Leaderboard: (link)

PGA Tour: Final Round Preview from Wells Fargo

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THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: Wells Fargo Championship

COURSE: Quail Hollow Country Club (Charlotte, NC)

FEDEx CUP Points Available/Winner: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @WellsFargoGolf

OFFICIAL SITE: (Wells Fargo Championship) – (Official Tournament Site)

TV COVERAGE: Today, May 9 – Golf Channel’s TV coverage will air from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT), then CBS takes over coverage from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage of Featured Groups today from 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) with Featured Holes streaming from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Streaming Radio coverage today, 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

How to Watch: (PGATourCom)

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Wells Fargo Championship Notes:

Keith Mitchell holds a two-stroke lead in search of only his second PGA Tour title and a win today would mark 798 days since his first Tour title at the 2019 Honda Classic.

Mitchell leads the field by in birdies with (18) through 54 holes trailed by Jason Dufner and Harris English (15).

Rory McIlroy is seeking his third win at the Wells Fargo Championship (others were 2010, 2015).

Gary Woodland is back atop the leaderboard and seeks his fifth career PGA Tour victory and first since the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Luke List is seeking his first PGA Tour win in his 188th start as this tournament marks his sixth start at the Wells Fargo Championship. List’s best finish was T-9 (2018).

After opening rounds of (69-67), 36-hole co-leader Matt Wallace fell to T-7 after posting a third-round 2-over (73).

Since 2003, only five players have earned their first PGA Tour win at the Wells Fargo Championship.

After making the cut by one stroke, Bryson DeChambeau (T-23) made a six-stroke improvement in round three with a 3-under 68, capped by a double bogey on the par-4 18th hole. On Friday evening, figuring he had missed the cut, DeChambeau headed back to Dallas but was informed mid-flight that the wind had kicked-up at Quail Hollow and the cut-line was changing. Needing to re-fuel anyways, DeChambeau’s charter landed in Dallas, took on jet fuel and took a few hours break, and returned to Charlotte.

Wells Fargo Championship Leaderboard After 54-Holes

Keith Mitchell 67-71-66 —204 (-9)

Rory McIlroy 72-66-68 —206 (-7)

Gary Woodland 67-69-70—206 (-7)

Luke List 67-72-68 —207 (-6)

PGA Tour: Three Share Wells Fargo Lead

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THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: Wells Fargo Championship

COURSE: Quail Hollow Country Club (Charlotte, NC)

FEDEx CUP Points Available/Winner: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @WellsFargoGolf

OFFICIAL SITE: (Wells Fargo Championship) – (Official Tournament Site)

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TV COVERAGE: Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 – Golf Channel’s TV coverage will air from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT), then CBS takes over coverage from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage Saturday and Sunday, PGA Live Featured Groups runs from 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) with Featured Holes streaming from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Streaming Radio coverage Saturday and Sunday, 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

How to Watch: (PGATourCom)

Wells Fargo Championship Notes:

The three player tie – at six under (136) – after 36-holes ties the record for most players tied for the lead at the Wells Fargo Championship (also 2007).

In his Wells Fargo Championship debut, Matt Wallace is in position for first career PGA Tour title in 41st start of his career.

Gary Woodland (67-69) – (-6) overcame two bogeys with four birdies to post a 2-under 69 in his ninth Wells Fargo Championship start while Patrick Rodgers (68-68) – (-6) offset two bogeys with three birdies and an eagle at the par-5 seventh to post a second consecutive 3-under at Quail Hollow.

After missing the cut in his last two stroke-play events on the Tour, Rory McIlroy (T-5) is inside the Top 10 after 36 holes and only two strokes behind leaders.

First-round leader Phil Mickelson followed eight birdies in round one with just one in round two, an 11-shot swing between rounds (64-75) – (-3) but only three off the lead.

After leading the Tour’s active streak for most consecutive cuts made (22), Jon Rahm missed the cut in for the first time in nearly a year (329 days).

The cutline came in at (+2).

Aside from Rahm, other notables to miss the cut included Gastonia, NC native Harold Varner III, Jason Day, Patrick Cantlay, Will Zalatoris, Ian Poulter, Tony Finau, and Rickie Fowler.

Wells Fargo Leaderboard After 2nd Round

Matt Wallace 69-67—136 (-6)

Gary Woodland 67-69—136 (-6)

Patrick Rodgers 68-68—136 (-6)

Kramer Hickok 68-69—137 (-5)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

PGA Tour: PHIL Was PHEELIN’ IT

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THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: Wells Fargo Championship

COURSE: Quail Hollow Country Club (Charlotte, NC)

FEDEx CUP Points Available/Winner: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @WellsFargoGolf

OFFICIAL SITE: (Wells Fargo Championship) – (Official Tournament Site)

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TV COVERAGE: Today: 2:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. On Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 – Golf Channel’s TV coverage will air from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT), then CBS takes over coverage from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage of Featured Groups today from 7:00am to 6:00pm (EDT). On Saturday and Sunday, PGA Live Featured Groups runs from 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) with Featured Holes streaming from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Streaming Radio coverage today from 12:00pm Noon to 6:00pm (EDT); then Saturday and Sunday, 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

How to Watch: (PGATourCom)

Wells Fargo Championship Notes:

Sooner or later, the players, fans, volunteers, administrators and media that together make up the PGA Tour knew the future Golf Hall-of-Famer Phil Mickelson would post a score. That day came Thursday!

Phil Mickelson today holds the opening-round lead at a PGA Tour event for the first time since the 2019 American Express, a span of 840 days. Mickelson’s 7-under (64) marks his lowest score on Tour since the second round of the 2020 Travelers Championship (63).

Mickelson has not finished inside the Top 20 in his 13 starts this season and his T-21 at the Masters Tournament marked Mickelson’s best finish of 2021.

Phil@50: The 44-time PGA Tour winner has yet to win on the Tour since turning 50 on June 16, 2020.

Keegan Bradley (66), and Peter Malnati (67) recorded bogey-free rounds.

On the Other End of the Spectrum: World No. 3 Jon Rahm posted a 5-over (76), ending his streak of eight consecutive par-or-better rounds dating back to his final-round (73) at THE PLAYERS Championship. Rahm currently leads the Tour for consecutive cuts made (22) and has only one missed cut since June 1, 2019 (2020 Charles Schwab Challenge).

Defending champion Max Homa recorded a 6-over (77), his highest score in 10 rounds at the Wells Fargo Championship and his highest score on Tour since a (78) in the first round of the 2020 U.S. Open.

Quail Hollow resident Webb Simpson was forced to withdraw with a neck strain.

Wells Fargo Championship Leaderboard After First Round

Phil Mickelson 64 (-7)

K.H. Lee 66 (-5)

Keegan Bradley 66 (-5)

Six players at 4-under 67

PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Preview

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THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: Wells Fargo Championship

COURSE: Quail Hollow Country Club (Charlotte, NC)

ARCHITECT: George Cobb

YARDS/PAR: 7,521 yards/Par 71

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $8,100,000/$1,458,000

DEFENDING Champion (March 2019) – Max Homa – (2019 Leaderboard)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points Available/Winner: 2,989/500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @WellsFargoGolf

OFFICIAL SITE: (Wells Fargo Championship) – (Official Tournament Site)

TV COVERAGE: Today and Friday, May 7: 2:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Golf Channel. On Saturday, May 8 and Sunday, May 9 – Golf Channel’s TV coverage will air from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT), then CBS takes over coverage from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: PGA Tour Live will offer streaming coverage of Featured Groups today and on Friday from 7:00am to 6:00pm (EDT). On Saturday and Sunday, PGA Live Featured Groups runs from 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) with Featured Holes streaming from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Streaming Radio coverage today and Friday from 12:00pm Noon to 6:00pm (EDT); then Saturday and Sunday, 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

PGA Tour Brunch Coverage – Wells Fargo Championship

The Wells Fargo Championship was last contested in 2019 as last year’s tournament was cancelled for obvious reasons. Back in ‘19, Max Homa became the fifth player to claim his first PGA Tour victory at the Wells Fargo Championship joining Anthony Kim (2008), Rory McIlroy (2010), Rickie Fowler (2012) and Derek Ernst (2013).

There’s a strong field ready to compete as 10 players in the Top 15 in the World Golf Ranking are playing Quail Hollow and they include, Justin Thomas (2), Jon Rahm (3), Xander Schauffele (4), and Bryson DeChambeau (5) of the Top 5. Patrick Reed (7), Webb Simpson (9), Viktor Hovland (11), Patrick Cantlay (12), Tony Finau (13), and former Wells Fargo champion Rory McIlroy (15) round-out the impressive competitors.

World Golf Hall of Fame member Phil Mickelson will make his 17th consecutive start today. He holds a tournament-record Ten Top-10 finishes, eight of which were inside the Top 5. Mickelson first missed the cut here in 2019.

World No. 12 Patrick Cantlay is making his first start at the Wells Fargo Championship. Cantlay is in search of his fourth career Tour title and second of the season (2020 ZOZO Champ).

Much of Tuesday and Wednesday was spent with the Super League for Golf ruminating in the gallery of Quail Hollow. Please see the news clips below for additional information and PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan’s strict edict on current PGA Tour card holders who might choose to stray to the Saudi-backed, Jupiter, Florida-based Super League.

Tournament Tee Times begin today at 6:50am (EDT) through 2:22pm (EDT).

Weather: Today’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and 62-degrees with 9 mph winds with only a 10% chance of rain. Friday and Saturday should be mostly sunny, 58-64-degrees, with a 10% chance of rain Friday and 0% on Saturday. Long-term forecast for Sunday is for partly cloudy skies, 74-degrees and 14 mph winds.

PGATourBrunch will be posting before 6:50am (EDT) early tee times Friday.

Next Week: AT&T Byron Nelson (McKinney, Texas)

Field Updates:

Charles Howell III (out) / Grayson Murray (in)

Davis Love III (out) / D.J. Trahan (in)

Jim Herman (out) / Sebastian Cappelen (in)

Camilo Villegas (out) / Justin Suh (in)

Brendon Todd (out) / J.J. Spaun (in)

PGA Tour: Wells Fargo Champ; 1st Look

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Welcome to PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the Wells Fargo Championship

CHARLOTTE – The Wells Fargo Championship and its substantial prize purse always draws a strong field. This year the field includes four of Top-5 players in Official World Golf Ranking: Justin Thomas (2), Jon Rahm (3), Xander Schauffele(4), and Bryson DeChambeau (5).

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Defending champion Max Homa is coming off his T-6 at last week’s Valspar Championship. Homa must note, no player has successfully defended his title at Wells Fargo.

The tournament’s 2010 and 2015 winner, Rory McIlroy, will make his first start since the Masters when he missed the cut.

A native of nearby Gastonia, North Carolina, Harold Varner III will make his sixth Wells Fargo Championship appearance. Varner III claimed his career-best T-2 at last month’s RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.

The PGA Tour announced Tuesday that 12-1 shot Brandon Todd withdrew from the tournament after a COVID+ test. He was replaced by J.J. Spaun.

The Wells Fargo Championship is the 32nd of 50 events in the 2020-21 PGA Tour season. Due to COVID-19, the Wells Fargo Championship was not contested in 2020.

Tournament Tee Times begin Thursday at 6:50am (EDT) through 2:22pm (EDT).

Weather: Thursday’s forecast calls for partly cloudy skies and 62-degrees with 9 mph winds and only a 10% chance of rain. Friday and Saturday should be mostly sunny, 58-64-degrees, with a 10% chance of rain Friday and 0% on Saturday. Long-term forecast for Sunday is for partly cloudy skies, 74-degrees and 14 mph winds.

PGATourBrunch will be posting before 6:50am (EDT) early tee times Thursday and Friday.

Next Week: AT&T Byron Nelson (McKinney, Texas)

Field Updates:

Charles Howell III (out) / Grayson Murray (in)

Davis Love III (out) / D.J. Trahan (in)

Jim Herman (out) / Sebastian Cappelen (in)

Camilo Villegas (out) / Justin Suh (in)

Brendon Todd (out) / J.J. Spaun (in)

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PGA Tour: Valspar Wrap-Up

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Wrap-Up of the Valspar Championship

Sam Burns became the fifth player to pick-up his first PGA Tour win at the Valspar Championship, taking honors in his 76th pro start. Burns’ previous-best career finish came at 2021 The Genesis Invitational where he placed No. 3.

Burns joined Jason Kokrak, Carlos Ortiz and Joel Dahmen as first-time winners this season.

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Second-place finisher Keegan Bradley fell to 0-for-3 when holding a 54-hole lead/co-lead (P2/2012 The Genesis Invitational, 2nd/2013 AT&T Byron Nelson, 2nd/2021 Valspar Championship). Bradley was in search of his first Tour win since the 2018 BMW Championship.

PGATourBrunch will be posting at 12:00 Noon (EDT) Wednesday with a look at the Wells Fargo.

This Week: Wells Fargo Championship (Charlotte, NC) – (First Look)

2021 Valspar Championship – Final Leaderboard

Sam Burns 67-63-69-68—267 (-17)

Keegan Bradley 64-66-69-71—270 (-14)

Viktor Hovland 69-69-68-65—271 (-13)

Cameron Tringale 69-67-67-68—271 (-13)

Abraham Ancer 67-70-66-69—272 (-12)

Final Leaderboard: (link)

PGA Tour: Final Round at Valspar

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PGA Tour Brunch’s Coverage of Final Round at Valspar

Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns tied the 54-hole tournament scoring record (199) at (-14) and remain tied for the lead entering the final round, but both are 0-for-2 with the 54-hole lead/co-lead on the Tour.

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Max Homa is looking to become the third player with multiple victories this season, joining Bryson DeChambeau and Stewart Cink. Homa is in 3rd place, but only one stroke back (-13).

There have been 91 hole-outs this week, the most through three rounds at the Valspar Championship during the ShotLink era (2003-present).

Round 4 Tee Times begin today at 8:20am and run through 2:05pm (EDT) when the leaders, Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns, tee-off together once again.

Weather: Mostly sunny skies give way to partial clouds. Can’t rule out an isolated shower or thunderstorm developing this afternoon across interior sections. Otherwise, it will remain dry today. A light SE wind this morning will shift out of the SW and increase to 10-15 mph this afternoon.

PGATourBrunch will be posting at 12:00 Noon (EDT) Monday with a recap of the Valspar Championship and a quick look at the Wells Fargo.

Next Week: Wells Fargo Championship (Charlotte, NC)

THIS WEEK on the PGA TOUR: The Valspar Championship

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @ValsparChamp

OFFICIAL SITE: (Valspar Championship) – (Official Tournament Site)

TV COVERAGE: Today, May 2 – Golf Channel’s TV coverage goes from 1:00pm to 3:00pm (EDT), then CBS takes over coverage from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

STREAMING: Today, PGA Tour Live Featured Groups runs from 8:00am to 3:00pm (EDT) with Featured Holes goes from 3:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT).

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: Streaming Radio coverage today from 1:00pm to 6:00pm (EDT) on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92) or online on PGATour.com.

How to Watch: (PGATourCom)

2021 Valspar Championship – Leaderboard After R-2

Keegan Bradley 64-66-69—199 (-14)

Sam Burns 67-63-69—199 (-14)

Max Homa 66-68-66—200 (-13)

Ted Potter, Jr. 67-73-63—203 (-10)

Abraham Ancer 67-70-66—203 (-10)

Joaquin Niemann 68-68-67—203 (-10)

Cameron Tringale 69-67-67—203 (-10

PGA Tour: Moving Day at Valspar

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PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the The Valspar After 36 Holes

Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns are tied for the lead at (-12) after 36 holes at the Valspar Championship. On Friday, Burns shot a tournament low eight-under (63) to match his opening round (67). Bradley, the leader after 18 holes with a scorching, bogey-free (64), shot five-under (66) and will join Burns in the final group today.

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They set the Valspar Championship 36-hole scoring record at 12-under (130) (Previous: 131 by K.J. Choi/2002).

For Sam Burns, this marks the fifth time this season he is in Top-5 after the opening two rounds, the most of any player on Tour.

Two-time defending champion Paul Casey opened with 3-under (68) and followed Friday with an even par (71) in a bid to earn a third consecutive title at the Valspar Championship. He’s currently T-33.

The cutline came in at (-1).

Notables who missed the cut at Valspar include: Emiliano Grillo (66) and (76) – (E); Patrick Reed (70 and (72) – E; Phil Mickelson (73) and (69) – E; Graham McDowell (74) and (73) – (+5) and Justin Rose (74) and (73) – (+5).

After receiving widespread attention ahead of his PGA Tour debut, Monday qualifier Michael Visacki (T-114) with (74) and (71) for (+3), missed the cut.

Tournament Tee Times begin today at 8:20am and run through 2:05pm (EDT) when Keegan Bradley and Sam Burns tee-off.

Weather: A weak frontal boundary will stall across Central Florida on Saturday shifting the wind from the northeast during the morning before the sea breeze moves onshore during the afternoon. The front will move back to the north on Sunday allowing hot and humid conditions to return into early next week. The west coast of Florida will remain dry this weekend with any isolated shower and thunderstorm chances remaining over the weekend. Temperatures Saturday expected to be 71-85-degrees and winds expected 6-12 mph.

Next Week: Wells Fargo Championship (Charlotte, NC)

PGA Tour: Second Round Action Underway at Valspar Championship

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PGA Tour Brunch Coverage of the The Valspar After 18-Holes

Keegan Bradley holds a two-stroke lead, the eighth 18-hole lead/co-lead of his PGA Tour career and second at the Valspar Championship (T1/2016; MC). The lead marks Bradley’s fifth straight 18-hole position of T-6 or better at the event but he has not finished better than T-31 in his previous four outings at Valspar.

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Two-time defending champion Paul Casey opened with 3-under (68) as he tried to earn a third consecutive title at the Valspar Championship.

Emiliano Grillo (T-2) at (-5) hit 12 of 13 fairways, and is tied with Tom Lewisfor the most of any player in the field.

After receiving widespread attention ahead of his PGA Tour debut, Monday qualifier Michael Visacki (T-129) made birdie on No. 1 before carding a 3-over (74) in opening round.

2021 Valspar Championship – Round 1 Leaderboard

Keegan Bradley 64 (-7)

Emiliano Grillo 66 (-5)

Ryan Moore 66 (-5)

Hank Lebioda 66 (-5)

Max Homa 66 (-5)

Patton Kizzire 66 (-5)

Full Leaderboard: (link)

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