Rory McIlroy’s rise fueled by Charlotte win in 2010

It could be said Rory McIlroy’s ascent to the top of the golf world began at Quail Hollow Club.

In 2010, McIlroy won what then was the Quail Hollow Championship, the first victory of his career. Now – 16 victories worldwide and four major championships later – McIlroy returns again to Quail Hollow as the top-ranked player in the world, a position he has held since August.

When McIlroy won at Quail Hollow five years ago, it was the first time he’d played the course.

“I wouldn’t be one to look too much into new courses,” McIlroy said. “What I see out there is what I just try and play with. I try to play the course the way it’s designed to be played. I think there’s an overemphasis on knowing a golf course too much, because if you don’t execute shots it’s worthless.”

McIlroy is in the midst of a grueling schedule during which he’ll play the BMW PGA tournament in England next week, followed by the Irish Open. He’ll then presumably take a break before the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay near Seattle.

McIlroy’s decision to play at Quail Hollow during a busy stretch – he also recently played at the Players Championship and the World Golf Championships Match Play – didn’t go unnoticed by club president Johnny Harris.

“Rory is really standing there with us,” said Harris.

Notes

▪ Four players – Ernie Els, Kevin Na, Woody Austin and Francesco Molinari – withdrew. They’ve been replaced by Heath Slocum, Steven Alker, Carlos Sainz and Tyrone Van Aswegen. Els withdrew Wednesday because of a pulled muscle in his side.

▪ Chicago Bears coach John Fox finished his pro-am round Wednesday, just as Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera stepped to the 10th tee to begin his. Fox immediately was approached by fans who wanted a word or a handshake or a hug.

How’d you shoot?

“Terrible,” said Fox, a former Panthers coach who still owns a house at Quail Hollow. “I’ve been in Chicago all winter.”

▪ Winning the Wells Fargo in 2013 continues to be by far and away the highlight of Derek Ernst’s career. His victory at Quail Hollow – one of the more unlikely in tour history – is his only top-10 in 66 PGA Tour starts. This season he has made just six cuts in 16 tournaments, with a tie for 17th at the Valspar Championship his best finish. Ernst is at risk of losing his tour exempt status if he doesn’t win this season (he received a two-year exemption by winning) or finishing among the top 125 on the money list (he’s 176th).

Quoting

“It’s much like the great courses of the world, where when you play well you’re rewarded, but if you’re not quite on your game (you) struggle to get … a good score.” – Adam Scott, on Quail Hollow.

Weather

Mostly sunny; high 78. Chance of rain: 14 percent. Tom Sorensen contributed

This story was originally published May 13, 2015 at 8:54 PM with the headline "Rory McIlroy’s rise fueled by Charlotte win in 2010."