CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rory McIlroy shared that his first win on the PGA Tour, which took place when he was just 21 at Quail Hollow in 2010, almost didn’t happen.
“Honestly, I never really expected to be playing in that tournament back in 2010,” McIlroy admitted as he reflected on his four victories leading up to the PGA Championship’s opening round.
So, here’s how it unfolded:
“I was having a tough time with my back after missing the cut at the Masters,” McIlroy recalled.
“The previous weekend, I had a great round at Royal Portrush, and it seemed to help my back a bit,” he added.
“In my first round, I didn’t perform my best. It was my debut year as a PGA Tour member, starting on the 10th tee on Friday afternoon.”
“Then I played alongside Scott McCarron Saturday morning and managed to shoot a 66. The conditions were tougher in the afternoon, but I climbed into the top 10. I was pretty thrilled, especially with a big boxing match happening that night.”
“I remember not getting much sleep, maybe just until 2 a.m. The next day, I played with Anthony Kim and hit one of my best rounds ever, ultimately clinching my first PGA Tour victory. It was an amazing day.”
“I believe these experiences contribute to why I keep playing well here. Every time I return, those positive memories seem to light back up,” McIlroy reflected.
Now at 36, McIlroy has notched up 29 wins on the PGA Tour and has triumphed four times at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, in 2010, 2015, 2021, and 2024.
