CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Wells Fargo Championship seemed to be on a tee for Rory McIlroy to end his yearlong Tour victory drought, but a dreadful first nine holes has the tournament’s defending champion well down the leaderboard at 1-over after his Thursday morning trip around Quail Hollow.
McIlroy, who turned 27 on Wednesday, opened the round on a solid note, parring both 10 and 11. But back-to-back bogeys on 12 and 13 and a double bogey on 18 set him back four shots before even making the turn at 1.
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“I was sort of still in range mode on the front nine there.