Wells Fargo International: Max Homa claims first PGA Tour title

Leaderboard

-15 Homa

-12 Dahmen

-11 Rose

-9 Garcia, Fowler, Casey, Dufner

Day four report

American Max Homa overcame an untimely weather delay to claim his first PGA Tour title as Rory McIlroy squandered his chance of a third victory in the Wells Fargo Championship.

Homa, who began the day in a tie for the lead with Joel Dahmen and Jason Dufner, carded a final round of 67 at Quail Hollow to finish 15 under par and three shots clear of Dahmen, with Olympic champion Justin Rose a shot further back.

The 28-year-old from California birdied the fifth, seventh, 10th and 11th and was facing a five-foot putt to save par on the 14th when play was suspended due to bad weather.

After a 62-minute delay, Homa calmly converted the putt to remain three shots ahead and a two-putt birdie on the par-five 15th effectively sealed victory for a player ranked 417th in the world at the start of the week.

Asked for his reaction, Homa told Sky Sports: "Like I'm in a dream I think. I didn't know if this day would ever come, let alone just keeping my (PGA Tour) card.

"But I've been working my tail off and I've been seeing a lot of great results and my gosh it's cool to do it here because I love this place as much as any.

"It's great for my family, my fiance - I'm getting married in a few months - everything's good now."

McIlroy, who began his round with six straight pars, looked certain to close the gap to the leaders after hitting two superb shots to the par-five seventh, only to race his eagle putt four feet past the hole and miss the birdie attempt.

Another three-putt resulted in a bogey on the ninth and McIlroy's faint hopes evaporated on the par-five 10th, where the 30-year-old was within 50 feet of the hole in two but proceeded to duff two chip shots and run up a double-bogey seven.

McIlroy, who celebrated his 30th birthday on Saturday with a third round of 68 to lie two shots off the lead, eventually signed for a closing 73 to finish in a tie for eighth.

Former Masters champion Sergio Garcia shared fourth place with Dufner, Paul Casey and Rickie Fowler after dropping two shots in the last three holes in a closing 68.

Day three report

Rory McIlroy was two shots off the pace heading into the final round at the Wells Fargo Championship after carding a three-under 68 on a rain-hit third day in Charlotte.

The Northern Irishman, celebrating his 30th birthday, shared the top spot after an opening 66 but had to settle for a 70 in round two.

Quail Hollow saw two rain delays on day three, each lasting just over an hour, but that did not dampen the spirits of the crowd who greeted McIlroy with a rendition of Happy Birthday at the first tee.

The four-time major champion parred his way through the first six holes and made his first birdie of the day on the par-five seventh, reaching the turn at one under.

Three more birdies and just one dropped shot followed on the back nine as McIlroy headed back to the clubhouse on nine under. He is aiming to win the event for a third time.

"This golf course really rewards patience and rewards discipline. And I feel like I was both of those today," McIlroy told the PGA Tour website.

Joel Dahmen, Jason Dufner and Max Homa were in a three-way tie for the lead.

Dufner, the overnight leader, followed up his second-round 63 with a 71 after making back-to-back bogeys through holes 11 and 12.

The former US PGA champion recovered with birdies on the 14th and 15th to move to 11 under.

Homa and Dahmen, who mixed a double-bogey with an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys, both signed for a 70 to sit alongside Dufner, with fellow American Pat Perez on 10 under.

England's Justin Rose was on eight under after a 68, with countryman Paul Casey a shot further back after a bogey-free 66 containing two eagles.

Irishman Seamus Power was also four shots off the lead.

Day two report

Rory McIlroy will start the weekend at least five shots off the lead at the Wells Fargo International after suffering a disappointing finish to his second round in Charlotte.

McIlroy, who shared top spot after an opening 66, looked set for another good day as he moved to nine under heading into the final two holes at Quail Hollow, having carded five birdies and just one bogey.

However, the Northern Irishman slipped back towards the chasing pack after dropping three shots on the last two par-fours and having to settle for a one-under-par 70.

On the short eighth - his penultimate hole of the day after starting on the 10th - McIlroy found a bunker off the tee and, despite being only 55 yards to the green, conspired to take another five shots as he recorded a double-bogey.

The four-time major champion, looking to celebrate his 30th birthday this weekend by winning this event for a third time, also bogeyed the ninth - his last - after missing the green and failing to get up and down.

That saw the world number four drop back to six under overall and left him five shots adrift of clubhouse leader Jason Dufner.

The American followed up his opening 68 with a superb eight-under-par 63 that included an eagle, seven birdies and just the one dropped shot as he moved to 11 under.

Max Homa also signed for a 63 - his blemish-free - to sit alongside Joel Dahmen in joint second place on 10 under. Dahmen, who was overnight leader alongside McIlroy, shot a second successive 66.

Day one report

Rory McIlroy fired a five-under-par round of 66 to move into contention for a third career victory at the Wells Fargo International in Charlotte.

Playing in his first tournament since finishing in a tie for 21st place at The Masters last month, McIlroy shared the lead with American Joel Dahmen.

McIlroy, who earned his first PGA Tour win at the Quail Hollow venue in 2010 before reclaiming the title five years later, shot five birdies to leave himself in contention.

There was also a strong performance from Scotland's Martin Laird, who shot 67 to sit just one stroke behind McIlroy, in a group which also included former Masters champion Patrick Reed.

Justin Rose's bid to recover from his Masters disappointment did not go entirely to plan as he sat four strokes behind McIlroy after shooting a one-under-par round of 70.

Rose, who missed the cut at Augusta for the first time in his career, recorded three bogeys in an inconsistent round which looks unlikely to put him in a position to challenge the leaders.