Birdies on the closing two holes gave Tommy Fleetwood the primary spherical lead within the Wells Fargo Championship as Rory McIlroy made solid return to motion.
Fleetwood shot a bogey-free 65 as he continued his pursuit of a primary PGA Tour title, one higher than a gaggle on 5 underneath – Xander Schauffele, Kevin Streelman, Taylor Moore, KH Lee and Ryan Palmer.
McIlroy, taking part in for the primary time since lacking the minimize on the US Masters, is three strokes behind after a gap 68 on his thirty fourth birthday at Quail Hollow.
Fleetwood has gained six instances on the DP World Tour, however the Englishman continues to be chasing a primary title within the US.
“I just have to keep going and wait for those really big results and hopefully start contending again up at the top of the leaderboard,” stated Fleetwood. “We’ll see what we can do from there.”
McIlroy has gained thrice at Quail Hollow with 9 high 10 finishes in 11 begins, however he admitted not touching his golf equipment for greater than two weeks after the frustration on the Masters.
“I feel relaxed here,” he stated. “It’s just a level of comfort at this golf course and at this club that I probably don’t have any other venue.
“I’ve played here so many times I know where to miss it. I missed a few greens but I didn’t feel like I hit the ball that badly.
“It was just really nice to be out there again… nice to feel like I played well. I didn’t want to spend my birthday afternoon grinding on the range.”
Schaufelle had regarded on target to set the early pace, however two bogeys in Quail Hollow’s infamous closing three holes – dubbed the “Green Mile” – left him one off the lead.
US Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick completed a stroke behind taking part in companions McIlroy and Justin Thomas, his 69 matched by fellow Englishman Tyrell Hatton with defending champion Max Homa opening with a 70.
English trio Matt Wallace, Callum Tarren and Harry Hall additionally opened with one-under-par 70s whereas Tony Finau, winner in Mexico final week, shot a 71.
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