CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rory McIlroy’s first career PGA Tour victory, which took place in 2010 at Quail Hollow when he was a 21-year-old, almost never took place, he revealed on Wednesday.
“I wasn’t even supposed to play this tournament in 2010,’’ McIlroy said on the eve of Thursday’s PGA Championship opening round at Quail Hollow, where he’s won four times.
Here’s how it went down:
“I had missed the cut at the Masters and I was struggling with a bad back,’’ McIlroy recalled. “I got an MRI scan when I went home and it showed some stress around L4-L5, and the doctor told me it’s probably better if you rest for a few weeks and not play.
“The weekend before, I played a round of golf at Royal Portrush and I played really, really well, and my back was feeling a little bit better. (So), I came over here excited to play.
“I didn’t play so good in the first round, and it was my first year as a member on the PGA Tour. I was playing in the afternoon (in the opening round) and off the 10th tee on Friday. I needed to play the last three holes in 2-under par just to make the cut. I eagled 7, hit a 4-iron into 15 feet, holed that, and then I two-putted from about 60 feet on 9 to make the cut.
“Then I played with Scott McCarron on Saturday morning (and) I went out and shot 66. (The conditions) got pretty tough in the afternoon and got me into the top 10. I was excited about that, and I remember on the Saturday night, there was a big boxing fight on. It was like Manny Pacquiao or might have been maybe Floyd Mayweather, and we went to the Del Frisco’s there in South Park and we watched it at midnight.
“I remember getting to bed at like 2 a.m. I woke up the next day, playing with Anthony Kim, and I went out and played one of the rounds of my life and won my first PGA Tour event. It was an amazing day. It feels like such a long time ago, but at the same time I can remember that.
“Those things stay with you, and I think part of the reason that I’ve played so well here since is I had such positive momentum, those positive memories, and every time I come here, those good feelings get rekindled. It’s been a good place for me.’’
The 36-year-old McIlroy, who has 29 career wins on the PGA Tour, won the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow in 2010, 2015, 2021 and 2024.