CHARLOTTE, N.C. – When Rory McIlroy rolled in an 8-foot birdie putt on the 13th hole, he started thinking about shooting 59.

He didn’t quite get there Saturday, settling for an 11-under 61 to break the Quail Hollow record and take a four-shot lead in the Wells Fargo Championship.

After making nine birdies in a 10-hole stretch, the top-ranked McIlroy pushed his 7-iron on the par-3 17th hole to the right side of the green 40 feet from the cup. He settled for par and the dream was dashed.

“I was little disappointed with not finishing it off the way I wanted to, but still it was a great run,” McIlroy said.

It was McIlroy’s best round on the PGA Tour, but not his best ever.

He said he had a putt for 59 on the 18th hole at The Bear’s Club in Jupiter, Florida, leading up to the Masters, but missed it.

“I left it short,” McIlroy said with a laugh.

He didn’t leave much short Saturday.

He started the balmy afternoon three shots behind Webb Simpson and Robert Streb.

But after two pars to start the day made five birdies on the front nine for a 31. He didn’t let up on the back, birdieing six of the first seven holes.

McIlroy had a sense early on this could be his day to go low after he saw Justin Thomas shoot a 65 and a few others go low in the morning.

“I knew that there were scores out there to be had – and I got a little more aggressive,” McIlroy said.

That included driving the green on the 345-yard, par-4 14th hole for the fourth time in his career – more than any player in tournament history.

“I feel like it’s one of these courses I can get on a roll with,” McIlroy said.

McIlroy is looking to become the first two-time winner of the event. At 18-under 198, he’s on pace to shatter the tournament record of 16 under set by Anthony Kim in 2008.

McIlroy said the Quail Hollow course sets up perfectly for him, which is why he decided to play the event after some debate.

He set the previous course record of 62 in the final round of his 2010 Wells Fargo victory, and Brendon de Jonge matched it last year.

“It’s funny that it has happened here again,” McIlroy said.

Simpson was second after three rounds, four strokes back after a 68. Streb shot a 71 and was seven shots behind heading into the final round on Sunday.

Phil Mickelson was playing well before a triple bogey on the 18th hole, which has become his nemesis. That dropped Mickelson to 71 on the day and left him 10 shots behind McIlroy and out of contention for a tournament he has never won.

Mickelson double bogeyed the 18th hole Thursday.

When asked what he took away from McIlroy’s round, playing partner Will MacKenzie said: “That he’s way better than me at golf.”

“It’s going to be tough to beat him,” MacKenzie said. “I’m glad that he doesn’t play every week. I mean that guy, he’s just – he’s head and shoulders above me.”

McIlroy’s run proved to be a bit demoralizing for the competition.

Simpson looked up at the scoreboard after his own birdie at 13 figuring he was tied for the lead, only to learn he was three shots back.

“I gave that look like, `Oh, really – on this golf course?'” Simpson said.

Six players have shot 59 in official PGA Tour events. Al Geiberger did it in the 1977 Memphis Classic, Chip Beck in the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational, David Duval in the final round of his 1999 victory in the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, Paul Goydos in the 2010 John Deere Classic, Stuart Appleby in the 2010 Greenbrier Classic and Jim Furyk in the 2013 BMW Championship.

Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa shot the lowest round on a major tour, a 12-under 58 to win the 2010 Crowns on the Japan Tour.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Webb Simpson a calé deux approches coupées pour des oiselets lors d’une ronde de 67 (moins-5), vendredi, et il partage la tête avec Robert Streb après deux rondes au Championnat Wells Fargo.

Streb a remis une carte de 69 afin de rattraper Simpson à moins-10 après 36 trous à Quail Hollow.

Simpson sait toutefois qu’il aura besoin de nombreux autres bons coups au cours du week-end afin de l’emporter, puisque plusieurs gros noms du golf suivent pas très loin derrière.

Le golfeur no 1 au monde Rory McIlroy et Phil Mickelson accusent trois coups de retard sur les meneurs. Mickelson a joué une ronde de 66 et McIlroy, 67. Martin Flores et Patrick Rodgers partagent le troisième rang à moins-8.

Simpson, qui habite à Charlotte, a envoyé son approche à partir du côté droit du vert dans la coupe au neuvième trou, une normale-4. Il a répété l’exploit au 17e trou, une normale-3, afin de passer en tête.

Les six Canadiens en lice – David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Roger Sloan et Mike Weir – n’ont pas été en mesure de respecter le seuil de qualification pour les rondes du week-end.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Webb Simpson has plenty of hometown knowledge when it comes to playing Quail Hollow Club.

He might need every bit of it if he hopes to hold off Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson this weekend.

Simpson chipped in twice for birdie and shot a 5-under 67 for a share of the second-round lead with Robert Streb in the Wells Fargo Championship. Streb had a 69 to match Simpson at 10-under 134.

“Playing here quite often, I know where the best places are to miss (the green),” said Simpson, who lives in Charlotte and has played the course countless times.

Simpson knows it will take a lot more big shots over the weekend to win with some of golf’s top names lurking behind him.

McIlroy and Mickelson were three shots back. Mickelson had a 66, and McIlroy matched Simpson’s 67.

Martin Flores and Patrick Rodgers were tied for third at 8 under.

“I know I have to make birdies,” Simpson said.

Mickelson made seven Friday.

One day after joking that he “turned a 66 into a 71” in the opening round with some missed opportunities, Mickelson got his 66.

“Right now nobody is turning 66s into 71s better than me,” Mickelson joked, so it’s nice to finally shoot that 66 and get the score that reflects the way I feel I’m playing.”

Mickelson thought he didn’t play all that bad last week, but still missed the cut at The Players Championship. He appears to be back in a big way.

McIlroy was on his game, too.

The world’s top-ranked player said his focus Friday was on eliminating mistakes after an up-and-down 70 the day before. He did just that, posting five birdies and no bogeys. He was never in any real danger of making bogey in what he called a “stress-free round.”

“Anytime you can play a round of golf with no bogeys you’re doing something right,” said McIlroy, who won the 2010 event for his first PGA Tour victory.

McIlroy rolled in a 30-foot birdie putt on the first hole to gain some early momentum. He went on to hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation with 29 putts.

With four top-10 finishes in six events this year, McIlroy’s confidence keeps growing. He said his biggest strength now is his patience, understanding that he doesn’t have to go for every birdie opportunity.

“Just knowing from experience what a good score is and (that) sometimes, if it’s just not happening, you’re not losing any ground,” McIlroy said. “I felt like I could have shot 63 or 64, but realizing that 67 is still a good score and puts me in position going into the weekend.”

The biggest surprise high on the leaderboard is the 22-year-old Rodgers, a regular on the Web.com Tour who is playing on a sponsor’s exemption. He ranks 333rd in the world and has never finished in the top 25 on the PGA Tour.

That clearly didn’t affect his confidence.

Rodgers, who played at Stanford, rents a house with Jordan Spieth in Jupiter, Florida. He plays golf with the Masters champion regularly at The Bear’s Club. He said being around one of the best golfer’s in the world is making him better.

“The young guys are ready to come out here and win,” Rodgers said. “I feel no different. I feel really prepared. That’s why I turned professional. I’m excited to get in the mix this weekend.”

Flores is in the mix too for the second straight year.

He shared the lead at the midway point of the Wells Fargo Championship last year with Angel Cabrera and turned in a career-best third place finish. He shot 67 on Friday.

“Certain courses kind of fit your eye,” Flores said. “This is one of them.”

Simpson’s eye was just fine, too.

He chipped in on the par-4 ninth hole from the right side of the green, then duplicated the feat on the difficult par-3 17th hole to move into a tie for the lead when Streb stumbled on No. 16 and recorded his only bogey of the tournament.

But the shot of the day belonged to Colt Knost, who had a hole-in-one on the difficult 227-yard 17th hole. Knost knocked his tee shot over the water and it rolled 30 feet to the hole, hitting the flag stick and fell in.

He grabbed the ball out of the cup, turned and lobbed it into the cheering gallery.

He was right on the cut line, but the eagle there and a birdie on the 18th earned him an opportunity to stick around for the weekend.

The tournament was not so kind to some former Wells Fargo champions as J.B. Holmes, Jim Furyk, Vijay Singh and Derek Ernst all failed to make the cut.

Canada’s David Hearn, Nick Taylor, Corey Conners, Adam Hadwin, Roger Sloan and Mike Weir also missed the cut.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Phil Mickelson faded early and Rory McIlroy tailed off late. Robert Streb just kept on making birdies.

Streb shot a 7-under 65 on Thursday to take a one-shot lead over Patrick Reed and Kevin Chappell after the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship.

McIlroy appeared on the verge of a late run at the leaderboard before making a double bogey on the difficult par-3 17th hole. The world’s top-ranked player appeared stunned when his tee shot hit the rock wall in front of the green and his ball caromed high into the air and into the water. He finished with a 70.

“One big mistake,” McIlroy said.

McIlroy had just made par on the 16th hole by hitting a 9-iron pin high from 166 yards. He went with an 8-iron from 178 yards on No. 17, but it wound up not being enough to carry the water when his ball got held up in the wind.

Despite the error, McIlroy said overall he was pleased with his round.

“I did what I wanted to,” said McIlroy, who won the event in 2010 for his first PGA Tour title. “I took advantage of the par 5s and made birdie on a couple of par 4s.”

Mickelson had his troubles too after a fast start.

Lefty opened with three birdies, but had a double bogey on the 18th hole when his tee shot wound up in the creek on the left side of the fairway. He shot 71, leaving him six shots back.

Mickelson has long expressed his affinity for Quail Hollow, saying it is suits his game perfectly. Yet, he is winless in 11 tries, although he has come close with five top-5 finishes.

He got things off to a rousing start, sinking birdie putts from 6, 9 and 12 feet to start the back nine, drawing roars from a crowd. But the putts wouldn’t fall for Mickelson after his initial burst.

“I turned a 66 into a 71 today,” Mickelson said.

Mickelson, who missed the cut last week at The Players Championship, insists his game “isn’t that far off.”

“Fortunately, I didn’t shoot myself out of the tournament,” he said.

While Mickelson faded after his strong start, Streb didn’t.

After tying for 30th at The Players, Streb set the early pace with two quick birdies on the back nine and played a bogey-free round.

His 65 was the second-best opening round score of his brief PGA Tour career. He found his putting stroke last week at TPC Sawgrass and it was right there again at Quail Hollow.

“It’s the first time in a while I feel like I have my putter working,” Streb said.

It didn’t hurt that he caught a few breaks along the way.

On the par-5 seventh hole, Streb hit a pitch shot from 10 feet off the green too hard, but the ball hit midway up the flagstick and dropped 4 feet from the hole, leading to an easy birdie.

“I smashed the flag,” Streb said with a sheepish grin.

While many of the fans were heading for the parking lot to call it a day, Chappell turned in a strong finish with an eagle on the par-5 seventh and a birdie on the eighth to move into a tie with Reed for second place.

Reed spent time tied for the lead, but couldn’t maintain it after failing to save par on No. 17 when his tee shot landed in the sand.

Stewart Cink topped the six-player group at 67.

Defending tournament champion J.B. Holmes put himself in position to become the first repeat winner in the tournament’s 13-year history by opening with a 69.

“I’m feeling really good about my game,” Holmes said.

Many of the world’s top players skipped the event, including Players winner Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Bubba Watson. Ernie Els withdrew because of a muscle strain.

 Canada’s Nick Taylor opened with a 1-under 71 and was the top Canadian thru 18 holes.

Three Canadians were a stroke back at even-par 72 including Adam Hadwin, Roger Sloan and Team Canada Young Pro Squad member Corey Conners – who is playing on a sponsors invite.

David Hearn (73) and Mike Weir (76) round on the Canadians in this week’s field.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – A month removed from the Masters, Team Canada standout Corey Conners returns to the PGA TOUR by way of sponsor exemption to this week’s Wells Fargo Championship.

Conners, a 23-year-old Listowel, Ont. native, will play in his second PGA TOUR event as a professional—he played in the RBC Heritage in April following his top-amateur performance at Augusta the week prior.

Joining Conners at Quail Hollow are Canadians Adam Hadwin (Abbotsford, B.C.), David Hearn (Brantford, Ont.), Roger Sloan (Merritt, B.C.), Nick Taylor (Abbotsford, B.C.) and Canadian golf Hall-of-Famer Mike Weir (Brights Grove, Ont.).

Conners is set to tee-off Thursday at 8:50 a.m. EST.

Very excited for opportunity to play @PGATOUR @WellsFargoGolf this week at an amazing venue! Time to make some birdies ⛳️

— Corey Conners (@coreconn) May 12, 2015

WILTON, Conn. – A boy who was bullied for stuttering received strong encouragement from someone else who once struggled with his speech – Tiger Woods.

Golf Digest published the letter from Woods on its website Tuesday. The author also shared in via Twitter.

Here’s the letter Tiger wrote to the bullied boy who stutters. Truly heartfelt. pic.twitter.com/FAM2RuLUZ0

— Ron Sirak (@ronsirak) May 12, 2015

“I know what it’s like to be different and to sometimes not fit in,” Woods wrote. “I also stuttered as a child and I would talk to my dog and he would sit there and listen until he fell asleep. I also took a class for two years to help me, and I finally learned to stop.”

The plight of the high school boy, identified only as Dillon, was publicized when his mother reached out to eight-time Solheim Cup player Sophie Gustafson of Sweden, who played her entire career on the LPGA and in Europe with a severe stuttering problem.

Gustafson shared the mother’s letter with Golf Digest, which published a story on its website April 30.

The mother said her son tried out for the football team only to quit because of the constant teasing about his stutter. She wrote that he was on the verge of leaping from his bedroom window on April 16 until his parents stopped him.

The mother’s letter to Gustafson also mentioned that her son watched golf and was a fan of Woods.

Not long after Golf Digest posted the story on its website, the boy received a letter from the 14-time major champion. Gustafson tweeted on Sunday her thanks to Woods “for sending my friend Dillon a letter. He got so happy! It’s being framed and hanged.” She added a hashtag that said “class.”

Woods said in the letter that he was younger than most kids he played and often was the only minority in the field.

“But I didn’t let that stop me, and I think it even inspired me to work harder,” he wrote. “I know you can do that too. You have a great family, and big fans like me on your side. Be well and keep fighting. I’m certain you’ll be great at anything you do.”

JACKSON, Miss. – The fiancee of professional golfer John Daly is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to throw out a lawsuit that blames her for breaking up his previous marriage.

In February, the Mississippi Supreme Court gave the green light to Sherrie Allison Miller to pursue damages against Anna Cladakis, claiming alienation of affection.

Miller and Daly married in 2001 and separated in 2007. She is suing Cladakis, to whom Daly became engaged in December, for unspecified damages, arguing that Cladakis broke up their marriage.

Miller says her marriage with Daly ended because Cladakis and Daly developed a sexual relationship while the couple was separated. Daly’s divorce from Miller was granted in 2010.

The Mississippi Supreme Court said Miller may have grounds to collect damages if she can prove Daly and Cladakis conducted their relationship in Mississippi. Mississippi is one of only a handful of states that permit lawsuits for alienation of affections.

Cladakis has argued in court filings that she doesn’t live in Mississippi and neither does Daly so Mississippi courts have no interest in the case.

Miller alleges the sexual trysts occurred in DeSoto County, Mississippi, which borders Memphis, Tennessee.

Cladakis’ attorneys appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court in April. Lawyers for Miller have until May 18 to file a response.

A Mississippi judge in 2012 dismissed a lawsuit by Miller because none of the parties involved were located in the state, but Miller’s attorney argued on appeal that Daly and Cladakis had sexual trysts in Mississippi. The Mississippi Court of Appeals agreed, determining the case should be heard in DeSoto County, Mississippi, and the state Supreme Court upheld that decision.

Daly won the PGA Championship in his first year on tour in 1991. He also won the British Open in 1995. He has won five PGA tournaments overall. Daly announced on Twitter last December that he popped the question to Cladakis, whom he has been with for seven years.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Nothing was overrated about Rickie Fowler at The Players Championship.

Not the way he rallied from a five-shot deficit with the greatest finish in the 34-year history of the TPC Sawgrass. Not the two tee shots he smashed down the daunting 18th fairway Sunday when a miss to the left or right spelled trouble. And certainly not the three tee shots – yes, three – he stuffed on the island-green 17th hole for birdie each time.

The last one made him a winner, the best answer to that anonymous player survey that he was an underachiever.

At a tournament that dresses up like a major, Fowler sure looked the part in beating the strongest field in golf.

“I’d say this was a pretty big one,” Fowler said.

It certainly wasn’t easy. Fowler’s record-setting finish – birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie on the last four holes for a 5-under 67 – looked like a winner until Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner delivered big shots of their own.

In the first three-hole playoff at The Players, Kisner hit his tee shot on the par-3 17th to 10 feet and rolled in a breaking birdie putt to keep pace with Fowler, who had hit his tee shot to 6 feet and converted the birdie. Garcia, who in regulation made a 45-foot birdie to give him new life, failed to repeat the putt from about the same range in the playoff. All three players made par on the final hole, which eliminated Garcia.

Fowler and Kisner, who closed with a 69 and is now 0 for 102 in his PGA Tour career, headed back to the 17th hole for the third time. The great shots kept coming. Kisner barely cleared the mound and the ball settled 12 feet away. Fowler answered by taking on the right side of the green and sticking it just inside 5 feet.

Kisner finally missed.

Fowler never seemed to miss over the final two hours, and he calmly clutched his fist to celebrate his first PGA Tour victory in three years.

Garcia, who had a two-shot lead heading to the back nine, closed with a 68. He had a 20-foot birdie putt to win in regulation that missed badly to the right. And he faced a crowd that was increasingly hostile to the Spaniard, perhaps remembering the tiff he had with Tiger Woods two years ago.

His caddie was asking for security when he made the turn. In the three-hole playoff, a small group of fans yelled, “USA!” as he took the putter back.

It marred what was other sheer brilliance, a most unforgettable final hour in a tournament that has a history of them.

For Fowler, the timing couldn’t have been better.

One of the questions in SI Golf’s annual player survey – players do not give their names – was to pick the most overrated player on the PGA Tour. Fowler and Ian Poulter shared first place at 24 percent. Fowler has never faced this level of criticism, a favorite among fans and most players for his considerate behavior.

He tried to play it down, though he said on more than one occasion this week that it would motivate him.

He was at 6 under, five shots behind Garcia, when he hit a 9-iron to 12 feet on the 13th hole and “hit the button.”

What he hit was warp speed.

Fowler made a 15-foot birdie on the 15th hole. He took on the water at the par-5 15th with a shot into a slight breeze to 30 inches for eagle. Not at all daunted by an island green, he went at the flag and made it for 6 feet to take the lead for the first time. And then he blasted a tee shot 331 yards and made a 15-foot birdie on the 18th hole to be the first player to reach 12-under 276. And then he had to wait.

The Stadium Course has rarely lacked for greater theater over the last three decades.

This topped them all.

Over the final hour, six players had hopes of winning the richest prize in golf. Four of them were tied for the lead.

Ben Martin raced into the picture with three straight birdies, the last one an 8-footer after taking on the corner of the island on the par-3 17th. But he pushed his tee shot into the woods on the 18th, pitched out and missed his par putt for a 70 that knocked him out of the playoff.

Bill Haas had a chance to tie for the lead twice – first with a 10-foot eagle putt on the par-5 16th that just missed to the left, and then with a long birdie putt on the 17th that stopped one turn from falling in on the left side. Needing a birdie on the 18th to join the playoff, he had to play a runner to the green because he was blocked by trees. It came up short and he made par for a 70.

Fowler was the most sensational.

The finish by Garcia and Kisner would have been talked about for years. On this day, thanks to Fowler, it was nearly an afterthought.

Garcia two-putted from 70 feet from the fringe for a birdie at the 16th, and then rolled in his improbable birdie at the 17th. He missed from 20 feet on the 18th. Kisner, who twice made big putts in a losing effort to Jim Furyk at Hilton Head last month, got up-and-down for birdie on the 16th and holed a 10-footer for birdie on the 17th.

He had a 10-foot birdie putt for the win, and it touched the right side of the cup.

Tiger Woods had a 72 and tied for 69th, his worst position ever in The Players Championship. Rory McIlroy, who started the final round four shots behind, didn’t get going until it was too late. He closed with a 70 and tied for eighth, four shots behind.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Chris Kirk kept his cool during a rocky patch Saturday and made three straight birdies for a 4-under 68 that gave him a one-shot lead at The Players Championship going into the final round that is very much up for grabs.

That much was clear over the final hour on a TPC Sawgrass course that gave as much as it took.

Kirk went from out of the top 10 to a share of the lead in three holes. He had the lead to himself when Kevin Na three-putted for double bogey on the 18th hole.

What made Saturday so unpredictable was neither the Stadium Course nor the variety of shots, rather a leaderboard crammed with so many players that it was hard to keep track who was coming and who was going.

Ben Martin fell out of the lead with a bogey on the 18th for a 68, leaving him one shot behind along with Kevin Kisner (67) and Bill Haas (68). Justin Thomas was tied for the lead, but that was before the leaders teed off. The 22-year-old rookie set a Stadium Course record with 10 birdies in his round of 65 and was two behind, along with Sergio Garcia (67), Scott Brown (69), Canada’s David Heard (70), Jerry Kelly (72) and Na, who had to settle for a 72.

At the end of the day, 24 players were separated by four shots.

That included Rory McIlroy, the world’s No. 1 player, who had a 70 to stay in the mix.

“It seems like half the tour has a chance to win this thing,” McIlroy said.

Tiger Woods was part of the other half. He made the wrong kind of history Saturday by making two double bogeys on par 5s for the first time in his career, leading to a 75 that matched his worst score at the TPC Sawgrass. Woods was 13 shots behind and chose not to share his thoughts on the day.

He at least was in good company.

Woods was part of an All-Star cast at the bottom of the leaderboard. The last 10 players have combined for 153 wins on the PGA Tour and 27 majors. The top 10 going into Sunday have combined for 23 tour wins and no majors.

Adding to the dynamic is that three players within two shots of the lead are at The Players for the first time.

“We had a little survey of the first-timers – `Who do you pick besides yourself to win?’ – and I picked Ben Martin,” Kisner said. “No, man, everybody talks about pressure and nerves and all that, but we’ve been through it all. If we’ve gotten here, we’ve done tour school, we’ve won tournaments. Just because it’s a bigger stage doesn’t mean we’re going to (stink) all of a sudden. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”

It starts with Kirk because he’s the 54-hole leader at 10-under 206.

Then again, it might not.

Rickie Fowler, who survived a double bogey and three bogeys for a 71, was in the group three shots behind. He will have played six or seven holes on Sunday before the last group hits their first tee shot. Thomas hit 7-iron from 192 yards into 3 feet for his 10th birdie of the day on the 18th hole to tie Na and Kelly before they started.

“It was one of the best rounds I’ve probably ever played in competition,” Thomas said. “To do it at a stage like this and a field like this and a golf course like this, to get back in the tournament was big.”

Woods, who said he was one round away from narrowing the gap on the lead, widened it. He hit a smother-hook off the tee at the par-5 second hole that bounced off a tree and settled in the rough 105 yards from the tee. His other double bogey was on No. 9, where he took three hacks out of the rough-covered mounds to advance the ball some 60 feet. He made only two birdies.

Playing with Woods was Canada’s Graham DeLaet. The Saskatchewan native moved 15 spots up the leaderboard Saturday in large part to to a miraculous eagle on the par-5 9th.

McIlroy was in reasonable position, and coming off a victory in the Match Play Championship last week, was one player expected to make a move. He had one birdie and two bogeys over his opening eight holes, which was moving in the wrong direction.

But he steadied himself on the back nine and was only four shots behind.

It was easy to press. The leaderboard looked like a California freeway at rush hour. Kirk was going in the wrong direction when he missed a short birdie putt on the 12th, and made bogeys on the next two holes.

“I had a chance to sort of lose it a little bit today,” Kirk said. “But I didn’t let it bother me, and thankfully was able to birdie the next three to pull out a great round.”

And now he gets to do it one more time, with a $10 million purse and five-year tour exemption riding on the outcome.