“Yeah, my mom’s amazing. I think most people know my dad, but my mom, Rosie, is like the sort of rock or the gel that holds our family together, she always has been,” said McIlroy.
“I said this last night, I’m probably a lot more like my dad than I am my mom, but I wish I was a little more like my mom at times. If you’re watching, Mom, happy Mother’s Day, can’t wait to see you tomorrow, and yeah, I’m excited to get home and see them.”
As McIlroy heads to Valhalla, the site of his fourth and last major title in 2014 for the PGA Championship this week, vintage McIlroy reappeared as he charged at Schauffele.
Schauffele went two clear after eagling the par-5 7th but then McIlroy came roaring back with a run of birdie, birdie and a 35-foot eagle to turn the tournament on its head.
“You know, that was a big moment on 7. I three-putted, Xander made an eagle. Then Xander was inside me on 8, I knew I really needed to hole that putt just to try to stay or keep up with him. Then he missed his, I birdied mine and then I just went on a run that for whatever reason I’m able to go on at this golf course.”
Schauffele, as ever, wilted under the pressure that was being applied by the Holywood man and another birdie, birdie and hole out eagle from the bunker saw McIlroy soar off into the sunset and cruise to a fourth Quail Hollow triumph.
A double bogey at the last was still enough for a five shot victory and Rory was serenaded by the crowd at a place that is very much his own.
“Quail Hollow, Charlotte in general has been really good to me over my career and this is just another great day to sort of add to all the rest of them.
“I feel like these people have sort of watched me grow up from winning here as a 20-year-old to being the ripe old age of 35 now. They’ve sort of seen my progression throughout my career, and I’ve been lucky enough to win here four times. Yeah, the support that I get here is absolutely amazing. It’s one of my favorite stops of the year and can’t wait to keep coming back and see how many I can get.”
Scottie Scheffler will be the overwhelming favourite at the PGA Championship, but could even he live with McIlroy in this form?
As the ten-year anniversary of McIlroy’s last major championship approaches, he is showing the same explosive form that saw him win the Open, a WGC and the PGA Championship in consecutive weeks in 2014.
“I really got some confidence from New Orleans, winning with Shane, and then yeah, coming into this week at a golf course that I’m comfortable at, my golf swing feels a lot more comfortable than it has. So going to a venue next week where I’ve won, it feels like the stars are a lining a little bit. But I’ve got a lot of golf to play and a lot of great players to try to beat next week. Going into the next major of the year feeling really good about myself.”
McIlroy has been the most consistent golfer over the last ten years, winning everything there is to win except another major but even the 35-year-old was aware that he rolled back the years on the back nine on Sunday and he is full of confidence heading to Valhalla.
“Yeah, when you play an eight-hole stretch in 8 under par, it feels a little like that.
“No, I mean, I’ve been sort of banging this drum for the last few years, but I’m a way better player now than I was back then. I haven’t had the major record to back that up, but I’ve had the wins, I’ve done everything else there is to do in the game since 2014. The only thing I need to do is get another major. You know, a win like this going into the PGA Championship next week is a good way to prep for that.”