Rory McIlroy Reveals He Almost Pulled Out of Wells Fargo Championship Due to Injury

Rory McIlroy fell into a slump over the past few months and many doubted if he could ever resurrect from it. Several complexities made the issue worse, but he shunned the outside noise and cruised to victory at the Wells Fargo Championship. However, many people don’t know that he won the tournament playing through an injury! 

A lot of people were concerned that Rory McIlroy could never win a tour event again. The Northern Irishman had last won a tour event in November 2019 before he entered the Wells Fargo Championship 2021. He was under tremendous pressure to perform, and the injury only made it worse. 

What injury did Rory McIlroy sustain at the Wells Fargo Championship?

Rory McIlroy was healthy when he arrived at Charlotte to compete at the Wells Fargo Championship. However, he pulled a neck muscle at the driving range the day before Round 1 at Quail Hollow Club. 

“I hit a three-iron, flushed it, and I turned back to talk to Harry [caddie]. And as I turned, my left side of my neck just completely locked up. And I couldn’t, I couldn’t move it. It was really, really strange. So I stopped what I was doing. And I went and got some treatment. I iced it all, all of Wednesday afternoon, Wednesday night,” McIlroy told the media after his victory. 

“If I had a morning tee time on Thursday, I probably would have pulled out. But I had enough time to get treatment Thursday morning, get it freed up, get it loosened up and it was still bothering me on Thursday afternoon,” he added. 

Everyone could spot the patch on McIlroy’s neck throughout the week at the Wells Fargo Championship. It created a cause for concern, but the 32-year-old kept calm about it until the final round.

Read Also: Justin Thomas Congratulates Rory McIlroy on First Tour Win in 19 Months 

Wells Fargo is the only tournament McIlroy has won thrice 

It is indeed amazing to know that McIlroy battled through injury and won the Wells Fargo Championship 2021. But it is even mindblowing to know that Rory McIlroy has won the Quail Hollow event three different times in his career. 

No other player has two Wells Fargo Championship titles, but McIlroy has three! He’s also the 18-hole and 72-hole record holder at Quail Hollow Club, so it is no surprise that he plays so well at the venue. 

The Wells Fargo Championship victory came at the perfect time for Rory McIlroy as the PGA Championship is later this month. Do you think he can deliver a strong performance at the second major of the year? 

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