Rory McIlroy Trails Xander Schauffele by One Shot at Wells Fargo

McIlroy carded his second straight round without a bogey and is firmly in the mix for his third win of the year.

McIlroy was the only golfer to record a bogey-free round Saturday. / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

The headlines are a sign of the times, the type that Rory McIlroy would prefer not to be making but are part of golf’s volatile times.

Now he’s in position to make news for what he does inside the ropes.

McIlroy shot a bogey-free 67 on Saturday at Quail Hollow Golf Club to cut into the lead of Xander Schauffele, whose 70 kept him one shot out in front at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Sungjae Im is four shots back followed by Stepp Straka.

Barring something unusual, it appears that all eyes will be on the final twosome of Schauffele and McIlroy—as they were on Saturday.

“I’m going to have to earn it tomorrow,’’ Schauffele said. “I’ve got Rory breathing down my neck.’’

McIlroy’s been a big part of the story this week at Quail Hollow off the course. He first disclosed that he will not be going back on the PGA Tour Policy Board; then a day later, he said he’d be part of a sub-committee that includes Tiger Woods and Adam Scott that will negotiate directly with the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia in hopes of working out a deal.

All of that has seemingly not been a distraction so far.

Schauffele saw firsthand how daunting it can be to play with McIlroy when he is booming his drives. He was routinely 20 to 30 yards behind McIlroy off the tee and having a few of his own issues. McIlroy hit 11 of 14 fairways and averaged 325 yards off the tee for all holes.

Among one of the game’s elite players, Schauffele, 30, is fourth in the Official World Golf Rankings and it is a testament to his consistency that he is that high after not having won since July of 2022.

Schauffele’s last victory came at the 2022 Genesis Scottish Open. Since that time, he has 19 top-10 finishes (he did tie for the low 72-hole score at last year’s Tour Championship) without a victory.

Schauffele is clinging to a one-shot lead heading into Sunday. / Jim Dedmon-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this year, he transitioned away from his father, Stefan, as his coach and began working with Chris Como. Sometimes that can mean a regression, but Schauffele has managed to post several good results. He tied for second at the Players Championship and also was eighth at the Masters.

“I've been with my dad forever,’’ Schauffele said. “So having a new coach, Chris, has been awesome. I'm not playing worse, which is nice. He's definitely helped me a lot. There are some things in transition that aren't super comfortable. So I'm happy with how things are going, and been pretty patient through the process. He's been awesome in communicating with me even when he's not out here. So just trying to get more and more comfortable where the club's at and how I'm swinging it.’’

McIlroy has found something, too. His visit with Butch Harmon prior to the Masters helped him shore up some things with his iron play. And he’s been hitting the driver quite well starting a few weeks ago in New Orleans, where he combined with Shane Lowry to win the Zurich Classic, his 25th PGA Tour win.

But McIlroy’s last lone victory came back in January in Dubai, and it’s mostly been a year of mediocre finishes. A win Sunday and a fourth at Quail Hollow would be a nice boost heading to next week’s PGA Championship.

Ten years ago, McIlroy won the week prior to winning at Valhalla Golf Club for his fourth major title.

McIlroy matched Straka for the low round of the day and has gone two days without making a bogey.

“I think I've held out pretty well for the most part inside six feet, and then I think because I know this golf course so well, I've missed it in the right spots when I have missed the green,’’ McIlroy said. “To play two rounds in a row on this golf course in these conditions bogey free is a bit of a feather in my cap, I'm pretty proud of that.’’