CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- A final-hole bogey took some of the glow away from Rory McIlroy's round. Had he kept it under par a day earlier at Quail Hollow Club, his Sunday charge would have meant much more.
But in a big-picture scenario, McIlroy's 6-under-par 66 at the Wells Fargo Championship was a good sign for the world's No. 3-ranked player, who came here trying to shake off rust and heads into a two-week stretch of tournaments on both sides of the Atlantic with some confidence.
The next time McIlroy plays at Quail Hollow, it won't be for the Wells Fargo Championship but the PGA Championship, which will be played here in 2017. McIlroy, who has four major titles, has won the PGA twice.
"Since I heard that the PGA was coming here a few years ago, it's been one that I've been earmarking; I feel like it's a really good chance for me,'' said McIlroy, who made eight birdies Sunday to tie for fourth, the sixth time in his career here in which he has recorded at least eight. "The course is going to change somewhat from now until next year with a couple new holes and they're going to put new grass on the greens.
"But anytime I walk back here, I always feel comfortable. Great memories. I feel like I'll always have a chance to contend and it's definitely one next year, the '17 PGA, I'd love to get my name on that Wanamaker [Trophy]. I'm pretty excited about coming back here for a major championship, put it that way.''
Quail Hollow officials wasted no time working on changes planned for the course in advance of the PGA Championship. As soon as the final group had played the first hole, workers were on the fairway beginning preparations for changes that will eliminate the second hole -- the first hole will play to the second green -- and replace the par-5 fifth with a par-4 and a par-3.
All 18 holes will also be regrassed, and the club is scheduled to re-open in August.
But due to the playing of the PGA here next year, the Wells Fargo event will move to a course in Wilmington, North Carolina, for one year.
"I think the course (Quail Hollow) is sensational,'' said Phil Mickelson, who also finished with a 66 to post his seventh top-5 finish at this tournament. "It gives you kind of a glimpse of what it can be or will be for next year's PGA Championship. The greens are lightning fast. Can you imagine this golf course with severe rough where you have to play very defensive?
"I think over par would end up winning it. It's a very difficult test, the greens are (a) challenge and yet its greatness kind of comes out. You see a great discrepancy in scores. The guys that play well are able to take advantage of it, make birdies, and the guys that aren't are getting penalized. I think that's the sign of a really great golf course.''
Both Mickelson and McIlroy experienced that test this week. Mickelson shot 76 on Saturday with an eight on the final hole; McIlroy bogeyed the last two holes on Friday and then shot 73 on Saturday. Yet both played well Sunday to give themselves an outside chance at victory.
Now they both try to take that momentum to a place where they've both struggled. Mickelson, who won the Players Championship in 2007, has missed the cut in each of the past three years there and hasn't finished in the top 10 since his win. McIlroy missed the cut his first three years but has been in the top 10 in the past three, although he has not been a strong final-round contender.
"I've gotten a lot more comfortable with Sawgrass,'' McIlroy said. "I finally accepted that I can't hit driver as much as I would like there. I've always felt that it was a golf course that handcuffed me a little bit. The things that give me an advantage over some of the field, you know, they don't really give me an advantage there. So the first few years I was quite stubborn and still trying to take on a lot of things instead of accepting the fact that I'm going to have to play the course the way everyone else plays it.''