CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: World No. 1 Rory McIlroy fired an electrifying 11-under par 61 in Saturday’s third round to vault into a four-shot lead at the US PGA Tour Wells Fargo Championship.

The 26-year-old from Northern Ireland had 11 birdies with no bogeys to break his own Quail Hollow course record of 62.

“I feel like the best player in the world and I wanted to go out there and prove that,” McIlroy said.

McIlroy’s effort gave him an 18-under total of 198 and a four-shot lead over American Webb Simpson who shot a 68 and was alone at a 14-under 202.

McIlroy’s hopes of reaching golf’s magical number of 59 ended with pars at 17 and 18.

But the finish didn’t mar a spectacular round that included streaks of four birdies in a row from the seventh through 10th holes and five birdies on the trot from the 12th through 16th.

Robert Streb (71) was in third, seven shots adrift while Brendan Steele (68) and Patrick Rodgers (70) were tied for fourth on 10-under 206.

Justin Thomas (65), Carlos Ortiz (66) and Will Mackenzie (70) were a further stroke back on 207.

The Quail Hollow course record of 62 was established by McIlroy in the final round in 2010 — when he captured his first US PGA Tour title.

Zimbabwe’s Brendon de Jonge matched the mark in the second round last year.

McIlroy said he knew from watching the morning scores that the course record was “gettable.”

“But you never think that you’re going to go out and do something like that,” said McIlroy, who also set the tournament’s 54-hole scoring record.

After opening his day with back-to-back pars, McIlroy birdied 11 of the next 14 holes.

Highlights included driving the green at the 346-yard par-four 14th en route to a birdie.

“I was thinking 59 from the 14th tee box,” McIlroy admitted. Only six players have broken 60 on the US PGA Tour, but the idea seemed anything but farfetched after he rolled in a 10-foot birdie putt at 15 and a 14-footer at 16.

McIlroy said he was a tad disappointed with his seven-iron at the par-three 17th, where his tee shot left him 40 feet for birdie and he settled for a par.


Moon takes first title despite last hole horror

South Korea’s Moon Kyong-Jun notched up his first career victory to claim the GS Caltex Maekyung Open near Seoul on Sunday, despite a heart-stopping bout of the jitters on the final hole.

Holding a four-shot lead over playing partner Gareth Paddison from New Zealand as they approached the 18th, Moon seemed intent on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory as he holed out with a triple bogey seven.

But he still managed to win by two clear shots, signing for a one-over-par 73 to finish the OneAsia event on four-under-par 284.

“I really don’t know what happened at the last,” Moon said. “My worst hole all week but thankfully I had a good lead.”

Paddison, who bogeyed the last three holes, closed with a 74 to finish joint second with compatriot Ryan Fox, Australian Jason Norris and South Korean Kim Do-Hoon.

Kim made a late charge, birdying five holes on the trot from the 12th, but also bogeyed the problematic 18th at the Namseoul Country Club.