Sunday, May 04, 2014

J.B. Holmes takes Wells Fargo title

6:15 p.m.

J.B. Holmes shot a final round 71 and -- despite bogeys on the 16th and 18th holes -- won the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club by one shot over Jim Furyk.

Holmes finished at 14-under par and won $1.242 million.

Furyk, who briefly tied Holmes for the lead and had the day's best round with a 7-under 65, finished one stroke ahead of Martin Flores, who shot an even-par 72. Jason Bohn was fourth at 11-under, Justin Rose fifth at 10 under. Charlotte-resident Brendon de Jonge and Kevin Kisner (who's from Aiken, S.C.) tied for sixth, five shots back.

Phil Mickelson struggled for much of the day and had a 4-over 76 to finish tied for 11th.

4:30 p.m.

Consecutive birdies on 10 and 11 have pulled J.B. Holmes into a two-shot lead at 15-under par. Time is running out on his pursuers. Jim Furyk, who eagled No. 15, is in with a 65, 13-under for the tournament, and is tied with Martin Flores, who is playing with Holmes.

Phil Mickelson is 2-over for the day and has dropped back to 9-under, tied for sixth.


2:45 p.m.

J.B. Holmes leads Phil Mickelson by one stroke early in both their rounds Sunday. Homes is 1 over (with a bogey on No. 2), while Mickelson has parred all six holes he's played. Holmes is at 12-under for the tournament, Mickelson is at 11-under, while four others -- Jason Bohn, Justin Rose, Kevin Kisner and Martin Flores -- are tied for third at 10-under.

Flores, who started one stroke behind Holmes, had consecutive bogeys on 3 and 4.

1 p.m.

Rory Sabbatini has worked his way up the leader board at the Wells Fargo Championship and is now 5-under for the day through 10 holes, 8-under for the tournament and just five strokes behind leader J.B. Holmes.

Sabbatini isn't the only one who's playing well among the day's early starters. Kevin Chappell is 7-under for the day through 10 and trails Holmes by six. Ryan Moore had a 30 on the front nine and is 7-under for the day. He's 6-under for the tournament.

Holmes and Martin Flores tee off at 1:40 p.m., right after Phil Mickelson and Kevin Kisner (of Aiken, S.C.) at 1:30.


Saturday, May 03, 2014

Wells Fargo update: Holmes leads after 3rd round

6:10 p.m.

Martin Flores hit it into the creek on the 18th hole and ended up with a bogey, allowing J.B. Holmes to take the third-round lead at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Holmes shot a 6-under 66 to go 13-under for the tournament. Flores, who led for much of the day, dropped to 12-under after a 3-under day.

Flores and Holmes will be in the final group Sunday, with Phil Mickelson (who had a 9-under 63) and Kevin Kisner in the next to last. Kisner is at 10-under after shooting 68 Saturday.

5:30 p.m.

J.B. Holmes just birdied the 18th hole to pull into a tie with Martin Flores for the lead. Holmes had a 6-under 66 and, along with Flores, is two shots up on Phil Mickelson.

Rounds of the day still belong to Mickelson, who shot a 9-under 63, and Rory McIlroy, who had a 7-under 65. Angel Cabrera, the first-round leader who was tied for the lead with Flores after two rounds, fell back with bogeys on two of his first three holes and is 3 over for the day, seven shots behind Flores and Holmes.

3:10 p.m.

Phil Mickelson cooled off on the back nine after shooting a 29 on the front nine, and he closed the day at 11-under for the tournament.

Mickelson shot 9-under on Saturday with two birdies on the back nine. His 63 was one off the course record.

J.B. Holmes tied Mickelson at 11-under after getting back-to-back birdies on No. 7 and 8.

Martin Kaymer, Justin Rose and Martin Flores are tied for third at 9-under overall. Charlotte resident Brendon de Jong, who tied the course record Friday, shot 4-under and sits in a tie for ninth at 6-under.

12:50 p.m.

A day after the course record was tied, Phil Mickelson is on pace to break it Saturday.

Mickelson is 7-under on the day through eight holes and 9-under for the tournament. He's tied for the lead with Martin Flores and Angel Cabrera.

Mickelson made four straight birdies, eagled the par-5 seventh and birdied No. 8.

On No. 7, Mickelson was on the green in two shots and holed a 13-foot putt for eagle.

The course record of 62 was tied by his playing partner, Brendon de Jonge, on Friday. de Jonge is 4-under on the day and 6-under for the tournament in a tie for seventh.

12:15 p.m.

Things are heating up at Quail Hollow, weather-wise on the leader board. Rory McIlroy, mirroring his championship weekend of 2010, shot a 7-under 65 and trails co-leaders Angel Cabrera and Martin Flores by three strokes.

And Phil Mickelson, who struggled Friday, has four straight biridies -- including 38-foot putt on the par-3 6th -- to also close to within three of the leaders.

"I'm in the mix, it depends on what the guys do this afternoon," said McIlroy. "It's the exact same as (2010). I was 1 over and 9 behind. So I'll take it. But there were quite a few guys between me and the lead."

Cabrera and Flores tee off at 1:40 p.m.

11 a.m.

Rory McIlroy is shooting up the leaderboard, going 6-under for the day. He's now 5-under for the tournament and four strokes behind co-leaders Martin Flores and Angel Cabrera, who tee off early this afternoon.

This is reminiscent of 2010, when McIlroy also barely made the cut, then shot a 66 on Saturday and then broke a course record with a final-round 62 on his way to the title. Can he do it again?


Friday, May 02, 2014

Wells Fargo update: Cabrera, Flores tie for lead late in day

5:45 p.m.

Angel Cabrera briefly took sole possesion of the lead with birdies on the seventh and eight holes, but a bogey on No. 9 (his last), dropped him into a tie for first with Martin Flores. Cabrera, the first-round leader, shot a 3-under 69. Justin Rose is alone in third at 8 under, with Shawn Stefani and Martin Kaymer another shot back at 7-under and tied for fourth.

The cutline now stands at 1-over. One player at risk is Rory McIlroy, who is on the number (4-over for the day) through 17

4:30 p.m.

Shawn Stefani birdied the fifth hole, taking him to 5-under for the day and into a tie for second place at the Wells Fargo Championship. Stefani, Angel Cabrera and Justin Rose, who finished the day with a 5-under 67, are a stroke behind leader Martin Flores.

Cabrera is 2-under for the day after consecutive birdies on holes No. 4 and 5.

2:30 p.m.

Martin Flores still leads the Wells Fargo Championship at 9-under, although journeyman Shawn Stefani has made a move up the leaderboard and is tied for third with Angel Cabrera at 7-under.

Stefani has birdied four his first seven holes and is 4-under for the day, 7-under for the tournament. He's tied for third with first-round leader Angel Cabrera, who is 1-under for the day.

1:30 p.m.

Charlotte's Brendon de Jonge just tied the Wells Fargo Championship 18-hole record with a 10-under 62.

De Jonge's round matches a 62 shot by Rory McIlroy in 2010 when he won the tournament. De Jonge, however, isn't near the top of the leaderboard after his 8-over 80 Thursday. He's at 2-under for the tournament and currently tied for 26th,

Martin Flores continues to lead at 9-under, with Justin Rose a shot behind. First-round leader Angel Cabrera is 1-under for the day through 2 holes and is 7-under.

11:30 a.m.

Martin Flores holds a one-stroke lead over Justin Rose as both are near the end of their second round at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Flores birdied No. 7 to go to 8-under for the tournament and 3-under for the round. Rose, the reigning U.S. Open champion, is 7-under for the tournament and 4-under today.

Phil Mickelson has lost steam after shooting 5-under on Thursday. He's at 4-over-par Friday with five bogeys and just one birdie in the second round.

Geoff Ogilvy has the best score of the day. Ogilvy is 5-under for the day and the tournament after back-to-back birdies on 14 and 15.

9:30 a.m.

Martin Flores is tearing it up early at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow Club.

Flores, who started the day tied for second, is leading at 9-under par. Playing the back nine first, Flores has an eagle on No. 11 and birdies on 10 and 15. He's 4-under for the day.

Phil Mickelson is even-par through five holes and is tied for third at 5-under with Justin Rose, who is 2-under for the day.

Miguel Cabrera, Thursday's first round leader, is in second at 6-under. He tees off at 12:55 p.m.

Thursday, May 01, 2014

Wells Fargo update: Here comes Phil

4:20 p.m.

Phil Mickelson has birdied three of his last four holes and has closed to within one shot of the first-round lead at the Wells Fargo Championship. Mickelson and Martin Flores are both at 5-under, one shot behind Angel Cabrera, who shot a 6-under 66 this morning. Mickelson had birdies at holes No. 7, 8 and 10.

3:30 p.m.
Angel Cabrera continues to hold his two-shot lead over the field in the first round of the Wells Fargo Championship.
Jonathan Byrd, Stewart Cink, Charlotte-resident Webb Simpson and Phil Mickelson are tied for second at 4-under.
A host of players, including Rory McIlroy, are tied for fifth at 3-under.
The weather conditions remain sunny though a strong breeze has picked up this afternoon.

12:30 p.m.

Angel Cabrera closed out his first round with a 6 under 66 on Thursday at the Wells Fargo Championship.

Cabrera holds a two-stroke lead over the field, including three players tied at 4 under. He birdied holes 9-12 and parred out to finish the day.

10 a.m.

Five players are tied for the early lead at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow, with conditions being about as favorable as they'll be all tournament.

Angel Cabrera, Stewart Cink, Hideki Matsuyama, Daniel Summerhays and Lee Williams have all started at 3-under. Williams got there with birdies on the first three holes.

Rory McIlroy, the tournament's 2010 champ, is 1-under through seven holes.




Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Wells Fargo Championship raises $1.2 million for charities

The Wells Fargo Championship raised more than $1.2 million for Charlotte-area charities this year. Nearly half of the money – $500,000 – was contributed to Teach For America through Champions for Education, a nonprofit organization that manages and operates the event.
 
 The remaining money went to Levine’s Children’s Hospital, Charlotte-Mecklenburg YMCA, First Tee of Charlotte and other area educational foundations, youth organizations, outreach programs and relief efforts that helped provide support to the tournament.
 
Teach For America has been the tournament’s primary beneficiary since 2003. The 2014 tournament is scheduled for April 28-May 4 at Quail Hollow Club. Ticket renewals are available at wellsfargochampionship.com or 704-554-8101. -- David Scott

Sunday, May 05, 2013

Derek Ernst wins 2013 Wells Fargo Championship

It only took Derek Ernst one playoff hole to win his first ever PGA Tour event.

The 22-year-old pared the par-4 18th in the first playoff hole against David Lynn to capture the 2013 Wells Fargo Championship at 8-under-par.

Safely on the green in two, Ernst two-putted for par while Lynn couldn't get up and down out of the bunker and took bogey on the sudden-death playoff hole.

Ernst was the co-leader after the first round at 5-under-par, and he was fortunate to even be at Quail Hollow Club since he was the fourth alternate.

He followed up his first day with a 1 under 71 and even par 72 on Friday and Saturday before going 2 under on a wet Sunday.

Ernst made it to the playoff by getting in the clubhouse with a 70. He and Lynn watched as Phil Mickelson's putt from the fringe of 18 went long, sending the fan favorite home with a third-place finish.

Before Sunday, Ernst's best finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for 41st in the Frys.com Open last year. He had made just two cuts before this weekend.

He was ranked 1,207th in the world on Sunday morning.

--Jonathan Jones

Lynn, Ernst go to playoff at Wells Fargo Championship

The Wells Fargo Championship will have two people in the playoff, and neither one of them is Phil Mickelson.

David Lynn and Derek Ernst will play in a sudden death playoff to determine the winner of the 2012 title at Quail Hollow Club after finishing the final round at 8-under-par.

Lynn birdied 14 and 16 while Ernst stuck his approach shot on 18 within five feet to birdie and go to 2 under on Sunday.

Mickelson was leading at 9 under through 14 holes but suffered back-to-back bogeys at 16 and 17. His attempt for birdie at 18 from the fringe behind the hole went past the hole and he saved par. Mickelson finished his day at 7 under and by himself in third place.

Last year’s Wells Fargo Championship also went to a playoff, with Rickie Fowler winning the three-player playoff with a birdie on 18 (the first hole.)

The biggest difference between the two playoffs will be the weather. Last year’s playoff was sunny and warm, but Lynn and Ernst will be dealing with the elements like they have for most of the weekend.

There’s a steady, substantial rain at Quail Hollow that’s been going since the final group was on the 15th.

--Jonathan Jones

Birdie on 14 gives Mickelson lead again

1 p.m. update: Phil Mickelson continues to keep the field at bay as the Wells Fargo Championship begins to wind down at Quail Hollow Club.

Mickelson birdied the 14th hole (after nearly holing a chip for eagle) and is 9-under par, one stroke better than David Lynn and Ryan Moore. Moore had tied Mickelson briefly before Mickelson's birdie at 14. Lynn chipped in on No. 16 for a birdie and is at 8 under with Moore.

Lee Westwood, who was also tied with Mickelson briefly, bogeyed 12 and 13, but a birdie on No. 14 has him just two shots back with rookie Derek Ernst and Robert Karlsson.

Clemson's Kyle Stanley and Luke List have the low rounds of the day, 4-under par 68s.

The rain continues and appears to be picking up in intensity.


Mickelson maintaining 1-shot lead

Noon update: Phil Mickelson is maintaining his slight lead at the Wells Fargo Championship, playing an even-par round through 10 holes and leading Charles Howell III, Lee Westwood, Ryan Moore and Charlotte's Robert Karlsson by one shot.

Westwood briefly tied Mickelson for the lead before bogeying No. 12.

The rain began to fall at about 9:30 a.m. and has maintained at a steady drizzle.

Howell is at 4-under for the day. Nick Watney, who began the day tied for the lead with Mickelson, is 2-over, thanks to bogeys on 6 and 8.

Rain beginning to fall at Quail Hollow

10 a.m. update: The rain has already started to fall here at Quail Hollow Club, and the final grouping only got through two holes without feeling the drops.

A few drops turned into a light rain at the No. 3 green, where Nick Watney took sole possession of the lead with a par after Phil Mickelson three-putted the par-4.

Watney is even par for the day and sits at 8-under-par through four holes while Mickelson is in second at 7 under. He's joined there by Lee Westwood, who birdied the par-5 5th after sticking his third shot within three feet of the pin.

Rory McIlroy, the 2010 Wells Fargo champion, birdied the par-5 7th and is also tied for second at 7 under.

--Jonathan Jones

Leaders begin play at Quail Hollow

9 a.m. update: The leaders have teed off at Quail Hollow. The rain has held off to this point.

Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney both parred No. 1, while George McNeill bogeyed and is now two back at 6 under.

Lee Westwood birdied the first hole and has third to himself at 7 under. Rory McIlroy got off to a shaky start, bogeying No. 1, but he birdied No. 3 and remains three behind.

No rain, for now, at Quail Hollow

7:20 a.m. update: The first threesome groups have begun play at the Wells Fargo Championship off the 1st and 10th tees at Quail Hollow Club.

The weather is gray, cool and breezy, with no rain -- as of yet.

The leaders tee it up at 8:46 a.m. -- Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney and George McNeill, who is one shot back.

We'll see how the weather plays out. PGA rules official Mark Russell said Saturday they will do whatever they can to get the round in.

Saturday, May 04, 2013

Video: Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney tied after Day 3 at Quail Hollow

Phil Mickelson shot a 1-over 73 at the third round of the Wells Fargo Championship and is tied for the lead with Nick Watney. Watney double-bogeyed the 17th and settled for a 71.




Wells Fargo Championship: Phil Mickelson, Nick Watney tied after Day 3

There’s a two-way tie at the top of the leader board at the Wells Fargo Championship after the third round.

Phil Mickelson and Nick Watney are tied at 8-under-par with George McNeill sitting alone in third place at 7 under.

Both Mickelson and Watney suffered double bogeys within the final four holes. Mickelson finished with a 7 at the par-5 15th while Watney shanked his tee shot at the par-3 17th and two-putted to drop two strokes.

Watney, playing in the next-to-last group with McNeill, carded a 71 on Saturday while Mickelson gave a stroke back after leading by two strokes entering the day.

Mickelson was 1 under on the day after the front nine but carded just two birdies on the back nine. He hit a fan with a shot on the par-4 16th and finished with a bogey.

McNeill’s par putt couldn’t find the hole on 18 and he finished with a bogey and a round of 72.

The low score of the day went to John Senden. He carded a 5-under-par 67 and is tied for fourth with six other players at 6 under.

Watney, Mickelson and McNeill will tee off at 8:45 a.m. Sunday. The tee times were bumped up and pairings made into trios in hopes of beating the bad weather forecast for Sunday afternoon.

- Jonathan Jones

Mickelson remains 2 strokes ahead

3:30 update: A birdie on the eighth hole has given sole possession of the lead back to Phil Mickelson at the Wells Fargo Championship. Mickelson is 1-under for the day and 10-under for the tournament. That's two strokes ahead of Nick Watney and George McNeill.

Rory McIlroy made a brief run at the lead when he eagled the seventh hole. He gave those two strokes back on No. 9 with a double bogey, though. McIlroy is 6-under.

Scott Gardiner has bogeyed Nos. 8 and 9 and is now five back at 5-under.


Mickelson drops back into tie with Gardiner

2:25 p.m. update: Phil Mickelson bogeyed the third hole and Scott Gardiner birdied No. 1: that adds up to a tie for the lead between the two at the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow.

Mickelson and Gardiner are at 8 under, a shot ahead of rookie Derek Ernst and Nick Watney. Ernst birdied No. 1, as did Watney (although he would bogey No. 2).

Rory McIlroy is even par today, two shots behind the leaders. He birdied No. 4, then bogeyed the par-5 fifth.

Rain potential disrupts Sunday schedule

• Anticipating rainy weather, Sunday's final round of the Wells Fargo Championship will start earlier. Tee times will be from 6:45-8:45 a.m on the 1st and 10th tees, with players in threesomes. Television coverage will be taped and will be at the same time originally scheduled (1-2:30 p.m. on Golf Channel, 3-6 p.m. on CBS).

• Ryan Moore has made an early move Saturday. He's birdied four of his first six holes and is 4-under for the day and 6-under for the tournament, three strokes behind leader Phil Mickelson. John Senden is also 4-under for the day through eight holes and is four behind Mickelson.

Sunday's tee times