Rory McIlory says something happened on the 18th at The Wells Fargo that was identical to his 2015 win

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Rory McIlroy is bang in contention at Quail Hollow going into the final day, sitting just one shot behind Xander Schauffele at the top of the leaderboard.

McIlroy carded a brilliant four under third round to shoot himself to just one behind Schauffele, who had to battle his way round after failing to ignite like the previous two rounds.

The Northern Irishman is looking to win The Wells Fargo Championship for the fourth time. McIlroy won in 2010, 2015, and then again in 2021 before seeing Max Homa and Wyndham Clark win the last two years.

Of course, being 11-under and just one off the lead, with a three shot lead over Sung-Jae Im in third, means McIlroy is right in contention to deliver again.

Things could have been worse, however, as the 34-year-old’s tee shot on the 18th almost found the water before settling in the rough just outside the penalty area.

And in a weird turn of events, McIlroy has explained that the exact same happened on the same hole all the way back in his 2015 winning effort.

Rory McIlroy explains why his tee-shot on 18 at Quail Hollow was identical to 2015

Speaking in his flash interview after the third round yesterday, McIlroy explained a number of different shots and outcomes from his round.

And getting to the tee-shot on 18, McIlroy explained how the exact same had happened in 2015.

“Yeah wind was off the left, just tried to hit a little flat cut up there like I have done the last few days and thankfully it cut just enough to not go in the hazard,” McIlroy said.

When asked if he felt nervous, McIlroy admitted there was a worry over the shot as well.

“Yeah, there was cos it was sort of tracking the red line. But one of the TV guys gave us the safe signal down there so I knew it wasn’t in the water.

“It was a little bit [of a members bounce]. I remember Saturday, 2015, when I shot 61 I basically hit it in the exact same spot off the tee so I feel like there’s not a place on this golf course I haven’t hit it and know what to do.”

Good omen for McIlroy?

If you’re a golfer at any level, or in fact in most sports, you’re going to look for good omens and positive signs when it comes to winning tournaments.

This is one small nugget for McIlroy to perhaps take away and think about. He hit a poor tee shot towards the hazard and got away with it, just like on another occasion when he won at Quail Hollow.

Those little feelings can sometimes be the difference between winning and not.

McIlroy, then, will be confident heading into the final round and as he explains here, he very much knows the golf course inside out from his experience playing it.