Rory McIlroy pays emotional tribute to his mum Rosie after 26th PGA Tour win

Rory McIlroy paid an emotional tribute to his mum on mother's day in America as he won his 26th PGA Tour event with a fourth triumph in the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow. The Holywood superstar, No.2 in the world right now, claimed back-to-back PGA Tour titles as he overhauled Xander Schauffele with a stunning back-nine display.

McIlroy claimed the Zurich Classic alongside Shane Lowry a fortnight ago, and now goes to the US PGA this week on the back of back-to-back Tour wins. A six-under 65 saw McIlroy finish 17 under with the perfect tune-up for this week’s major at Valhalla – the scene of his most recent major victory in 2014.

McIlroy told Sky Sports: "It feels like the stars are aligning a little bit," he said ahead of the USPGA this week. I really got some confidence winning with Shane. I'm going into the next major feeling really good about myself."

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He was then asked about his mother, and replied: "My mum's amazing. Most people know my dad (Gerry), but my mum Rosie is like the rock, or the gel, that holds our family together, she always has been.

"I said this last night, I'm probaby a lot more like my dad than my mum. But I wish I was a little more like my mum at times. I'm excited to get home and see them."

American ace Schauffele finished five behind McIlroy in second after stumbling to a 71, with South Korea’s An Byeong-hun third on nine under after a 66.

McIlroy birdied the first after a fine approach to inside five feet. However, he handed the shot back at the fourth after failing to get up and down from a greenside bunker.

Schauffele’s run of pars ended with a three-putt bogey on the sixth but he bounced back in style at the next, firing his approach to the par five to 12 feet and holing for eagle.

McIlroy found himself two shots back when he made par on the same hole after three-putting.

However, the Northern Irishman stormed back with birdies at the eighth and ninth before producing an eagle of his own from 34 feet at the 10th.

Schauffele was only one under for the same three-hole stretch to leave the four-time major winner one ahead.

McIlroy found himself two in front as Schauffele dropped a shot on the 12th and ramped up the pressure on his playing partner with a birdie from 13 feet at the short next.

Schauffele failed to save par after hitting his tee shot into rough behind the green on the 13th to leave McIlroy four clear.

McIlroy got up and down from a greenside bunker for another gain at the driveable 14th, with Schauffele missing from five feet to leave his rival five clear.

An eagle from a greenside bunker on the 15th eliminated any prospect of a nervy finish for McIlroy and the 35-year-old parred the 16th and 17th before dropping two shots on the last after hitting his approach in the water.

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