Wyndham Clark tried to drag his hat over his eyes with each fingers as he struggled to carry again tears on the 18th inexperienced at Quail Hollow Club after successful his first PGA Tour occasion on the Wells Fargo Championship.

The lengthy, agonizing wait that included days on tour the place he wished to “break some clubs” have been over.

It was time to rejoice.

“I’m a little choked up,” Clark mentioned on the inexperienced. “It’s been a long five years (on tour) to get to this point. I thought I would have won one earlier, but it is well worth the wait.”

Clark shot 68 on Sunday for a four-shot victory over Xander Schauffele.

He completed the event at 19-under 265, the second-lowest rating in relation to par in event historical past behind solely three-time champion Rory McIlroy’s 21-under 267 in 2015 when par for the course was 72.

Schauffele had accuracy points along with his driver on Sunday and shot 70, ending at 15 below.

Tyrrell Hatton and Harry English completed tied for third at 12 below, one shot higher than Tommy Fleetwood and Adam Scott. Defending champion Max Homa shot 70 on Sunday and tied for ninth at 9-under 275.

“There are so many times that I wanted to cry and break clubs — and I did break clubs at times — in this journey,” Clark mentioned. “But to get to this point is so sweet. It is just amazing to finally do this.”

“To go and put that round of 63 together (on Saturday) and finish at 19 under is a fantastic effort,” Hatton mentioned. “Yeah, he deserves to be holding that trophy.”

Clark’s victory didn’t come straightforward — maybe becoming for his profession.

The world’s eightieth ranked participant opened the ultimate spherical with a two-shot lead, surrendered it to Schauffele after seven holes after which stormed again to win after enjoying the ultimate 11 holes in 4 below.

Despite by no means having received on tour earlier than, there have been indicators that Clark was due. He’d completed within the high six in three of the final 5 tournaments he’d entered, together with a 3rd place end on the Zurich Classic final month.

He confirmed the poise of a champion after a tough begin.

.@Wyndham_Clark you're THE 2023 Wells Fargo Champion🏆.#WellsFargoChampionshippic.twitter.com/oprlblfYpO

— Wells Fargo Golf (@WellsFargoGolf) May 7, 2023

Clark pulled his tee shot left on No. 1 over the cart path, leaving him a tough strategy shot resulting in a bogey. Schauffele pulled into the lead with birdies at Nos. 3 and seven and it appeared like Clark, who was struggling simply to make birdie over the primary six holes, may collapse below the strain of attempting to win his first event.

“My caddie (John Ellis) kept preaching to me that it’s going to be challenging and get your mind wrapped around it,” Clark mentioned.

The momentum modified on the eighth gap.

Clark chipped to inside 4 toes and rolled in a brief birdie putt to drag again right into a tie after which took the lead for good on the flip when Schauffele’s par putt lipped out on No. 9.

Schauffele began struggling along with his driver, lacking 4 straight fairways. Clark stored the strain on sinking birdie putts at No. 10 and 12 sandwiched in between a Schauffele bogey on No. 11, pushing the result in 4 strokes with six holes left to play.

Clark matched Schauffele’s birdies on the 14th and fifteenth holes to keep up a four-shot edge heading into the tough closing three holes often known as the Green Mile. From there, the one actual drama was whether or not he’d break McIlroy’s event file.

But Clark performed the ultimate three holes in 1 over, bogeying the 18th after discovering a fairway bunker.

“I didn’t hit it as well and didn’t make as many putts as maybe I did the day before but mentally I was super strong,” Clark mentioned. “I didn’t start out great. I was kind of shaky. I think in years past I might have folded. But this time I stayed patient and hung in there and caught fire on the back nine.”

Schauffele mentioned he wished he may have put extra strain on Clark, however that he was simply flat on Sunday.

“I started leaking oil,” Schauffele mentioned.

Clark devoted the win to his mom, who obtained him into golf and later died of breast most cancers when he was 19 years outdated. He contemplated giving up the sport after her loss of life, however didn’t.

“I’m glad I stuck it out,” Clark mentioned.

McIlroy, enjoying for the primary time since lacking the lower on the Masters, performed the ultimate three rounds in 3-over par, together with a 72 on Sunday to complete even par for the event.

He had 9 high 10 finishes in 11 begins together with wins in 2010, 2015 and 2021 at Quail Hollow, however this was his worst outing since lacking the lower in 12 years in the past.

McIlroy declined to talk to reporters after his last spherical.