Rory McIlroy Returns For Another Run at TPC Boston in 2017 PGA Dell Technologies Championship
2012, ’16 Champ calls Norton course “a great place for me” and “can’t wait to get back”
Norton, MA – Some golf courses were just made for some golfers. TPC Boston in Norton is one of those places for Rory McIlroy. The 28-year-old from Northern Ireland is looking to become the first three-time winner at the venue on Labor Day weekend (Aug. 30-Sept. 4) in the Dell Technologies Championship. This is the first-year Dell EMC enters as the title sponsor of the popular and unique PGA Tour stop that begins on a Friday and ends on Labor Day
“With Dell’s involvement, we’ve been able to increase our local charitable impact, enhance the overall fan experience, and move around some of our upgraded ticket venues to new locations that will provide better views of the competition,” said Rich Brady, TPC Boston Tournament Director. “We’ll also be able to showcase the products of Dell Technologies, most notably through a virtual reality golf experience that all fans will be able to enjoy when they take a break from the action.”
Last year, McIlroy overcame a six-shot deficit by shooting 66 and 65, respectively, on the final two days to edge out Paul Casey by two strokes for his second career win at TPC Boston. He also won the title in 2012 with a final score of 264.
“TPC Boston has been a great place for me in the past, a place I feel very comfortable at and the kind of golf course I’ve played well on, and to get that win last year was awesome. So, great memories,” McIlroy said at the tournament’s media day. “I play the golf course very well. I’m excited to get there this year and see a couple of changes that they’ve made on 12 and 13. Yeah, just great memories from 2012 and obviously last year, and can’t wait to get back.”
Vijay Singh (2004, ’08) is the only other golfer to post multiple titles in the 14 previous PGA events held at TPC Boston on Labor Day weekend.
“Yeah, I mean, there’s a lot of memories, even starting from the Sunday, in the third round, I shot a really good score,” McIlroy recalled. “I nearly made a double eagle at the last hole, finished off the round really well with an eagle. “It’s not as if I went into the final round thinking I had a real shot at winning the tournament. Paul Casey was playing really well. He had a few-shot lead.
“But the final day last year it was tough. It was blustery. It was breezy. You know, and it was hard to shoot a low score, and it was easy to shoot something 2- or 3-over, and that’s what happened. I played one of the best rounds I played all year. I shot 65 on the final day in tough conditions, and when I had a chance to win, I kept my foot on the gas, and I really went for it. I hadn’t had a win on the PGA TOUR all season up until that point, and yeah, once I felt like I had a chance, I sort of tried to reach out and grab it with both hands.”
Dell EMC steps in as the event’s title sponsor. The company has big goals for using the tournament to make big contributions in the Boston community.
“Dell has a program called Legacy of Good,” said Bill Scannell, president of global enterprise sales and customer operations for Dell EMC. “It’s all-around helping focus on our employees, the environment, and society in general and helping with human progress through technology. This year we’re thrilled to have three terrific charities that we’re going to be supporting. The first is the Boys and Girls Club of Boston, which I’m sure everyone is familiar with.
“The second is not as well known. It’s the Boys and Girls Club of Dorchester, and it’s a charity that I’ve been particularly involved with for 25, 30 years, and they just do a terrific job of keeping children safe, giving them a place to hang out and to get away from the streets of Dorchester. And then the third charity, which is part of — and rich will talk more about this, is part of Arnie’s March, is the Mass General Hospital For Children. So three great programs, three great charities, and we’re thrilled to be helping out with those.”