St Patrick’s Day delight for rejuvenated Rory

RORY McILROY celebrated St Patrick’s Day with a thrilling victory at the Players Championship last night – his first win in more than a year.

The Ulsterman emerged from a five-way tie on the back nine at Sawgrass to card four birdies in six holes and beat American veteran Jim Furyk by a single stroke.

His composed closing round of 70 ended a run of Sunday close calls – and now he will believe he can finally win the Masters.

McIlroy, who had not won since last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational 53 weeks ago, had recorded five top-six finishes on the PGA Tour this year in a season of near-misses.

But starting the final round in the penultimate group a shot behind overnight leader Jon Rahm, he recovered from finding water at the fourth for a double bogey to card six birdies and bank the first prize of $2.25million (£1.69m).

“It is very special,” he said. “I just tried to treat it like another day. Even though I have had all those close calls this year, if anything they were good for me.

“They gave me even more hope to go forward again. All those experiences this year led me to this point and ultimately they were good for me because they got me over the line. This gives me a lot of confidence. It is a massive win. The way I played those last few holes gives me so much confidence.

“If I hadn’t won today, I would have said I don’t need a win going into Augusta, but it is very nice to win on a golf course that will play very similarly to Augusta.

“I feel like I am playing some of the best golf of my life right now and I just need to keep doing the same things.”

Sandy Lyle was the only previous UK winner at Sawgrass, back in 1987.

Eddie Pepperell (right) finished tied for third on 14 under par in his first Players Championship after a closing 66 which included a 50-foot putt from off the green at the 17th. “I was pretty excited,” he said. “I said to (caddie) Mick (Doran): ‘That is probably the highlight of my career.’

“I felt like Seve out there. It was an incredible day.”

Tommy Fleetwood, who found water on 11, moved back within two shots of the lead with an eagle on 16 before going for the flag on 17 and finding water.

Tiger Woods (centre) said he was “right on track” for the Masters after a closing three-under par 69 saw him finish tied-30th.