RORY RULES ON SAINT PATRICK’S DAY
RORY McILROY made it a St Patrick’s Day to remember with victory last night in the prestigious Players Championship after a thrilling final round here in Florida. The Northern Irishman recovered from an early double bogey to post five birdies in his final 10 holes for a closing 70 and 16-under-par finish, a shot ahead of former Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk. It was a 15th PGA Tour title for McIlroy, who had started the season with five consecutive top-six finishes. ‘It’s very special,’ he said. ‘I just tried to treat it like any other day. Even though I’ve had all those close calls this year they didn’t mean anything. If anything they were good for me.’ The win is a major boost ahead of next month’s Masters.
Rory McIlroy is a winner once more after claiming the Players Championship last night following a nerve- tingling, rollercoaster final round in which he had to call upon all his craft and resolve.
rallying after a double bogey at the fourth, the Northern Irishman posted five birdies in his final 10 holes for a 70 that beat by a stroke the stringent 15- under- par total set by 48-year-old Jim Furyk.
Both men were looking for a redemptive triumph — McIlroy after all his near misses during a year without a victory and Furyk following his mauling as American captain at the ryder Cup last September.
It was typical of Gentleman Jim that he was the first to congratulate McIlroy after the 29-year-old kept his cool to prevail on another compelling Sawgrass Sunday.
‘I knew if I stayed patient after all my near misses this year then it would soon be my turn,’ said McIlroy, who has now added this cherry on top of the five top-six finishes in his first five starts this campaign.
‘This has been one of the best starts to a season of my career and the previous experiences helped me to play really well down the stretch.’
By the end, it was like the rory of old, as he added the PGA Tour’s flagship title to his glittering c. v. not to mention its $2.25million (£1.7m) first prize.
Two wonderful iron approaches to set up birdies at the 15th and 16th were followed by an arrow- straight drive down the most difficult hole on the course, the 18th.
What a boost this is ahead of his tilt at completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters next month. He could hardly be in better form when his mind turns to Georgia.
As it is, he has become only the third player to win 15 times on the PGA Tour and four majors before the age of 30. you can probably guess the names of the other two — Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. It’s never bad company to keep.
yes, rory is back and now he’s rediscovered the winning touch, this should prove a banner season for the most gifted man in the sport.
‘I feel like this is the start of the next chapter of my career and the motivation going forward is that I truly believe it will be better than the last one,’ he said. While Tommy Fleetwood had to be content with a tie for fifth spot following a final round of 73, fellow Englishman Eddie Pepperell raced through the field with a 66 to finish tied third.
The 28-year- old, from oxford, had been so depressed by how he was hitting the ball last Tuesday he gave serious consideration to flying home and missing out on his debut at the Players.
It was only his second PGA Tour event and you could say he was glad he hung around.
His remarkable charge mirrored the one at the open last July, when he shot a best-of-the-day 67 for a top-six finish.
This one was even better — and after bogeying the par- five second as well. From the seventh, birdie after birdie found the bottom of the hole.
Best of all was the one at the celebrated par-three 17th, where his poor tee shot finished 50 feet away. When it’s your day, it’s your day. As the putt fell below ground, the roar must have been heard miles away.
‘That putt at the 17th and the roar that followed, that’s the sort of moment you remember long after you retire,’ he said.
Fifteen minutes later, there was an even louder roar as American Jhonny Vegas defied outrageous odds to hole the longest putt — all of 72 feet — ever seen on this island green, as he finished alongside Pepperell. They had each created a memory to cherish forever. By Pepperell’s side was world No 2 Justin rose, who shot 68 to finish tied eighth. It just paled beside his playing partner.
The last time Matt Fitzpatrick played alongside Tiger Woods was that fateful occasion in Dubai two years ago, when the latter pulled out after the first round with a back injury and wasn’t seen again for nine months as he recovered from fusion surgery.
‘I’m feeling a lot better than last time!’ was Woods’s effusive greeting to the Sheffield man, and he showed as much with a 69 to Fitzpatrick’s 71.
For Woods, it is all about being right for the Masters. ‘I feel my game is right on track,’ he said.