McIlroy withstands Furyk’s charge in TPC

Rory McIlroy made two late birdies amid wild theatrics at The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and closed with a 2-under 70 to win the next best thing to a major.

McIlroy could not afford to make a mistake over the final hour because Jim Furyk capped off a 67 at the TPC Sawgrass with a shot into three feet for birdie on the 18th to take the lead.

McIlroy answered with a 15-foot birdie on the 15th, a two-putt birdie on the 16th and dry land on the par-3 17th, the island green that never looks smaller than on Sunday.