McIlroy takes Players by 1 stroke

MIAMI: Rory McIlroy celebrated St Patrick’s Day in style by becoming the first player from Northern Ireland to win the Players Championship, emerging as the last man standing to beat Jim Furyk by one stroke in Ponte Vedra, Florida on Sunday. On a day when 15 players at one stage were within two shots of the lead, McIlroy eventually emerged from the pack, overcoming an early double-bogey by displaying enough maturity to hang tough before moving in for the proverbial kill. McIlroy carded two-under-par 70 at the famous TPC Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedra Beach to win a championship that was first held in 1974, when it was won by Jack Nicklaus. McIlroy finished at 16-under 272 to edge American Furyk, who with a gimme birdie at the final hole threatened to become the event’s oldest winner at the age of 48. “Sawgrass and I didn’t have the greatest relationship starting off,” McIlroy told reporters, referring to missed cuts in his first three appearances from 2009-11. “It’s a massive win on a course (where) I’ve had mixed results. I had to show a lot of character out there. Any time I looked at the leaderboard I was pleasantly surprised I hadn’t fallen two or three shots behind. “That gave me a little bit of encouragement to keep going and play a great back nine. I am just thankful that it was my turn this week.” After a birdie at the par-four 15th, he used his power to reach the par-five 16th in two shots and a two-putt birdie gave him the lead. McIlroy then safely negotiated the water-lined final two holes with tap-in pars to clinch the most prestigious tournament outside the four majors. Furyk shot 67 to finish alone on 15-under. FURYK DISAPPOINTED “There’s a little disappointment, thinking maybe I played well enough to win,” said the American. “Rory obviously felt differently.” It was Furyk’s 31st runner-up finish on the PGA Tour, the same number as Tiger Woods who has also won 80 times compared to his compatriot’s 17. Englishman Eddie Pepperell (66) and Venezuelan Jhonattan Vegas (66) finished two strokes behind McIlroy in a tie for third. Overnight leader Jon Rahm floundered, the Spaniard making three bogeys in the first four holes and compounding his misery by dunking his tee shot into the water at the par-three 17th. He shot 76 and finished equal 12th on 11-under. McIlroy’s win came after close calls at all five of his previous starts this year. He will head to the Masters next month brimming with confidence, needing a victory at Augusta National to complete the Grand Slam of all four modern majors. — Reuters PGA Players Championships final scores (USA unless noted, par 72): 272 - Rory McIlroy (NIR) 67-65-70-70 273 - Jim Furyk 71-64-71-67 274 - Eddie Pepperell (ENG) 72-68-68-66, Jhonattan Vegas (VEN) 72-69-67-66 275 - Dustin Johnson 69-68-69-69, Brandt Snedeker 69-72-65-69, Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 65-67-70-73 276 - Hideki Matsuyama (JPN) 71-72-66-67, Justin Rose (ENG) 74-66- 68-68, Brian Harman 66-69-71-70, Jason Day (AUS) 70-66-68-72 277 - Adam Scott (AUS) 70-69-68-70, Joel Dahmen 69-71-67-70, Abraham Ancer (MEX) 69-66-70-72, Jon Rahm (ESP) 69-68-64-76