Historic win for Irishman McIlroy at Players Championship

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Historic win for Irishman McIlroy at Players Championship
Rory McIlroy beat Jim Furyk by one stroke in Ponte Vedra

Miami - McIlroy carded two-under-par 70 at the famous TPC Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedra Beach to win

By Reuters

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Published: Mon 18 Mar 2019, 9:14 PM

Last updated: Mon 18 Mar 2019, 11:17 PM

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." With Furyk already in the clubhouse, the 29-year-old McIlroy knew what he had to do as he played the final three holes.
 


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