Rory McIlroy believes the most effective golf of his profession is but to come back after he celebrated St Patrick’s Day by defeating JJ Spaun in a play-off to win a second Gamers Championship title.
McIlroy lined the three additional holes in a single over par, however that was comfortably sufficient to beat Spaun in a considerably anticlimactic end at TPC Sawgrass.
A two-putt birdie on the par-five sixteenth gave McIlroy a one-shot benefit after Spaun may solely make par after discovering tough off the tee and a bunker along with his method.
McIlroy then safely discovered the inexperienced on the treacherous seventeenth earlier than Spaun, who appeared not sure of his membership choice within the windy circumstances, flew his tee shot over the inexperienced into the water.
The ensuing triple bogey successfully ended the American’s probabilities of a second PGA Tour victory, regardless that McIlroy surprisingly three-putted from 30 ft.
McIlroy additionally bogeyed the 18th however Spaun nonetheless had 10 ft left for his personal bogey and didn’t full the opening after McIlroy tapped in to seal a twenty eighth PGA Tour title.
“I really feel dangerous for JJ, he hit a extremely good shot on 17 and it simply went straight via the wind. I used to be fortunate to do sufficient to get it accomplished,” McIlroy stated.
“(I’m) unbelievably proud and glad to win my second Gamers Championship.
“That is the third time I’ve gained on St Patrick’s Day, so it’s been luck appeal for me.
“Watching Scottie (Scheffler) go two in a row final yr was unbelievably spectacular and I feel the one a number of main champions and a number of Gamers champions are Jack (Nicklaus), Tiger (Woods), Scottie and myself – so it’s a reasonably good group to be part of.
“I really feel like I’m a greater participant now than I ever have been and it’s good to see the fruits of my labour paying off.
“The youthful guys popping out are getting higher each single yr and I have to hold working exhausting to hold with them. I’m doing a reasonably good job of that.
“I really feel like I’ve nonetheless bought a number of years left within the tank.”
TWO WINS IN 2025
Following his victory within the AT&T Pebble Seaside Professional-Am in February, McIlroy has now gained twice on the PGA Tour earlier than the Masters for the primary time in his profession.
The world quantity two wants a victory within the yr’s first main championship at Augusta Nationwide to finish the profession grand slam.
Requested if his finest golf could possibly be but to come back, McIlroy informed Sky Sports activities: “Completely. I don’t assume I needs to be out right here if I didn’t imagine my finest golf was in entrance of me.
“I need to attempt hold bettering and getting higher and it’s the rationale that, after 16 or 17 years out right here, I’m nonetheless doing it.”
McIlroy had began Sunday’s ultimate spherical 4 photographs behind in a single day chief Spaun, however carded a closing 68 to Spaun’s 72 on a day interrupted by a four-hour delay as a consequence of dangerous climate.
