Rory McIlroy rose to the occasion at TPC Sawgrass to win his Monday playoff against J.J. Spaun and land his second Players trophy.
McIlroy was simply too good for Spaun, who struggled from the get-go and never got near McIlroy after he smashed his opening drive on 16 some 340 yards.
Of course, McIlroy’s win capped off a tumultuous week at TPC Sawgrass for the Northern Irishman.
McIlroy took a fan’s phone off him in practice in a moment that caused plenty of controversy.
However, in the end, things went a full 360, as an expectant and responsive crowd welcomed McIlroy back on Monday and cheered his every shot up the stretch.
And for that reaction, McIlroy admitted it didn’t go unnoticed.
Rory McIlroy comments on the ‘incredible’ crowds at TPC Sawgrass
McIlroy was delving into all sorts about his final round and the playoff as he spoke to the press but he poignantly spoke about the Florida crowds.
“Yeah, it was incredible,” McIlroy commented when asked about the crowds. “I was walking up 16 fairway, and I turned to my caddie Harry, and I was like, I can’t believe how many people are here. Obviously no one works in Jacksonville [jokingly].
“Yeah, it was amazing. I didn’t expect there to be so many people out there today. It created a great atmosphere. Certainly J.J. and I really appreciated that.”
Rory McIlroy explains his key practice decision before teeing off in the playoff
One of the most impressive aspects of the entire playoff was McIlroy’s tee shot on 17 that landed plumb in the middle of the green.
Indeed, after McIlroy was spotted practicing shots into the wind before the playoff, he admitted that it was his idea to warm up in a different way.
“I’ll take the credit for that one yeah, no, that was me. I think, as well, this week it’s been a challenge,” McIlory admitted.
“I’ve went down to the back end of the range sometimes and been hitting the ball like in a left-to-right wind.
“It’s hard to obviously get both winds when you’re warming up, but there were so many crosswinds this week that that was — I’d go down to the back end of the range because I knew that that was the same direction as like the first tee shot, so I sort of liked knowing what that first tee shot is going to do.
“But then you turn around on the second hole and it’s completely different and it’s the first shot you’ve hit in that wind. It can be a little bit tricky. Seeing there was no one around this morning, it was nice to be able to just turn around and hit those shots in the wind I felt like there was going to be on 17.”
McIlroy will now play in one of the events in Texas before the Masters, albeit he hasn’t decided just which one as yet.
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