What Rory McIlroy was seen doing on the driving range just before winning his playoff with J.J. Spaun at TPC Sawgrass

Add as preferred source on Google

Rory McIlroy came out on top in the playoff at the Players Championship as he saw off J.J. Spaun over three holes to claim the title.

Spaun had a nightmare across all three holes as he found water on the 17th before three putting for triple bogey. McIlroy, on the other hand, was cold with the putter but managed to produce some fine shots off the tee to see things through.

In tricky conditions and high winds around TPC Sawgrass, McIlroy will have been fully aware things could have gone badly for him.

• READ MORE: Paul McGinley picks the one part of Rory McIlroy’s game which is better than it’s ever been before after watching him at the Players Championship

However, his experience seemed to count and it also looked like the work McIlroy did on the range just before teeing off paid dividends.

How Rory McIlroy’s pre-match work paid off in his playoff against J.J. Spaun

There are always a few side stories at a golf tournament and with a nervous playoff to come, preparation was going to be key for both McIlroy and Spaun.

However, it seems like McIlroy got it spot on as he produced some fine golf and it looked very much like it was down to his prep work on the range.

Spotted by PGA Tour journalist Sean Martin, it looks like McIlroy put in a very specific practice session to get used to the winds.

“As a man who loves #TheProcess, Rory hitting balls down the tee line, and with his back to the driving range, so he can see how the wind impacts shots from different directions, is enthralling. Love the attention to detail. He’s been slightly changing lines on his tee shots, as well, to at least parallel the shots on 16 and 18, and re-orienting the Trackman each time”

• READ MORE: Scottie Scheffler rates his own golf game and says how close he is to his best after disappointing finish at The Players Championship

What Rory McIlroy said about his warm up at TPC Sawgrass

McIlroy was straight into media duties after his winning effort and he was quickly asked about what he did before the playoff to get ready.

Indeed, McIlroy confirmed what Martin reported above.

“I was warming up with the Trackman this morning and tried to hit a few shots with the same wind direction on the range. I knew it was the same distance as yesterday and had that three quarter nine-iron dialled in. Once we got up there I knew what to do and made a good swing,” McIlroy said about his tee shots.

With McIlroy now on the winner’s board already for 2025, he heads towards the Masters once again looking like one of the players who can win out.