Rory McIlroy joined the illustrious list of names to boast multiple Players Championship titles on Monday, as the Northern Irishman edged out J.J. Spaun in a Monday playoff at TPC Sawgrass.
Rory McIlroy made yet another statement ahead of the Masters with his second victory of the year. The 35-year-old had already won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am for the first time in his career, and now has a second Players Championship crown to add to his collection.
Fans may have seen McIlroy play better, but there appears to be something different about him in the early months of this year. McIlroy has added new shots to his game, while he seems to have stumbled upon the formula which boosts his chances of winning when he finds himself in contention.
McIlroy’s talent has always been undeniable. But if he can complement that with the kind of ruthless edge that allowed Scottie Scheffler to win nine times in 2024, then it could be a real game-changer.
The round which saw Rory McIlroy welcomed to the big time and stunned Phil Mickelson
McIlroy now boasts 28 victories on the PGA Tour, so it says something if he has found another gear. It would certainly be a statement if he could rediscover that fearlessness that confirmed in the early stages of his career that he was going to become an all-time great.
Few will forget the moment McIlroy arrived in the big time by winning the Quail Hollow Championship in 2010.
He became the first player since Tiger Woods to win on the PGA Tour before the age of 21. And in the final round, he set a new course record of 62 to win by four over Phil Mickelson. No-one else shot lower than 66 on Sunday in Charlotte.
Remarkably, Mickelson did not seem at all surprised by McIlroy’s performance.
“He’s won a number of places throughout the world, and for him to win here on the PGA Tour just sets it off. He’s got all the shots, he’s got the game of a veteran, and he’s a class act. He’s fun to be around. You can’t help but pull for him,” he said after the final round.
“62 is one of the best rounds I’ve seen in a long, long time. It was very impressive. He’s an impressive player. He’s also a wonderful person, so I’m happy for him.”
How Rory McIlroy has gone on to become King of Quail Hollow ahead of the 2025 PGA Championship
The 2010 win sparked a love affair between McIlroy and the event which will now be known as the Truist Championship.
McIlroy would win again in 2015, 2021 and 2024. Max Homa is the only other player to have won the event on more than one occasion during its existence.
The 2015 tournament was particularly impressive as McIlroy broke his own course record with a 61 during the third round. Meanwhile, no player can match his score of 21 under par for the week. He would win by seven that year.
And while McIlroy’s sights will currently be set on the Masters next month, it has not escaped the attention of many golf fans that this year’s PGA Championship will be held at Quail Hollow – the site of that first PGA Tour win for McIlroy.
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