Rory McIlroy was rushing to nearby Jacksonville Airport and a London connecting flight delighted despite yet another ‘back door’ top-10 and on this occasion in the Players Championship.
After again only just managing the make the halfway cut, McIlroy produced his equal lowest-ever TPC Sawgrass round of a blistering six under par 66.
McIlroy birdied his closing three holes, including the last for a fifth day in succession if you include Wednesday’s practice round, to leave the course with a then share of eighth place on nine under par.
It was the double Major winner’s equal lowest score on the Pete Dye designed course since a similar 66 on day one of the 2013 event where he also finished in a share of eighth.
Rory McIlroy shoots his equal lowest TPC score – May 2014. (Photo – www.golfbytourmiss.com)
However in contrast to his despondent demeanor a week ago in Charlotte where he ended with a round of 70 and also a share of eight, the 25-year old was a little more upbeat on this occasion.
Helping McIlroy’s mood was, that after playing the opening nine in 11 over par the opening three days of the $US 10m event, he walked the front nine yesterday (SUN) in one under par.
“I played the front nine much better today and that was the key,” he said.
“I also birdied the last three holes for the second day in a row, so I feel very comfortable on the back nine here, and just played the front nine a little better and ended-up shooting a lower score.
“Overall, it’s another solid week, another top-10 it looks like, another back door top-10 as I like to call them, but it’s getting close.
“I’m playing really well, I’m playing solid. I equalled my lowest round here at Sawgrass today with a 66, so things are heading in the right direction.”
If McIlroy were to finish inside the top-10, and given the leaders were still on the course, it would be McIlroy’s seventh top-10 in nine events this year and including his efforts earlier this year in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
“I am definitely feeling much better than I did this time a week ago in Charlotte as I just didn’t convert the chances I had last week,” he said.
“But any time you shoot 66 and you move up a lot of spots on the leaderboard, I think I was 120th at one point on Friday afternoon, you have to be happy.
“So to go from that position to finishing in the top-10 in a good effort.”
With Caroline Wozniacki withdrawing an event in Rome, McIlroy was heading to London to meet with his finacee, and with a view of either spending time practicing on a golf course somewhere in the London area or even returning home to Northern Ireland.
His next event with be the European Tour’s flagship BMW PGA.
And after the pleasure in posting his equal best round at TPC Sawgrass McIlroy was asked what his relationship was like with the famed West Course at Wentworth.
“Strained!” was his only comment.
In contrast to McIlroy’s finish fellow Ulsterman and US Open winner Graeme McDowell ended with a share of 46th place following a final round 72 for a one over par total.
McDowell, who earlier in the week suggested he would like to see the Players move back to being a part of the earlier ‘Florida Swing’, pared his opening nine holes before a 10th hole birdie and a final hole bogey.
