Rory McIlroy is desperate to end a now 53-week winless drought on the PGA Tour at this Players Championship in Ponte Vedre, Florida.

McIlroy tees up on TPC Sawgrass as an 8/1 favourite to win the Players with double Major winning Jordan Speith at 10/1 and World No. 1 Jason Day at 12/1.

However after finishing T4th a week ago in the defence of his Wells Fargo Championship, it’s now one year and one week since McIlroy last won in the States.

As well, McIlroy is the only player inside the top-five on the World Rankings without a victory anywhere in 2016.

Rory McIlroy remains confident in his ability to win for a first time in 2016. (Photo – www.pgatour.com)

But with results of eighth, sixth and eighth in the last three years at the Players, McIlroy could bury that statistic this week.

“Results-wise it isn’t what I hoped for,” said McIlroy on the eve of the $US 10m event.

“My performances have been pretty good, I’ve had a few chances to win tournaments. Of the nine events I’ve played, I have six top-10s so it hasn’t been too bad, but no wins.

“It’s been frustrating and especially because I feel like I’ve played some really good golf in this stretch, but at the same time there’s just been too many mistakes.

“Again last week I led the field in birdies at Quail Hollow, I was up there at Augusta. There’s just been too many loose shots, too many soft bogeys, so if anything I just need to tidy that up because I know I’m playing good enough.”

And if past form is any indication then it’s little wonder remains confident in his ability to seal another success.

“My wins early on in my career I led by a lot; whether it was my first win in Dubai, I think I was six ahead with six to play and sort of fell over the line there,” he said.

“When I won at Quail Hollow in 2010 I was five behind at the start of the day and I ended up winning by four. My US Open in 2011 was similar.

“So I am quite confident a win this year is not too far away”.