McIlroy Remains Undecided Until Tee-Off, Though ‘The Drugs Are Working Wonders’.

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Grand Slam winning Rory McIlroy indicated he will wait till ‘game-time’ tomorrow (Thursday) before making a decision” if he will tee-up in the defence of his Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra, Florida.

McIlroy finally arrived at Tour HQ mid-afternoon advising he would play a few holes to assess the state of his game, and a first appearance in a Tour event since withdrawing last Saturday ahead of the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando.

Indeed, Rors headed for the range to hit no more than a 6-iron and then remarking: “It’s (His back) better than it was. I hit up to a six iron on the range, and it felt okay”.

“I have about 20 hours until I am supposed tee off, so yeah we’ll see. I’m sort of taking it hour by hour, but it feels better, that’s all I can say.

“I couldn’t stand to address the ball Saturday morning on the range at Bay Hill, and it’s obviously better than that.

“Yeah, probably a game-time decision, but all indications are pointing in the right direction so hopefully a good night tonight; the drugs are working wonders and then just keep it going from there.”

McIlroy said the injury happened while overextending a hinge movement during his workout, and adding his doctors said he isn’t at risk of further injuring his back by playing. He also said he wouldn’t classify what he’s feeling as pain.

“I would say just more like sensitivity. It’s not really on the site or like it’s sort of more like the big – like even just hitting balls there for a little bit, just feel like my muscles around the area just getting a little bit, like, fatigued. Right adductor started to cramp a little bit,” McIlroy said. “But it’s fine; it’s expected.”

McIlroy will test his body again before his Thursday tee time. Crucially, he has not yet attempted to hit a driver. He is scheduled to tee off at 1:42 p.m local time alongside Xander Schauffele and fellow Masters champ Hideki Matsuyama.

McIlroy shrugged off concerns he wouldn’t be prepared for the course, given he’s played the Players event every year since 2009.

The Grand Slam champ is attempting to become just the second golfer to win back-to-back THE PLAYERS Championships, alongside Scottie Scheffler. A win would also be McIlroy’s third THE PLAYERS title, matching Jack Nicklaus for most in the tournament history.



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