Rory McIlroy’s victory at The Players Championship brought him plenty of rewards he arguably doesn’t need.
The $4.5 million prize is the largest in golf, pushing his career earnings on the PGA Tour to just over $99.7 million, making him second only to Tiger Woods. Along with the money, McIlroy earned a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour (he’s already a life member with 28 wins) and a three-year exemption for the majors, which he has qualified for since 2009.
However, the win also raised expectations for McIlroy heading into the Masters — something he likely doesn’t need either.
Despite competing at TPC Sawgrass for the PGA Tour’s premier event, McIlroy’s week was dominated by talk about the Masters. The conversation began when a University of Texas golfer watched McIlroy hook a tee shot into the water on the 18th hole during a practice round. The golfer remarked that it reminded him of the shot McIlroy hit on the 10th hole at Augusta National during the 2011 Masters, a moment that marked the beginning of his dramatic collapse. To date, that remains McIlroy’s closest chance to winning the prestigious green jacket.
McIlroy handed his phone to security after the incident, and the University of Texas golfer was escorted out. A few days later, McIlroy declined to discuss the situation.
The end of the week was much more positive for McIlroy.
After losing a three-shot lead with five holes to play on Sunday, McIlroy was more nervous than expected during a three-hole playoff on Monday. However, he quickly overcame J.J. Spaun with three impressive shots, including a well-struck three-quarter 9-iron in the wind. The ball landed on the 17th hole island, causing some brief tension before settling.
Winning The Players Championship is a significant achievement, and this marks McIlroy’s second victory in the tournament.
“I don’t want to label it, but it’s definitely one of the biggest championships in the world,” McIlroy said.
This is also the first time in his career that McIlroy has entered the Masters with two wins under his belt, having also won at Pebble Beach last month. Including his victory at the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai last November, McIlroy has now won three times in his last six tournaments.
The first question from Sky Sports was, “Have you ever been in a better headspace going into the majors after those two big wins?”
For McIlroy, the majors always begin with the Masters. This marks the 11th year since he last won a major, and it’s his 11th trip to Augusta National, where he’s still chasing the one major he needs for the career Grand Slam.
“I’ve had good starts to years before,” McIlroy acknowledged, pointing out his strong start in 2019 when he recorded seven straight top 10 finishes, including a win at The Players Championship. However, he tied for 21st at the Masters that year.
“I’m in good form,” McIlroy continued. “I’m playing well. I feel like all aspects of my game are under control. I just have to keep working hard, keep my head down. It’s another opportunity to refine the small details.”
Things are looking promising for him this time around.
Meanwhile, Scottie Scheffler had to wait a month to begin his season due to surgery on his right palm, which was injured by a wine glass while making ravioli. Since returning at Pebble Beach, Scheffler hasn’t quite found his rhythm, but it seems he’s close to getting everything back in place.
Xander Schauffele, who won two majors last year, just returned after a two-month break due to a rib injury. His only recent achievement has been making the cut by the slimmest margin in the last two weeks, extending his streak to 59 consecutive cuts.
McIlroy plans to play one more tournament in Texas—either Houston or San Antonio—before heading to the Masters, which remains the ultimate test for him. He feels more prepared than ever, having been toughened by more failures than he’d prefer to recall.
He came close at St. Andrews in 2022 and the U.S. Open in the past two years, but both times, someone else claimed the trophy. The 2022 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 was particularly painful for McIlroy, as he missed two short putts on firm greens down the stretch.
McIlroy believes he began to turn a corner last fall after a playoff loss at Wentworth, spending time focusing on finding freedom in his swing. He also points to the second round of the Masters last year, where high winds contributed to a 77 that essentially ended his tournament.
McIlroy has adjusted his swing to be shorter for specific shots, starting with his wedge and now down to a 7-iron. He used these changes effectively in the Pacific winds when he won at Pebble Beach. His 9-iron shot to the 17th hole in the playoff at Sawgrass on Monday was a perfect example of this refined technique.
Reflecting on his game, McIlroy said, “When the conditions get tough like that, I feel much better prepared to handle them. Off the tee has always been fine for me, but it’s the wedges and short irons that used to be an issue. I feel like I’ve been able to fix that.”
This improvement is helping him become a more well-rounded player. There’s a sense of calm about him now, even when nerves crept in during the playoff on Monday. The pressure will only grow when he heads to Augusta National.
“Everything feels like it’s in good working order right now,” McIlroy explained. “I just need to keep practicing, sticking to the right habits. Day after day, week after week, it all adds up to moments like today.”