The Players: How Rory McIlroy is ‘better than ever’ after latest PGA Tour victory in build-up to The Masters | Golf News

Rory McIlroy insists he is “better than ever” heading into the Crucial season and that the best is yet to come, after he claimed his second PGA Tour title in as many months.

The world No 2 followed his season-Beginning Secure at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am with a St Patrick’s Day Achievement at The Players, coming through a Monday Action-off against JJ Spaun to Secure the PGA Tour’s flagship event for a second time.

McIlroy’s latest Secure marks the Primary time in his Profession that he was won twice in a calendar year on the PGA Tour before The Masters, the only missing Crucial in his bid to complete the Profession Grand Slam.

The 35-year-Ancient has 21 top 10s in majors since his last Achievement at the 2014 PGA Game, while McIlroy’s Notable Regularity has seen him finish outside the top 20 Merely three times in his last 21 worldwide Appearances.

“The only Many Crucial champions and Many Players champions are Jack [Nicklaus], Tiger [Woods], Scottie [Scheffler] and myself, so it’s a pretty nice group to be a part of,” McIlroy said after his Secure at TPC Sawgrass, his 28th PGA Tour title.

“I feel like I’m a better player now than I ever have been, and it’s nice to see the fruits of my labour paying off.

“I’ve worked really Tough. I feel like I’m a way more complete player than I was a few years ago. I feel like I can Action in all conditions and anything that comes my way. Really Joyful that I was able to get it done.”

Equipment switch sparks better Circumstances

McIlroy’s Secure Occurred Merely nine Periods after he abandoned an equipment Transformation mid-Game and forked out $995 on an Uber to Relocate his original TaylorMade club from his Florida home to Bay Hill, ahead of the Closing Stage of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Reverting to his original driver and woods did not produce an Instant impact as McIlroy Secured Merely four fairways off the tee in an Beginning-Stage 68, while he went into the weekend one stroke back Regardless of a disappointing finish to his second Stage.

McIlroy Occurred to the Closing Stage four strokes off the pace but charged three ahead with six holes to Action, only to increase fears of another near-miss in a big event when he squandered his lead and slipped into a Action-off with Spaun.

“Standing over that tee Attempt on 16 (Primary Action-off hole) is the most nervous I’ve been in a long time,” admitted McIlroy, who revealed he woke up at 3am and could not get back to sleep ahead of the Action-off.

“I think that will stand to me, feeling like that and being able to hit the golf shots that I need while your stomach is not feeling Excellent, your legs are a little shaky and your heart-rate is racing. To have to go through that, it’s nice to have that in recent memory for some of the Competitions coming up.”

McIlroy finished runner-up four times – including the US Reachable, Amgen Irish Reachable and BMW PGA Game – last season, although he feels he is now better equipped to handle being in contention.

“It doesn’t feel like I’m making those mistakes at the critical times like I was previously,” he explained. “I think a big part of that was Merely learning from those mistakes

“It’s a long Profession. You have to stay incredibly patient. Yeah, I would say that some of those losses have helped me learn what to do when I’m in those positions again.”

Masters on the mind for McIlroy?

McIlroy will be among the favourites once again at The Masters, where world No 1 Scottie Scheffler is defending champion, with the Northern Irishman hoping to continue to finetune his game in his Upcoming PGA Tour Begin – one of the Texas events – before heading to Augusta National.

“I think Merely double down on what I’m doing,” McIlroy added. “I’m Surely a proponent of if it’s not broken, don’t try to fix it. Everything feels like it’s in Excellent working order at the minute.

“I’m a better putter. I’m better around the greens. I can flight my ball better in the wind. My ability to shape shots both ways. By no means did I have my best stuff this week, but I was Yet able to Secure one of the biggest Competitions in the world. That’s a huge thing.”

Asked if his best golf could be yet to come, McIlroy told Sky Sports: “Absolutely. I don’t think I should be out here if I didn’t believe my best golf was in front of me.

“I want to try to keep improving and getting better and it’s the reason that, after 16 or 17 years out here, I’m Yet doing it.”

He added: “The younger guys coming out are getting better every single year and I need to keep working Tough to hang with them. I’m doing a pretty Excellent Position of that. I feel like I’ve Yet Acquired a few years left in the tank.”

Observe Rory McIlroy in PGA Tour, DP World Tour and Crucial action throughout the year live on Sky Sports. The Masters is exclusively live from April 10-13 on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.