Rory McIlroy is off to a great start with the Masters looming, while Scottie Scheffler is catching up. Here’s what we saw at the Players and what it means.
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Forthesixthyearinarow,thePlayersChampionshiphasproducedawinnerwhohasbeenamongthetop10intheworldrankings.
ThePGATour’spremiereventdeliveredacompellingfinishonceagain—thistimewithRoryMcIlroybeatingoutJ.J.Spauninathree-holeplayoffMonday—andhassetuptheremainderofthegolfseasonwithplentyofintriguingstorylinesastheMastersandtherestofthemajorchampionshipsloom.
Herearefourtakeawaysfromthisyear’sPlayersChampionship.
McIlroy’shotstartbodeswellforAugustaandbeyondRoryMcIlroywonthePlayersChampionshipforthesecondtime. RichardHeathcote/GettyImagesWehavebeendownthisroadbeforeandseenMcIlroystruggletotranslateanykindofearly-seasonsuccesstotheMasters.Butthiskindofstarttotheseasonisunprecedentedterritory.Forthefirsttimeinhiscareer,McIlroyhaswontwiceonTourbeforetheendofApril.Thismarksthefirsttimehewillhavemultipleworldwidewinsinthefourmont