Rory McIlroy has shrugged off the demons of last year’s disappointments as he navigated ‘huge nerves’ to snatch the coveted Players Championship title. The 35-year-old blew past JJ Spaun in a nail-biting three-hole playoff earlier this week to secure his second Players Championship trophy. The victory marked his 28th on the PGA Tour and came with a sense of deep relief as he hoisted the trophy aloft on Monday.
After the win, an exhilarated McIlroy said: “Standing over that tee shot on 16 this morning is the most nervous I’ve been in a long time. So feeling like that and being able to hit the shots that I needed, while your stomach is sort of not feeling great and 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 tournaments coming up.”
McIlroy’s subsequent remarks of confidence as he battled through the nerves are a direct hint at his solid mental state as the Northern Irishman gears up for the Masters tournament. Previously opening up about his “heartbreak” following close calls at the US Open and Irish Open in 2024, McIlroy – who last clinched a major in 2014 – now seems tuned and ready for future challenges.
Reflecting on his past struggles – including at the 2024 Olympics in Paris – McIlroy admitted: “I’m getting used to it, unfortunately, this year. Hopefully, the tide is going to turn pretty soon, and I can turn all these close calls into victories.”
The tide has seemingly turned for the 35-year-old golf sensation following his triumph at the Players Championship and his victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February. These impressive wins suggest that McIlroy is in perfect kilter ahead of the Masters.
With the Masters approaching in April, attention is tuned in on McIlroy as he aims to secure his maiden win at Augusta. With a newfound tenacity in his game, he’s determined to make 2025 the year he overcomes past hurdles and claim his long-awaited fifth major title.
Fresh from his recent victories, a confident McIlroy said on Monday: “I feel like I’m a better player now than I ever have been.”
With eyes set on the Masters, he has chosen The Houston Open, beginning Thursday, March 27, as his last preparatory tournament. This offers McIlroy a week to recuperate before the beginning of his journey towards the coveted green jacket.
