Rory McIlroy takes positives in The Players but laments missed chances after second place finish at Bay Hill | Golf News

Rory McIlroy will star alongside Scottie Scheffler and Jon Rahm for the primary two rounds of The Gamers; McIlroy tied for second at Bay Hill and is aiming for a second win at TPC Sawgrass; Watch the opening spherical reside Thursday from 11.30am on Sky Sports activities Golf

Rory McIlroy believes his recreation is exhibiting indicators of enchancment forward of The Gamers after narrowly lacking out on victory and a return to world No. 1 on the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

The Northern Irishman blended seven birdies with 5 bogeys in an exhilarating Remaining 70 at Bay Hill, the place a bunch of gamers chased victory on a star-studded end, leaving him tied for second and one shot behind champion Kurt Kitayama.

McIlroy has one other likelihood to overhaul Jon Rahm as world No. 1 at TPC Sawgrass, the place he will probably be partnered with the Spaniard and Scottie Scheffler for the primary two days, with the four-time main winner delighted along with his kind forward of the occasion. flagship of the PGA Tour.

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After successful Arnold Palmer Invitational, Kurt Kitayama says he is ‘proud’ of spectacular PGA Tour breakthrough

“I nonetheless want I had just a few pictures in the present day, however I assume everybody would say the identical factor,” McIlroy mentioned. “It is a type of days and a type of programs the place you are going to remorse missed alternatives and some missed putts right here and there.

“I’ve to take the positives out of it, of which there are lots of. We’ve an enormous occasion subsequent week and I’ve to attempt to construct that momentum for Sawgrass. I really feel like I understood the pilot a bit extra this week. Yeah, it occurs.

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One of many highlights of {the golfing} calendar takes place this month at The Gamers, with round the clock protection of TPC Sawgrass reside on Sky Sports activities

“It has been a superb week. I’ve seen constructive indicators. The sport has been occurring for a lot of the season. So regardless that I did not get the win, I am nonetheless fairly proud of how all the pieces goes. occurred this week.”

How McIlroy missed the Bay Hill thriller

McIlroy responded to the bogey of his first two holes of the day by birdying back-to-back birdies from the fourth, then rushed after nullifying a dropped shot within the seventh with 4 birdies in a five-hole streak from of the ninth.

Rory McIlroy was aiming for a primary PGA Tour win since successful the CJ Cup in October

The 2018 Bay Hill champion made back-to-back bogeys from the 14th however birdied a two-putt on the par-five sixteenth to maintain his hopes alive, then missed a 10-foot likelihood on the ultimate inexperienced and completed the week on eight cents.

“If I look again in the present day, the one factor I’ll remorse is the tee shot on 14,” McIlroy admitted. “I birdied 13 and acquired to the 14th tee and I actually thought I used to be nonetheless one or two behind the lead.

Rory McIlroy heads to The Gamers as world quantity 3, having began the 12 months on the prime of the world rankings

“As I walked to the 14th inexperienced, I seemed behind me on the scoreboard and I used to be main by one level. If I had identified that, I’d not have tried to play the shot I performed on 14, which was unlucky.

“I ended up making a bogey there after which a nasty swing off the tee at 15 and a bogey. Had an opportunity on the final – hit a superb putt and he simply missed the facet low – nevertheless it was a superb week.”

Scheffler happy regardless of close to miss

Defending Arnold Palmer Invitational winner Scheffler additionally had the prospect to reclaim the world No. 1 spot from Rahm, though a bogey on the ultimate gap dropped him two strokes off the tempo in tied for fourth.

Scottie Scheffler threatened a second win in as many months

“At the moment was plenty of enjoyable,” Scheffler mentioned. “Clearly I’d have favored to play a bit higher, however on the finish of the day I put up a superb combat. I did not have my neatest thing in the present day.

“I nonetheless gave myself an opportunity after some fairly severe errors on the entrance 9, however Kurt [Kitayama] performed unbelievable golf in the present day. I feel to birdie 17 and par 18 to complete and win by one is fairly particular.”

And after?

Sky Sports activities Golf will host The Gamers in 2023, with virtually 60 hours of reside protection from Tuesday to Sunday of match week and a wealth of further content material at your disposal.

Dwell protection begins on Tuesday with the ‘Gamers Dwell’ broadcast at 2pm, whereas the opening spherical is reside Thursday from 11.30am on Sky Sports activities Golf!