McIlroy is looking to claim one of the few big titles so far missing from his glittering CV.

Ali Carter reached the semi-finals of the Ladbrokes Players Championship in Llandudno with a 5-3 victory against Neil Robertson.

However he did equal Shane Lowry's back-nine record, which the Offaly golfer set yesterday.

The Northern Irishman set up his victory by winning five successive frames.

After a record-setting finish and captivating victory at The Players Championship, Rickie Fowler could have thanked a number of people.

New Players champion Rickie Fowler is relishing his trip to Royal Country Down for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

World No 1 Rory McIlroy continued a frustrating Players Championship trend in finishing just a few shots shy of victory for a third year running on the TPC Sawgrass course.

A day after snapping his putter in half in frustration, Sergio Garcia fought back into contention for a second Players Championship title at Sawgrass.

Former world number one Tiger Woods celebrated keeping a proud record alive in the Players Championship – and then insisted he could still win a third title at Sawgrass.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy looked assured of scoring a points victory over newest rival Jordan Spieth on the second day of the lucrative Players Championship at Ponte Vedre Beach in Florida.

Rory McIlroy kicked off his Players Championship victory quest with only his second sub-70 TPC Sawgrass start and then downplayed any threat of burnout in competing for five straight weeks up to and including the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Rory McIlroy hopes a more conservative approach will continue to translate into improved results in the Players Championship, one of the few big tournaments he has yet to win.

World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is not the least interested in talk of a new golfing rivalry with Masters Champion Jordan Spieth.

Rory McIlroy was rushing to nearby Jacksonville Airport and a London connecting flight delighted despite yet another ‘back door’ top-10 and on this occasion in the Players Championship.

Ryder Cup hero Martin Kaymer remained on course for a £1m payday thanks to a second round of 69 in the Players Championship at Sawgrass on Friday.

Sergio Garcia, Tiger Woods and David Lingmerth will share the lead going into the final round of the Players Championship after the delayed third round was completed today.

Sweden’s David Lingmerth was the surprise leader of the Players Championship when play was suspended due to darkness during the third round at Sawgrass last night.

All eyes were on the duel between Sergio Garcia and Tiger Woods at the prestigious Players Championship today, but veteran Jeff Maggert was proving anything remained possible in the $9.4m (€7.2m) event.

Graeme McDowell has the chance to show his Ryder Cup partner Rory McIlroy how to handle a last round lead after moving one ahead in the Players Championship - golf's richest event - at Sawgrass today.

Graeme McDowell shared the lead with Nick Watney after day three of the Players Championship at Sawgrass today.

Tiger Woods has pulled out of the Players Championship for the second year running today.

Struggling Tiger Woods pulled out of The Players Championship, golf’s richest event, on the seventh hole of his final round at Sawgrass today.

After 108 starts in America since his one and only win 12 years ago Lee Westwood could today make it three European victories in a row at golf’s richest event.

Lee Westwood, not for the first time, was carrying European hopes on his shoulders as Phil Mickelson came charging into the picture at golf’s richest event today.

It will probably need something special, but Phil Mickelson could be just a day away from becoming world number one for the first time after producing a 66 in the third round of The Players Championship in Florida.

Lee Westwood soared into the halfway lead at The Players Championship in Florida today as his decision to put golf's richest event back on his schedule paid handsome dividends.

Irish golfers Rory McIlroy and Padraig Harrington are set to miss the cut in The Players Championship, golf's richest event, at Sawgrass today.

Phil Mickelson’s bid to become world number one for the first time – at the expense of Tiger Woods – began with a birdie at Sawgrass today, but it was not the start of something special.

Alex Cejka will reach back 13 years for inspiration as he prepares to hold off Tiger Woods in the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass today.

Germany’s Alex Cejka strengthened his lead at The Players Championship today as the leaders got their third rounds under way at TPC Sawgrass.

Germany's Alex Cejka holds the halfway lead from England's Ian Poulter at TPC Sawgrass after a good second round for the Europeans at The Players Championship.

Defending champion Sergio Garcia made a strong start as The Players Championship got under way at TPC Sawgrass today.

Sergio Garcia became just the second European to win the Players Championship when he beat American Paul Goydos at the first extra hole.

Sergio Garcia believes he is edging closes to an overdue tournament victory after carding a six-under-par 66 to take the lead at the end of the first round of the Players Championship on Thursday.

Simon Khan leads the Deutsche Bank Players' Championship on seven under par after round one was completed today.

Darren Clarke, has "95% recovered" from his hamstring injury that forced him out of last week's Irish Open, according to spokesman Martin Hardy.

Spaniard Jose Maria Olazabal charged to within three strokes of the clubhouse lead with a superb six-under-par 66 in the second round at the £4.5m Players Championship.

Padraig Harrington continued his spirited comeback during the second round of the Players Championship today.

Padraig Harrington was today staging a minor fightback early in the second round at the Players Championship.

Tiger Woods believes the Players Championship at Sawgrass will be wide open when the prestigious event gets underway on Thursday.

Sweden’s Robert Karlsson today claimed his second European Tour title in two months to move into the automatic qualifying places for the Ryder Cup.

Lee Westwood and Robert Karlsson will have the Ryder Cup on their minds in the final round of the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship in Hamburg.

Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell gave himself an early birthday present with a third-round 65 in the weather disrupted Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship.

Graeme McDowell gave himself an early birthday present with a third-round 65 in the Deutsche Bank Players’ Championship.