Rory gets a taste of Sawgrass ahead of Players Championship

Rory McIlroy managed to squeeze in nine holes of practice ahead of the start of today’s PGA Tour flagship Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

McIlroy was expected not to play any practice ahead of the $10 million (€7m) event but surprised officials by teeing up mid-afternoon to play the inward nine on the Pete Dye-designed Stadium course layout.

McIlroy had spent the early part of this week practising at the exclusive Bears Club after sharing eighth place in last Sunday’s concluding Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte.