Rory heading in right direction

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.

After again only just managing the make the halfway cut, McIlroy produced his equal lowest-ever TPC Sawgrass round of a blistering six-under-par 66.

McIlroy birdied his closing three holes, including the last for a fifth day in succession if you include Wednesday’s practice round, to leave the course with a then share of eighth place on nine under par.

It was the double Major winner’s best score on the Pete Dye-designed course since a similar 66 on day one of the 2013 event, where he also finished in a share of eighth.

However, in contrast to his despondent demeanour a week ago in Charlotte where he ended with a round of 70 and also yet another tie for eighth, the 25-year old was a little more upbeat yesterday.

Helping McIlroy’s mood was that after playing the opening nine holes in 11 over par over the first three days of the $10m event, he walked the front nine yesterday in one under par.

“I played the front nine much better today and that was the key,” he said. “I also birdied the last three holes for the second day in a row, so I feel very comfortable on the back nine here, and just played the front nine a little better and ended up shooting a lower score.

“Overall, it’s another solid week, another top 10 it looks like, another back door top 10 as I like to call them, but it’s getting close.

“I’m playing really well, I’m playing solid. I equalled my lowest round here at Sawgrass today with a 66, so things are heading in the right direction.”

If McIlroy were to finish inside the top 10, it would be his seventh top 10 in nine events this year, including similar efforts earlier this year in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

“I am definitely feeling much better than I did this time a week ago in Charlotte as I just didn’t convert the chances I had last week,” he said.

“But any time you shoot 66 and you move up a lot of spots on the leaderboard, I think I was 120th at one point on Friday afternoon, you have to be happy.

“So to go from that position to finishing in the top 10 in a good effort.”

With Caroline Wozniacki withdrawing from an event in Rome, McIlroy was heading to London to meet his fiancee, and plans to spend time practicing somewhere in the London area or even returning home to Northern Ireland.

His next event will be the European Tour’s BMW PGA.

And after the pleasure in posting his equal best round at Sawgrass, McIlroy was asked what was his relationship was like with the famed West Course at Wentworth.

“Strained!” was his only comment.

In contrast to McIlroy’s finish, compatriot Graeme McDowell ended with a share of 46th place on one under par following a final round 72.

McDowell, who earlier in the week suggested he would like to see the Players move back to being a part of the earlier ‘Florida Swing’, opened with nine straight pars before a 10th hole birdie and a final hole bogey.