McIlroy upbeat despite frustration at Sawgrass

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.

Decked out in pink as a tribute to US Mother’s Day, McIlroy got into red birdie figures on just three occasions in the sweltering conditions with birdies at two and then back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12 and ending with six straight pars in a round of 70 for an under par tally.

On a positive note, McIlroy was eight under on the par fives but then he was one over par on the Sawgrass front nine for the four rounds and nine under for the inward half of the Pete Dye-designed course.