Rory McIlroy has sights set on maiden Sawgrass success

Rory McIlroy believes he is finally ready to win one of the few big titles so far missing from his glittering CV after learning that life really is a beach when it comes to the Players Championship.

As well as winning four major titles, McIlroy has claimed two World Golf Championship events and four FedEx Cup play-off tournaments, with his victory in the 2016 Tour Championship giving him the overall title and €10m bonus.

The 29-year-old’s first attempts to win the so-called fifth major at Sawgrass resulted in three straight missed cuts, but since then the Co Down man has finished eighth, sixth, eighth, and 12th before a tie for 35th last year.