Rory McIlroy hails ‘very important’ win

• Rory McIlroy ranks Match Play win just below major successes
• “World Golf Championships are very important to us as players”
• Has dismissed any thoughts of fatigue ahead of the Players this week

Rory McIlroy celebrated his 26th birthday a day early with a WGC-Cadillac Match Play win he hailed as ‘very important’ and one that ranks just below his four major successes.

With the golfing world raving about Jordan Spieth following his maiden major win at the Masters, the Northern Irishman gave a large reminder about who remains the world No.1 after an excellent five days of golf which culminated in beating Gary Woodland 4&2 in the final.

“I rank it just below the majors, just like I did with my victory at Akron last year” – Rory McIlroy

“World Golf Championships are very important to us as players,” said Rory McIlroy.  “They’re a group of events where you get the best group of players in the world. I rank it just below the majors, just like I did with my victory at Akron last year.

“These Wedgewood trophies are nice to look at in your trophy cabinet and it will be going in there right next to the one I won at Bridgestone last year.”

Rory McIlroy had intended to head to Las Vegas on Saturday night for the boxing match between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, but after his quarter-final clash with Paul Casey spilled over into Sunday morning after a winner couldn’t be decided before darkness, there wasn’t enough time for the world No.1 to fly out and he had to make do with watching it back in San Francisco.

He returned to the course after six hours sleep for a 6.45am tee time with an ill Casey before beating him on their first additional hole of the day and then going on to beat Jim Furyk and Woodland, victories McIlroy said required lots of grit and mental toughness.

“You have to dig a little bit deeper,” Rory McIlroy said. “You have to find things from places you don’t know if they’re there or not and I was able to produce a couple of key shots when I needed to this week.”

“As a mental test, I don’t think we face anything tougher. I think we face things just as tough in terms of majors.  The US Open gets really tough and firm and the Masters is always a mental grind every year, but to play seven matches in five days is as tough as it’s going to get for us.

“I feel like every time I get in these positions to win tournaments and close tournaments out and do it, it adds that ability to really knuckle down when I need to.”

And despite a tough week, McIlroy has dismissed any notion of tiredness or fatigue surrounding him as he prepares for the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass this week.

“I don’t feel like there will be any sort of fatigue or tiredness after this week” – Rory McIlroy

“I got to the final of this tournament a couple of years ago in Tucson and then went the next week and won at Honda so I don’t feel like there will be any sort of fatigue or tiredness after this week.

“I’ll take tomorrow off. I might practice a little bit on Tuesday. I’m going to get up to Jacksonville on Wednesday morning and prepare like I normally do there and be ready to go on Thursday.”

Rory McIlroy at the Players :: Your thoughts

Can Rory McIlroy follow up his win a the WGC Match Play with another at the Players? Leave your thoughts in the ‘Comments’ section below.