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Rory McIlroy is unquestionably the most on-form player in the world right now.

Just look at his results on the PGA Tour this season: 3rd, 1st, T-3rd, T-5th, 5th, T-5th.

It’s not for nothing that he’s the current world No.1 

So, if anybody is perfectly placed to make history at The PLAYERS Championship this week, it’s him.

That’s precisely what the 30-year-old will do if he successfully defends the title he won last year.

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Nobody in the 47-year history of The PLAYERS has won the event in back-to-back years.

Not Jack, not Tiger, not Phil. Nobody.

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In actual fact, only six players have won the TPC Sawgrass event more than once.

So, there’s a lot more at stake this week than a record prize fund of $15m – and that’s something that Rory is acutely aware of.

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“I don’t think you ever need an extra motivation when you come to this golf tournament but to be the first one to defend here would be very cool,” he said.

“This course can play so differently day-to-day, depending on wind direction, conditions. You know, it is such a cliché here, but it really doesn’t suit any one style of play or any one type of player.

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“I’m sure there have been people in the past that have had opportunities to maybe defend and finished well up there, but I don’t know, I’d love to give myself a chance.

“If I can keep playing the way I’ve been playing and get myself into contention on Sunday, it would be something extra to play for, which would be pretty cool.”


author headshot

Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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