Rory McIlroy signed up with a little history at The PLAYERS Championship Thursday, carding a record-tying 10 birdies throughout a 7-under 65 round.
That puts McIlroy into a tie atop the leaderboard with Xander Schauffele.
After a devastating last round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Northern Irishman invested the last couple of days dealing with his video game.
“It's most likely been among my finest days in a while, which is great,” McIlroy stated.
Those 10 birdies connect the record for a single round at The PLAYERS. It's likewise the most McIlroy has actually made in 641 days, going back to the last round of the 2022 Canadian Open, per the Athletic's Justin Ray.
A variety of other gamers have actually made 10 birdies in a round, with the most current being held by Justin Thomas when he won here in 2021.
Rory McIlroy: 10 birdies, connecting @THEPLAYERS record for a single round and his most in a PGA Tour round in 641 days (last round of 2022 Canadian Open).
McIlroy acquired well over 3 strokes with his technique play today – a plain contrast from his early season battles.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) March 14, 2024
Putting has actually been among his vulnerable points just recently, however he leads the field so far after getting 3.593 strokes on the greens.
His method video game was likewise much enhanced, which is another thing he has actually focused on. The 2019 PLAYERS promote gotten 3.778 strokes in his technique video game– the second-best in the field.
He started his day on the back 9 with 3 straight birdies. The four-time significant winner included 3 more birdies to his scorecard in the next 5 holes before he dropped a chance at the 18th.
McIlroy returned to 6-under on the par-5 2nd after making a tap-in birdie. His 8th circle on the scorecard came at the 4th, with another to follow at 6.
He dropped a shot on 7, where he tape-recorded a double-bogey. That hole consisted of a prolonged conversation in between him, Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland, on where he ought to drop after striking the ball into the water off the tee.
McIlroy went back to 7-under on the 9th when he made that historical 10th birdie from 17 feet.
“It was frustrating not to get that up-and-down on 7, however that's most likely why I provide it a little mini-fist pump on 9 to seem like I got among those shots back,” McIlroy stated.
McIlroy's fist pump states everything. He was delighted with his round regardless of striking into the charge two times. To make 10 birdies on TPC Sawgrass is not a simple accomplishment.
“It would be great to shoot 62 and not have 2 in the water, I think,” McIlroy stated.
The last couple of years have actually seen him have a hard time on Day 1 of this occasion and put him in a hole.
