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For the second time in his illustrious career, Rory McIlroy is a Players champion. To get that win, though, the Northern Irishman had to outlast J.J. Spaun in a playoff. Much of the week at TPC Sawgrass was highlighted by whipping winds. For the Monday playoff, those gusts were kicked up a notch.
Swirling winds often give golfers fits. And when you add in the diabolical obstacles dreamed up by Pete Dye, navigating the course becomes similar to a tightrope act.
Of the two playoff contenders on Monday morning, McIlroy proved to be more adept at handling the wind. And that can be partially attributed to how he prepared for the playoff on the range prior to the round.
Rory’s unorthodox range prep
One of the benefits of a Monday finish is that the course is largely empty. Sure, there are a handful of fans and other support staff, but compared to that of Sunday’s final round, the grounds feel like a ghost town.
That emptiness extends to the practice facilities. And in preparation for going to battle with the elements, McIlroy took advantage of having the range to himself.
Without other players, caddies and support staff on the range, McIlroy decided to get a little creative with his warm-up routine. Knowing that the wind would be coming from different directions on the course, he decided to simulate those situations on the range by hitting balls in all different directions.
“It’s hard to obviously get both winds when you’re warming up,” McIlroy said. “Seeing there was no one around this morning, it was nice to be able to just turn around and hit those shots in the wind I felt like there was going to be.”
The clever preparations seem to have paid off, as the 35-year-old pro dominated the playoff as he navigated the elements to perfection. Now, he can call himself a two-time Players champion.
