Rory McIlroy made a bit of history at The Players Championship on Thursday with a record-tying 10 birdies in a round of 7-under 65.
This moved McIlroy to the top of the leaderboard alongside Xander Schauffele.
After a disastrous final round at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the Northern Irishman spent the final few days working on his game.
“It was probably one of the best days I’ve had in a while, so I’m happy,” McIlroy said.
Part 10 birdie tie the record ONE ROUND AT THE PLAYERS. According to The Athletic’s Justin Ray, this is also the most McIlroy has achieved in 641 days since the final round of the 2022 Canadian Open.
Only four other players have made 10 birdies in a round, the most recent record being held by Justin Thomas when he won here in 2021.
Rory McIlroy: 10 birdies, tie @player This is a single-round record, and a personal record for the most PGA Tour rounds in 641 days (last round of the 2022 Canadian Open).
McIlroy improved his three-hit game with his approach play today, a stark contrast to his struggles earlier in the season.
— Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) March 14, 2024
Putting has been one of his weaknesses lately, but he’s been at the top so far with a 3.593 on the green.
His approach game has also improved significantly, which is another priority for him. The 2019 PLAYERS Champion’s approach game earned him a 3.778 stroke, marking his second-best stroke in the field.
He started the day with three straight birdies on the back nine. The four-time major champion added three more birdies to his scorecard over the next five holes before dropping a shot on the 18th.
McIlroy made a tap-in birdie on the second par-5 hole to get back to 6 under. His eighth circle on the scorecard was fourth, followed by another sixth circle.
He dropped a shot on the 7th hole and recorded a double bogey. On that hole, there was a long discussion between Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland about where the ball should land after hitting it in the water off the tee.
McIlroy made his historic 10th birdie from 17 feet on the ninth to get back to 7 under.
“It was disappointing not to be able to get it up and down on No. 7, but I guess that’s why I did a little fist pump on No. 9 and felt like I got that one shot back,” McIlroy said. .
McIlroy’s fist pump says it all. Despite hitting penalties twice, he was excited about the round. Making 10 birdies at TPC Sawgrass is no easy task.
“It would be good to shoot 62 and not have two in the water,” McIlroy said.
In recent years, he has struggled on the first day of this event and fallen into a hole. McIlroy doesn’t have to do that this week.
“Going back to what I didn’t really expect today, because I was like, ‘Well, I’m feeling good on the practice field, I’m feeling good in practice, but let’s see what happens when I get the card.’ ,”’ he said. “There’s something to be said for that: temper your expectations a little bit and get out there and see what happens.”
McIlroy will look to build on that 65-game streak when he tees off alongside Hovland and Spieth on Friday at 1:40 p.m. ET.
Savannah Lee Richardson is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.If you want to know more about golf, please follow us. @_PlayingThrough On all major social platforms. You can also follow her on Twitter @SportsGirls and Instagram @savannah_leigh_sports.
