Rory McIlroy ‘feels good’ as closing birdie raises hope of making cut in Florida

Rory McIlroy birdied his final hole to boost his chances of making the cut at the Players Championship.

The defending champion has been struggling with a back injury and could only manage a two-over par 74 on day one in Sawgrass.

But a birdie on the ninth hole – his last of the day – saw him post a one-under 71 to leave him in with a good chance of returning for the weekend.

He told Sky Sports: “I felt a little bit better. I would say if anything it was just I was struggling to trust everything was OK yesterday.

“I struggled a little bit on lies that were beneath my feet and stuff like that, but today I felt pretty good and felt like I hit the ball well. I really just couldn’t get a putt to drop. That was the issue.

“I tried my best, I grinded and made a good birdie at the last, hopefully to make the cut.

“Game feels good, I just went five or six days without really touching a club or doing anything so just getting my feels back a little.

“Hopefully another couple of days to get myself up the leaderboard. I’m 11 back at the minute, I’m not sure I’m going to contend for the title, but hopefully two good days and have a respectable finish.”

McIlroy had withdrawn from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday before his third round, but having spent some extra time recuperating at home he felt fit to defend his title in Florida.

A birdie at the 9th (his final hole) and Rory looks set for weekend golf