Player Championships 2019: Rory McIlroy keeps Jim Furyk at bay in Sawgrass

Rory McIlroy is the second Brit to win the Players Championship, after Sandy Lyle in 1987

Rory McIlroy won the Players Championship and defeated Jim Furyk with one shot after an exciting final round in Sawgrass.

The Northern Irish double under 70 gave him the win over 16 under.

It is his first victory in a year and prepares him for an attempt in the career of Grand Slam at the Masters next month.

"I feel like I am playing one of the best waves of my life right now and I just have to keep doing the same things," he told Sky Sports.

"If I hadn't won today I would have said I wouldn't need to go to Augusta, but it's nice to win for a course that looks like Augusta in a few weeks."

McIlroy, 29, won the US Open in 2011, US PGA Championship in 2012 and 2014 and The Open in 2014 but still has to win the Masters, which starts on April 11.

He finished in the top zi x of all his tournaments in 2019.

The player championship is unofficially known as the & # 39; fifth major & # 39; and is the most prestigious of the regular PGA Tour events.

The English Eddie Pepperell ended two trailing McIlroy after a 66.

Pepperell broke a 50-foot putt on the 17th to shortly close McIlroy in a tie before the quadruple. great champion on 15 and 16th fell free with birdies

& # 39; night leader Jon Rahm fell away in the final stages and finished 11 under after a 76 while Tommy Fleetwood struggled for a 73.

More to follow.