RORY MCILROY BATTLED through injury to move to one-under overall at the Players Championship earlier, as he carded a one-under 71 in the third round.
The 28-year-old four-time major winner is suffering from a back injury, but made a strong start to the day at Sawgrass. He failed to follow-up as well following his birdie on the first hole though, with pars on the next three and then he bogeyed on the fifth.
McIlroy’s second birdie came on the ninth, but after four pars, he finished the day with two bogeys and two birdies.
The world number two now sits in 20th position, while US pair JB Holmes and Kyle Stanley lead.
“I’ve always felt it handcuffs players a little bit,” McIlroy said of the course. “It dictates to you, you can’t really dictate how you play it and the course sort of makes the decision for you, I guess.
“But I’ve learned that over the last few years. I tried to overpower this golf course the first few times I played it and that didn’t work so well. But I’m here talking to you on a Saturday, so that’s a positive.”
In other news, Graeme McDowell had a day he’d rather put behind him as his third round seriously set him back.
He hit three birdies over the duration of the day. Two bogeys on the front nine holes, proceeded by another on the 14th and a double bogey towards the end of the day, left him with a disappointing finish — two-over par on 74.
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