Four-five-four-two-six-one — 4-5-4-2-6-1. That is not a password to open a locker, but the series of finishes Rory McIlroy has had en route to his first PLAYERS title and his 15th PGA tour win.

When he buried that last putt at the TPC Sawgrass for par and sealed a one-shot win over Jim Furyk, there was no big fist pump, a big shout or a jump. It was a muted celebration. It was like this was a different Rory.

What of the 48-year-old Furyk? Till Sunday he was not in the field and got in only after his T-9 finish at the Honda Classic last week. Once he was in, Furyk, who captained the US Ryder Cup team in France last year, was in amazing form, especially on Sunday at a course, which he had said he is not comfortable in.

Going back to McIlroy, what is it that has changed in the game and outside it? “I think, maturity. I think it’s been having a focus over the last six or seven months on my attitude, especially my attitude to golf, and not letting golf define who I am as a person, trying to keep the two things very separate,” he said

“In the past I’d let what I shot that day influence who I was or my mood. To try and keep those two things very separate is something I’ve worked hard on because who I am as a person isn’t who I am as a golfer. It took me a while to realise who those two people were.”

Key moments

He had two key moments, first on 15th as Furyk was surging up. Of his crucial second shot on 15th, he said, “No doubts crept in at all. I was just trying to focus on the next shot, and it was a really tight hole location, so I’m just trying to play the sensible shot, get it beyond the pin a little bit and give myself a putt at it. At that point I wasn’t really thinking about the tournament, I was just thinking about, okay, I’ve put myself out of position on this hole, how can I get myself back into position,” he said. He got to 13 feet and holed the birdie.

Leading by one on 18th tee, he again brought up a bit from the past. He went back to 2008 to explain and said, “It was probably the most difficult shot that I had all day knowing I had a 4 (par) to win. I just picked my target, I stepped up, and I just made a committed swing.

“This goes back to the Hong Kong Open in 2008, and I had a chance to win there, and I was really uncomfortable with the 18th tee shot all week, and on the last hole, it was a 3-wood and I just said to myself, if you make a good swing at this, no matter what happens —- I don’t believe in anything really, but I think like the golf gods will reward you for just making a good committed swing. Any time I have a tough tee shot, I stand up, I pick my target, and I swing as hard as I can.”

The obvious question: Does it make him the favourite for Augusta? “Again, I don’t play golf to answer — I play golf for myself. I play golf because I love the game and I know that I have a talent for it and I want to make the most of it.”

So, how did he arrive at all this perspective bit? Did he do it all by himself? “No, I’ve worked with a couple of people. I’ve read a lot of books. It hasn’t been preached to me. It’s something where it’s been a journey for myself, and I’ve figured it out myself, but I’ve definitely had some people point me in the right direction.”

The direction now is towards Augusta National Golf Club, where the ‘Golfing Gods’ may have decided it is time to get Rory’s Green Jacket done.

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