McIlroy ends year-long winless drought with victory at The Players

Rory McIlroy was indeed building to something — a Players Championship. The Ulsterman poured in four back-nine birdies to best Jim Furyk by one and break his one-year winless drought. Here’s how McIlroy overcame his recent final-round woes to stand triumphant at TPC Sawgrass:

Leaderboard: McIlroy, (-16), Furyk (-15), Eddie Pepperell (-14), Jhonattan Vegas (-14)

What it means: This is McIlroy’s first Players Championship victory, his 15th PGA Tour title, and his first worldwide win in 365 days, since last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational (March 18, 2018). One back to start the day, McIlroy, like many at the top of the board, backed up early, finding the water at the par-4 fourth en route to…