Rory McIlroy outlines Masters plan after victory at TPC Sawgrass

Rory McIlroy says he plans to double down on the work he's doing with his psychologist ahead of The Masters after triumphing at the 2025 Players Championship. 

McIlroy won the PGA Tour's flagship event for the second time in his career with a dramatic playoff victory over American J.J. Spaun on Monday. 

Both players returned to TPC Sawgrass this morning after a four-hour storm delay forced the tournament into a fifth day. 

McIlroy dominated the playoff to land his 28th PGA Tour title and will now focus all of his energy on ending his major championship drought at Augusta National.

"I think just double down on what I'm doing," McIlroy told reporters when asked what he will be doing over the next few weeks before flying to Georgia. 

"Double down on the work that I've been doing at home. Double down on the conversations I've been having with Bob Rotella, all that sort of stuff. It's just continuing to do the same things."

He added: "I'm feeling really comfortable, as I said, with how I'm flighting my ball in the wind. 

"I feel like I'm always trying to refine what I have. I'm certainly a proponent of if it's not broken don't try to fix it. 

"Everything feels like it's in good working order at the minute.

"Yeah, as I said, just keep practicing and doing the right things and practicing the right habits, and day after day, week after week, they all add up to days like today."

Rory McIlroy dominates playoff

McIlroy struck first in the playoff over Spaun. 

He split the fairway with his opening drive at the par-5 16th and walked off the hole with a birdie after finding the putting surface in two strokes.

Spaun's approach briefly flirted with the water but could only manage a par. 

McIlroy had no trouble finding the green with his tee shot at par-3 17th but Spaun watched in horror as his golf ball sailed into the water.

He later insisted that he had no regrets over choosing to hit an 8-iron even though McIlroy opted for one less club. 

It led to a triple bogey six for the American and, even though McIlroy took three putts, he had a three-shot lead going down the last.

Both players hit wayward tee shots on the 18th and were forced to lay up from the pine straw.

But McIlroy's advantage was so great that his tap-in for bogey was enough to secure his second Players Championship title. 

McIlroy last won here in 2019.

Rory McIlroy will play one more PGA Tour event before 2025 Masters

McIlroy has openly spoken about reducing his playing schedule this year.

He has now confirmed that he will play either the Valero Texas Open or the Texas Children's Houston Open.

McIlroy said playing three weeks in a row before the trip to Augusta would be too much. 

"I'll play one of the events in Texas," he said. 

The 2025 Masters begins on 10 April.