Rory McIlroy encouraged by improved putting ahead of Players Championship

Rory McIlroy, pictured, will partner Xander Schauffele and Scottie Scheffler in the first two rounds at Sawgrass (Chris O’Meara/AP) - (AP)

Rory McIlroy will take the positives from an improved putting performance into the Players Championship as he seeks a second victory at Sawgrass.

McIlroy, who won golf’s unofficial ‘fifth major’ in 2019, began his PGA Tour campaign with victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, but was unable to mount a serious title challenge in each of his subsequent starts.