McIlroy raises the bar on St Patrick's Day

RORY'S IN 'BEST SHAPE' FOR MASTERS

- Neil McLeman

RORY McILROY celebrated St Patrick’s Day by winning the Players Championship for a second time - then insisted he is a better player than ever ahead of his latest bid to claim a Green Jacket.

The Northern Irishman returned to Sawgrass yesterday to beat JJ Spaun in a three-hole play-off and bank the $4.5million first prize.

He now has 28 PGA Tour titles but this is the first time Mcllroy, who also won at Pebble Beach last month, has won two in the build-up to The Masters.

Ahead of his 11th attempt to complete his career Grand Slam at Augusta next month, the world No.2 revealed he had been inspired to raise his game by defending Masters champion Scottie Scheffler, above.