He again had the honor, and finding the surface on this treacherous island green would put enormous pressure on his opponent’s shoulders. So McIlroy went to his go-to shot. He hit a flighted three-quarter 9-iron,

It’s the first time in his career he has won twice going into the Masters, the major that for more than a decade has kept him from joining golf’s most elite group with the career Grand Slam.

His peers had long faded away. There Rory McIlroy stood beside a likeable but unfamiliar journeyman on a chilly, windy Monday morning playoff with a chance to make a statement. He’d already hit his tee shot onto TPC Sawgrass’ famous 17th island green,