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MIAMI. — Rory McIlroy celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day with a one-shot victory at The Players Championship on Sunday, firing a two-under-par final round 70 to claim his first golf title of 2019.

The 29-year-old Northern Irishman overcame a shaky start at TPC Sawgrass to card six birdies against two bogeys and a double-bogey to finish one clear of US veteran Jim Furyk on 16 under.

Furyk had surged into contention with a closing 67, a round which included an eagle, five birdies and two bogeys on the challenging Stadium Course layout.

The win earned McIlroy a $2.25 million winner’s cheque and could not have been better timed as he prepares for The Masters at Augusta next month where he is aiming to complete a career Grand Slam.

It was another battling performance by McIlroy, who was able to regain his composure at several key moments on Sunday to stay in the hunt.

A bogey on the 14th had dropped McIlroy adrift of the lead, but he fought back with birdies on the 15th and 16th to regain a one-shot lead with two to play.

The 29-year-old four-time major winner then finished with two pars to close out and seal his 15th US PGA Tour title.

McIlroy said his experience on the tour this year – where he has posted five top-10 finishes but has been unable to get over the line.

The win also comes after several near-misses for McIlroy, who has posted top-10 finishes in his five previous starts in 2019.

“I think all those experiences I had starting the year helped,” McIlroy said after his win.

“I felt more and more confident each time. I just stayed as patient as I possibly could.

“I hoped that if I just stayed patient enough and waited my turn things would work out and I’m glad they have.”

Furyk meanwhile had faced an agonising wait to see if he had done enough for victory after completing his five-under-par round.

The 48-year-old US Ryder Cup captain produced two birdies in his final three holes to close on 15 under.

The highlight was a magnificent birdie on the 18th, when he drilled his second from the fairway 172 yards to within three feet of the pin for a simple tap-in. — AFP.