Recovering Rory McIlroy to make last minute decision over Players Championship

[p]The 36-year-old from Northern Ireland arrived at TPC Sawgrass near Jacksonville on the eve of the event after withdrawing from last week's Arnold Palmer Championship at Bay Hill with only a month until he seeks a repeat crown at the Masters.[/p][p][b]"It's better than it was," [/b][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/mcilroy-rory/djwanksN/"]McIlroy[/a] said. [b]"I hit up until a 6-iron on the range there, and it felt OK.[/b][/p][p][b]"We'll see. I'm taking it sort of hour by hour, but it feels better. I couldn't stand to address the ball on Saturday morning on the range at Bay Hill, and it's obviously better than that.[/b][/p][p][b]"So, yeah, probably a game-time decision, but all indications are pointing in the right direction. So, hopefully, good night tonight, the drugs are working wonders and then just keep it going from there."[/b][/p][embed guid="02bb475a-9ef3-41d4-bed3-0374de0825bc" url="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/2031852781083000874" social-type="twitter" /][p]Second-ranked McIlroy saw a physio in West Palm Beach last Saturday after pulling out at Bay Hill and said he has improved ever since. He plans to test himself with a driver in Thursday's opening round but said he is not in pain.[/p][p][b]"I wouldn't even call it pain. I would say just more like sensitivity," [/b]he said. [b]"Just hitting balls there for a little bit, just feel like my muscles around the area just getting a little bit, like, fatigued. Right adductor started to cramp a little bit. But it's fine. It's expected.[/b][/p][p][b]"I'd like to think that the sensitivity will go down as time goes on."[/b][/p][p]McIlroy, a five-time major winner who completed a career Grand Slam with last year's win at Augusta National, is not worried about adding to his woes by playing this week.[/p][p][b]"What I've been told, obviously I'll listen to the professionals, but there's nothing that I can do that's going to harm that,"[/b] he said. [b]"I don't think it's something where if I play I'm at risk of doing any damage."[/b][/p][embed guid="ad597f29-ba13-48ac-947d-20bc8582dd8c" url="https://x.com/PGATOUR/status/2031837567751241801" social-type="twitter" /][p]PGA Tour chief executive officer Brian Rolapp spoke about planned future tour priorities, including a January to September schedule of 21-26 events, more 120-player events and fewer low-field no-cut tournaments, a marquee opener, more major markets, possible relegation and more playoff drama, possibly including match play.[/p][p][b]"We're aiming to go create a more cohesive schedule with a simpler point system, one where the best players compete against one another more frequently,"[/b] Rolapp said.[/p][p]McIlroy approved of the ideas.[/p][p][b]"It's all pretty positive," [/b]McIlroy said.[b] "I think what he said today, it's obviously a really good direction of where the tour should be going."[/b][/p]