If you watched how Rory McIlroy birdied the 18th hole on Thursday at The Players, you will likely remember his closing three for quite some time. After missing the short grass again off the tee, McIlroy’s ball settled down in the pine straw to the right of the fairway.

McIlroy had seven birdies in Thursday's opening round even though he hit only four of 14 fairways on the Stadium Course.

Rory McIlroy was in trouble after his tee shot on 18 in Round 1 of The Players Championship, so he had to punch out. Punch out, he did: to 8 feet for an eventual birdie.