Rory McIlroy wins the Players Championship and is now Masters favourite

Rory McIlroy is the bookies’ favourite to win next month’s Masters Tournament after sealing The Players Championship by one shot on Sunday.

Northern Irishman McIlroy beat 48-year-old American Jim Furyk to the Players title after a “thrilling final round” at Sawgrass, the BBC reports.

The 29-year-old hit a two-under-par 70 in the final round at the Players to finish on -16, one shot clear of Furyk who ended on -15.

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After his first victory since last year’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, Sky Sports reports that McIlroy has now set his sights on the Masters in April.

Should he win at Augusta it would complete a career grand slam of majors following his previous wins at the US Open (2011), The Open (2014) and the PGA Championship (2012 and 2014).

Speaking to Sky Sports at Sawgrass, McIlroy said: “Very proud, very honoured to be able to call myself a Players champion, a tournament I haven’t won before, so great to obviously add to the CV.

“If I hadn’t have won, I would have said I don’t need a win going into Augusta, but it’s very nice to get a win, especially doing it on this golf course. Honestly a golf course that will play a little bit similar to the way Augusta will play in a few weeks’ time.

“So I can take a lot from this. It’s taken me a few weeks to get to this point but I’m playing some of the best golf of my life right now and I just need to keep going with it and keep doing the same things.”

Masters betting odds

The 2019 Masters Tournament, the first golf major of the season, will be held at the Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA, from 11-14 April.

McIlroy is the current bookies’ favourite while Dustin Johnson, Justin Rose and Justin Thomas are also tipped to contend. Prices below as of 18 March.

Paddy Power

• Rory McIlroy: 7/1
• Dustin Johnson: 10/1
• Justin Rose: 12/1
• Justin Thomas: 14/1
• Tiger Woods: 12/1
• Bryson Dechambeau: 16/1

Sky Bet

• Rory McIlroy: 8/1
• Dustin Johnson: 10/1
• Justin Rose: 12/1
• Justin Thomas: 14/1
• Tiger Woods: 14/1
• Jon Rahm: 16/1
• Brooks Koepka: 20/1
• Rickie Fowler: 20/1

Oddschecker

• Rory McIlroy: 8/1
• Dustin Johnson: 10/1
• Justin Rose: 14/1
• Tiger Woods: 16/1
• Jon Rahm: 18/1
• Justin Thomas: 18/1
• Brooks Koepka: 20/1
• Jordan Spieth: 22/1