‘It would have sucked to be going home this afternoon’: Rory McIlroy makes Players cut

The change in body language told its own story, as a broad grin on Rory McIlroy’s face – accompanied by a firm, holding handshake grip to his caddie Harry Diamond – after a closing birdie to his second round guaranteed the Northern Irishman’s defence of The Players would extend into the weekend at TPC Sawgrass. Sometimes, the small victories are as important as the big ones. And for McIlroy, who arrived late to the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament following days of treatment on a “stubborn” lower back muscle injury, a second...