Northern Irish professional golfer Rory McIlroy, the former world number one in the Official World Golf Ranking, jointly won the Players Championship with American professional golfer J.J Spaun.

Q. You couldn’t have asked for two better starts and then even the restart today. What about the finish kept you from pulling away in this one?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I just said to Smylie there, I felt like it got a little dark with a couple of holes to go. I hit two great shots into 15. I didn’t convert. Hit a good putt. It looked like it was going to go left to right to me, and it didn’t.

Then on 16, as well, same sort of thing, sort of struggled to read it. It was getting a little darker.

But played the last couple of holes well. Made three good swings, didn’t quite get it up the tier on 18, but a good two-putt, and I feel like I had a chance to go home with the trophy tonight.

But I’ll get a good night’s sleep and reset and try to win it tomorrow.

Q. You know what the holes will look like tomorrow at 9:00 a.m. What do you want to do differently to get it done?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, I think it’s important to hit the 16th fairway and get off to a good start there and then just go from there. You’ve got to make five good swings. That’s all it is. So try to get up there, make five good swings tomorrow morning and get this thing done.

Q. What’s it like sleeping on a three-hole playoff and preparing for that?

RORY McILROY: I’ve never experienced it before. I don’t quite know. But yeah, it’s going to be cool to be a part of.

I guess it’s very much just a three-hole match play scenario. That’s all it is. Just try to prepare as best I can tomorrow morning. Get a good night’s sleep. It’s been a very long day for all of us. Yeah, and just try to be as prepared as possible for tomorrow.

Q. Were you more energized by the fact that you made the comeback and got into a playoff, or is it more a little bit disappointing that you didn’t win?

RORY McILROY: It’s a little bit of both. I’m happy to be in the position that I am, but also I feel like I had chances there on the back nine to close the door, and I didn’t quite do that. A little bit of both. But I’m excited for the opportunity tomorrow.

Q. The putt on 18, it seems like you kind of gave it a second look after you picked the ball up —

RORY McILROY: Yeah, if anything I thought I hit it dead straight and pretty firm, thinking, if anything, it would go a touch left and it actually went a touch right. I think as the light was fading, I just was struggling to read them a little bit.

Q. What was it like waiting to go back out there after the weather delay?

RORY McILROY: It’s good. I watched a Man United win for a change, so that was good. But apart from that, it was just hanging around the locker room and just waiting for the call to go back out there.

Q. How much does experience matter in a morning like tomorrow?

RORY McILROY: I’d like to think that I can fall back on my experience and maybe have a little bit more than J.J., but then at the same time, tomorrow is all just about execution and getting up there and, as I said, making five good swings.

Q. Are you glad you get to sleep on it rather than go back out right now after the way things finished for you?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, it’s a good reset, for sure. Yeah, it looks like it’ll be a beautiful morning tomorrow, so I’m excited for that.

Q. The fans were pretty overwhelmingly behind you. Is it ever a challenge to tune out some of the obnoxious things that get shouted out?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, absolutely, but I think when you’re in business-mode you’re just trying to keep your head down and stay in your own little world for the most part.

Q. Would you walk us through your shot on 6?

RORY McILROY: Yeah, the wind was sort of helping me. It was in off the left. Feels like it was two days ago at this point. Yeah, it was a really cool shot. I knew — I have no problem getting a lot of cut spin on it when I need to. It was a cool shot. I actually didn’t think I was going to be able to finish it right of the pin. Yeah, it was a good one.

Q. This is a place where you missed the first three cuts. What has changed for you to flip the script here?

RORY McILROY: It’s went back to March. I didn’t really enjoy this place in May too much, and since it’s gone back to March — I’m a way more complete player than I was back in 2009, 2010. I manage my game so much better. I have way more shots. I’m better around the greens. I’m a better overall golfer.