Rory McIlroy grinds it out to make cut at the Players Championship

PONTE VEDRA, Fla.— Rory McIlroy, bad back, questionable form and all, survived to play the weekend in the Players Championship on Friday.McIlroy, who was a question mark to even play at TPC Sawgrass this week after he was forced to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational with a back injury last Saturday, birdied his final hole on Friday to secure a tee time in Saturday’s third round.His birdie 4 on the par-5 9th hole, his last of the day, got him to 1-over par and safely inside the cutline.“I’m happy to be here for the weekend,’’ McIlroy said.

“I’m happy to get two more runs at it.It would have sucked to be going home this afternoon, so to hang around and play two more days, that’s a win.’’McIlroy said NBC on-course announcer Jim “Bones’’ Mackay asked him as they walked down the ninth fairway what his playing plans were before the Masters.“I said, ‘Bones, I’ll tell you after this hole; there’s a lot riding on this golf hole,’ ’’ McIlroy said.

“Obviously, I wanted to make the cut, of course.Of course, you want to be here for the weekend.’’He said a missed cut “does wound your pride.’’McIlroy also revealed that, had he missed the cut, he would have added a tournament to his schedule before the Masters.For the second consecutive day, Jordan Spieth had it going.

And for the second consecutive round, he threw away valuable strokes on his final hole.On Friday, he shot 3-under on his first nine holes and got to 5-under for the tournament, in contention.Then he took a double bogey 7 on his final hole, No.

9.It was the second consecutive day he doubled his last hole.On Thursday, he hit his tee shot into the water on 18 and took double.“It was just a bummer, both days to finish with doubles,’’ he said.

“I just played better than that.I’ve been playing really well.’’A reporter then asked Spieth if he’ll think mostly about the good things he did in the round instead of the finish.

“Never,’’ S...