Rory McIlroy wants to ‘get back to being a golfer’ after missing Sawgrass cut

• McIlroy admits fatigue after early Players Championship exit
• Scottie Scheffler will take two-shot lead into final round

TPC Sawgrass is such a capricious beast that the drawing of firm conclusions from Players Championship outcomes can be unwise. Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson have won here. So too have Craig Perks and Stephen Ames. Golfers enjoy the razzle-dazzle and riches associated with the PGA Tour's marquee event but not many laud its venue.

Rory McIlroy required fireworks upon return to Sawgrass on Saturday morning which duly did not appear. Playing the closing eight holes in one under par - storms had halted play late on Friday afternoon - was not sufficient to survive the cut. The Northern Irishman's plus five aggregate meant he played just 36 holes in his final stroke play event before the Masters.