PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- One year ago, on Thursday afternoon at the Players Championship, Rory McIlroy wasn't worried about a virus. He was annoyed.
The defending champion at the PGA Tour's signature event, he had just opened with even-par 72, sat 9 shots behind leader Hideki Matsuyama and was staring at quick turnaround for an early tee time Friday.
His mood was about to get worse when he was tapped on the shoulder by someone carrying a clipboard. He was informed he was going to need to go with them; he had been selected for one of the random drug tests administered at PGA Tour events.