What we learned at the Players Championship and what it means for the rest of the season

For the sixth year in a row, the Players Championship has produced a winner who has been among the top 10 in the world rankings.

The PGA Tour's premier event delivered a compelling finish once again -- this time with Rory McIlroy beating out J.J. Spaun in a three-hole playoff Monday -- and has set up the remainder of the golf season with plenty of intriguing storylines as the Masters and the rest of the major championships loom.

Here are four takeaways from this year's Players Championship.

McIlroy's hot start bodes well for Augusta and beyond