Rory McIlroy defeated JJ Spaun in a playoff to win the 2025 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Monday.
The Northern Irishman claimed his second Players title after finishing the three extra holes comfortably ahead on one-over par - a victory which was greatly aided by Spaun's mistake at the famous par-3 17th.
With McIlroy already holding a slender advantage following a birdie at the par-5 16th, the four-time Major winner found the centre of the island green and watched on as Spaun whipped his tee shot into the water over the back of the 130-yard hole.
Despite making bogey on the 17th himself, the World No.2 walked over to the final hole with his one-stroke lead having turned into a three-shot cushion as a result of Spaun's six.
A relatively stress-free 18th followed as McIlroy was able to play ultra-conservative on his way to carding a five which was more than enough to seal victory.
The 35-year-old's latest Players triumph made him the first European to hold multiple titles and marked the first time in McIlroy's career that he was won twice in America before The Masters.
Reacting to the manner of his 28th PGA Tour title, McIlroy said: "I left here a little disappointed last night that I didn't get it done in regulation. I reset, and I needed to go out and play some good golf today.
"It started with a great drive on 16 which set me up for an easy birdie. Then a great swing into 17, and those three swings were basically what decided the championship.
"I feel for J.J. - he's had a great week. To have it end that way for him was hard to see. But he's playing great, and I'm sure he's got some really good things coming up."
Meanwhile, a beaten Spaun was still proud of his week's work despite being unable to add onto his lone PGA Tour title.
He said: "It's hard to not feel discouraged a little bit, but nothing but positives in putting myself in contention and giving myself a chance to win in a playoff.
"If someone told me that would happen to start the week, I would totally take it. Nothing but positives to take from it, and hopefully I can just learn from this and get it done next time."
The American held the 54-hole lead by one stroke before Sunday's weather-affected final round took place but, at one stage, found himself three shots back with only a handful of holes to play.
Refusing to be swatted away, Spaun battled back and could have won The Players on the 72nd hole - only to see his 31-foot birdie attempt slam the brakes on inches from the hole.
In the end, only the sixth playoff in Players history was required to separate the pair before McIlroy reiterated his status as one of the game's best by hitting the front early and never looking back.
The Northern Irishman's latest success - his third on St Patrick's Day - earned him $4.5 million and took him past Phil Mickelson on the PGA Tour's all-time money list, just shy of the $100 million mark.
PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYOFF SCORES
PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP LEADERBOARD
- -12 Rory McIlroy (68)
- -12 J.J. Spaun (72)
- -10 Akshay Bhatia (70)
- -10 Tom Hoge (66)
- -10 Lucas Glover (71)
- -9 Danny Walker (70)
- -9 Corey Conners (71)
- -9 Bud Cauley (74)
- -8 Robert MacIntyre (69)
- -7 Davis Thompson (70)
- -7 Collin Morikawa (69)
- -6 Patrick Cantlay (73)
- -6 Jake Knapp (73)
- -5 Aaron Rai (69)
- -5 Tommy Fleetwood (71)
- -5 Denny McCarthy (71)
- -5 Sam Ryder (72)
- -5 Sepp Straka (74)
- -5 Alex Smalley (76)
PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP QUICK LINKS
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Updates From...
WELCOME
Hello and welcome to Golf Monthly's coverage of The Players Championship final round at TPC Sawgrass' Stadium Course. With some bad weather expected later in the day, tee times have been moved up and bunched together in an attempt to try and finish this prestigious event today.
JJ Spaun begins shortly with a one-stroke lead over Bud Cauley and a handful more over the likes of Lucas Glover, Alex Smalley and Rory McIlroy as he looks for the biggest title of his fascinating career. If there is one positive for Spaun to lean on, it's that his caddie Mark Carens has won this prize before with Si Woo Kim, so he will have the perfect assistant.
Collin Morikawa is the early mover so far - he's three-under through five holes and into the top-10. Otherwise, most of the earlier starters have remained at around level par. The biggest faller so far has been Jordan Spieth. The three-time Major winner is five-over through seven holes and going in the wrong direction quickly.
Stay with us for the next several hours as we bring you all of the key action from The Players Championship as it happens. Thanks for tuning in!
PENULTIMATE TRIO UNDERWAY
Alex Smalley, Corey Conners and Rory McIlroy are in the second-to-last group off the first today - each hoping to chase down Spaun at the top by putting the pressure on one hole ahead. Smalley makes the best start as he finds the centre cut while Conners booms one right into the pine needles and McIlroy looks to have an awkward stance in the right-hand rough.
McIlroy's one and only Players Championship title so far arrived in 2019. He could add to it today but will need to find more fairways than he has been doing so far this week.
BIRDIE CHANCE FOR MCILROY
Conners recovers pretty well out of the pine straw, although he did have a good break via a clear view of the green. The Canadian fires a low one down the fairway and out to the back of the green.
Following up quickly, McIlroy shows his supreme skill by flicking his ball out of the rough and leaving himself an eight-to-10-foot birdie putt. Smalley does similar from the fairway but on the other side of the hole.
Elsewhere, Akshay Bhatia is up to T3rd thanks to a birdie on the first moments earlier.
MCILROY MAKES EARLY MOVE
The four-time Major winner starts as he means to go on, sinking his first chance at birdie via a gentle right-to-left effort. McIlroy is up to nine-under and now only three back. Smalley follows him in before Conners does well to escape with a par.
FINAL GROUP UNDERWAY
Per the TV broadcast, the last nine players to lead by one stroke overnight at this event have failed to go on and win. Spaun makes the ideal start in changing that by finding the centre of the fairway on one, as does Glover.
Meanwhile, Cauley absolutely thumps a driver a considerable way down there, 340 yards. None of the three are particularly close with their approach shots, though, with Cauley going slightly long from 45 yards after watching Glover and Spaun's shots spin back down the green.
BHATIA GOES BIRDIE-BIRDIE
The wiry left-hander is up to -10 after making gains at both of the first two holes. His most recent was from a good 15 to 20 feet on the par-5 second, but that broom-handle putter works wonders once more for Bhatia.
Stephan Jaeger joins Bhatia with a birdie of his own on the same hole. The German isn't out of it, either.
STEADY START FOR SPAUN
Spaun holds his nerve well to sink a tricky six-foot par save at the first. The American puffs his cheeks out as he walks away. He's feeling it. Glover also makes par, so nothing doing for the final group at the first.
Up ahead, McIlroy chokes down on a long iron and rifles one into the second. That will be a very good chance for eagle.
MCILROY MAKES EAGLE
Here we go! McIlroy only had 12 feet or so down the hill at the par-5 second, but he confidently prodded it down towards the hole before watching the ball drop. The Northern Irishman is just one shot back now after going three-three through the first couple.
FIELD IS BUNCHING
Spaun bumps his way down the par-5 second but cannot land a birdie putt and walks off with his lead just one after McIlroy gained three strokes over the same stretch.
Bhatia and Patrick Cantlay are both two-under for the day and at -10 and -9, respectively to remain in touch.
Going in the opposite direction, Lucas Glover made a real mess of the second and walks away with a bogey. He's back to eight-under now.
Up ahead, McIlroy misses the green at the 180-yard par-3 third but putts up to a couple of feet and tidies up easily. The leaders are now on the third, where the flag is tucked away on the very left edge. There are some brutal pin locations in play today.
HOMETOWN KID PUTTING ON A SHOW
Away from the leaders, although not miles away, Danny Walker makes a brilliant bogey at the par-4 fourth to drop back to seven-under (T10th) after dunking his first approach in the water.
Walker, who lives in Jacksonville after moving from his hometown of Bradenton, was the final man in the field on Thursday morning after Jason Day pulled out due to illness and has made the most of his opportunity. After making the cut by one, Walker is now inside the top-10 and capable of having a say at TPC Sawgrass.
BHATIA ON THE CHARGE
Bhatia makes yet another excellent putt to add another birdie onto his scorecard. The left-hander is three-under through four holes and bubbling away nicely.
Just behind on the same par-4 fourth, McIlroy finds himself out of position in the left rough but recovers nicely enough. He'll try to get up and down from a small collection area just off the green.
Meanwhile, Spaun is scrambling well to start but isn't finding many birdie chances. In the same group, Cauley - who needs a top-5 to retain his playing rights in the long term - drops a shot after getting too greedy with his long-range birdie chance.
Climbing back 👀@AkshayBhatia_1 is 3-under thru 4 and just one back.📺 Golf Channel pic.twitter.com/WxsCFqdgoFMarch 16, 2025
TESTING STRETCH
Bhatia almost adds a fourth birdie through the first five holes, but his attempt comes up inches short on the par-4 fifth. Back on the tee, McIlroy fires his drive towards one of the bunkers protecting the fairway from the water. This is a tough stretch of holes coming up, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see some of the leaders slip up somewhat.
At the par-4 fourth, Cauley's drive went about 190 yards and ended in the very last few blades of rough before the water, so he was forced to wedge back out on the fairway. Nevertheless, a superb third has left the American with a chance of escaping with a par.
Cauley comes up out of his stance on the par putt right away, though. He pulled it left off the blade and that will be a bogey. He's going backwards so quickly.
SPAUN HANGING ON
The leader isn't playing lights out, but he's doing enough so far. His putting has been pretty nifty to this point. Faced with a short par save at the fourth, Spaun sent his putt right at the left edge of the hole and saw it just drop in after going on a tour of the hole's back edge.
A hole in front and dealing with an awkward stance, McIlroy plays a brilliant wedge shot out of the rough and onto the green. The birdie putt was 15 feet or more and down the hill, so the result wasn't too bad in the end, coming up just short and to the left. This part of the course is about surviving rather than thriving, and McIlroy is comfortably making his way through it so far.
RAIN HAS STARTED
As McIlroy reaches the sixth - the hole with the overhanging tree - the rain begins to fall. This wasn't due to arrive until much later in the day. Hopefully, it doesn't last too long.
Returning to the golf, the Northern Irishman makes a mess of his tee shot under the branch, pushing an iron right into the trees and pine needles from which said tree originally sat.
KEEGAN BRADLEY ACE
A little way ahead, Keegan Bradley makes an ace at the par-3 13th! Team USA's Ryder Cup captain shows his players exactly how to do it by landing his tee shot hole high and watching it spin back to the left before dropping in. What a moment!
KEEGAN BRADLEY ACE!!! pic.twitter.com/Ul1AyOoMCMMarch 16, 2025
THREE-WAY TIE AT THE TOP
J.J. Spaun's luck with the putter runs out at the par-4 fifth. The overnight leader gave himself a really tough birdie opportunity and couldn't leave a tap-in par over an awkward knuckle on the left side. Spaun's par attempt drifted just right of the hole and means he's now in a three-way tie at the top.
MCILROY AVOIDS TROUBLE
After that poor tee shot, McIlroy drills a stinger up to the edge of the green to give himself an outside look at birdie. The 2019 Players champion can't make it, though, despite a strong run at the hole and he'll have to make do with par.
Just in front, Bhatia has given himself another good look at birdie on the seventh. But no. Bhatia pulls the putt and it barely stays above ground. He tapped down at the ground in a frustrated manner afterwards, but it really didn't look like the fault of the green from the TV broadcast...
TROUBLE CHASING RORY
After avoiding a bogey last time out, it seems like trouble is going to catch up with the 35-year-old at the seventh. A prime drive down the middle found the edge of a sanded divot, and McIlroy's next shot curved gently left into a greenside bunker. But with the ball below his feet and nothing to work with in terms of putting surface, McIlroy caught his ball too thin and watched it skip into the rough on the far side. Par from here would feel significant.
Elsewhere, Collin Morikawa is back to eight-under for the tournament after making three at the par-4 12th. He's got the friendly par-3 13th to come.
SPAUN BACK IN FRONT
McIlroy jabs his ball down the slope to the hole's edge and escapes with a decent bogey in the end. A hole behind, Spaun continues his tidy day with another safe par. That par may prove crucial in the end, but it has certainly changed things for the time being anyway.
On the par-3 eighth hole, Bhatia finds the sand on the left edge of the green. From there, he was far too aggressive with his bunker shot and pays the price via a two-putt bogey. Ultimately, it's as you were at the start of Sunday and Spaun is back in front by one.
WHAT A RESPONSE
McIlroy puts that disappointing bogey behind him quickly via a little bit of luck and a superb putt on the par-3 eighth. His tee shot bounced off the back of a green-side bunker and rolled out to 15 feet. From there, McIlroy rolled in a perfectly-judged putt down the hill which found the right edge of the hole. Spaun has company at the top once again.
SPAUN SCRAMBLING
A hole that McIlroy has just birdied looks as though it is going to present Spaun with a bogey. His tee shot on the par-3 sailed into the right rough, and the recovery shot is still some 15 feet away. If Spaun is going to win the Players and not allow McIlroy to run away with it, the American is really going to need to make this putt.
MCILROY JOINED BY BHATIA AT THE TOP
Spaun gives it a great chance, but the ball just tails away short of the hole and leaves him with a bogey.
Meanwhile, Bhatia - who has been sublime with the putter so far today - grabs his fifth birdie of the day at nine. McIlroy and Bhatia are neck and neck once more.
POWER BALL
With 299 yards to the flag on nine, McIlroy cracks a 5-wood to about hole high. The ball bounces out the back and lands in a collection area, but it's not the toughest chip coming back. Should he get up and down, McIlroy might well hold the outright lead with just nine holes to play...
TWO TIED WITH NINE TO PLAY
McIlroy's chip was stunned into the bank before skipping out to 12 feet. He was nice and positive with the stroke, but it was just a shade off line to the left and McIlroy must settle for par.
In the group behind, Spaun thumped a long iron into the rough short and right of the green from 276 yards. When the ball hit the ground, it did not re-appear for long, so this could be a nasty one for the overnight leader who now trails by one.
BHATIA STUMBLES ON 10
The left-handed co-leader attempts a really strange wedge shot into the 10th and shoves it into the rough short and left. From there, he can only push it out to 15 feet past the flag. The par attempt was woefully under-hit, but thankfully Bhatia can tidy up for par from four feet.
FINAL GROUP OFF THE MARK
Having reached the ninth hole without a birdie or better, Bud Cauley is the man to snap that streak via a long-range putt from the back of the green. Moments later, Spaun follows him in and returns to 11-under as a result.
McIlroy - who pars the 10th - and Spaun co-lead now as local man, Danny Walker reaches nine-under. A reminder, in case you hadn't seen, Walker wasn't even in the field until about 7am on Thursday morning...
SPAUN IN PRIME POSITION
Golf is easy, apparently. Even with $4.5 million on the line. Spaun thumps his driver down the centre of the 10th before flicking a wedge to six feet from 150 yards or so. A birdie putt coming up, Spaun can return to -12 and take the outright lead in a matter of minutes.
Up ahead, McIlroy crashes his driver 301 yards (carry) before it thumps into the perfectly-manicured turf and goes nowhere. All the 2019 champion can do is put the pressure on from here on out.
CHASING PACK CLOSING IN
Tom Hoge is having a day on six-under through 16 holes, and he's on board at the 17th. Hoge is joined on 10-under - one stroke back - by Danny Walker thanks to a brilliant and confident birdie putt from the edge of the 11th green. Walker looks like he is loving this.
RUMBLES IN THE AIR
According to those on the ground in Florida, the thunderstorms appear to be in close proximity and the players might not be out there for much longer.
For the time being, McIlroy is on board at the 11th with a mid-range birdie putt to come. His second shot was left of the green and required a pitch-and-check shot. But with the greasy surfaces in play now, it didn't really check.
Ahead, Bhatia is really unlucky not to see his wedge shot zip back down the slope. It stays at the top. That's brutal.
RORY CLIMBS BACK TO THE TOP
McIlroy pours one in at the 11th to reach 12-under for the week. He's four-under today and doing everything he can to claim that second career Players Championship.
RORY. SOLO LEAD.📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/3sNSBYtbvzMarch 16, 2025
SPAUN AND BHATIA GOING COLD
Bhatia isn't given the luck he deserved on the 12th and is forced to walk off with a par after dribbling one down the slope, just to the right of target.
The 12th is playing just 363 yards today, so all McIlroy needs to do is fire a long iron along the ground and wedge it in. He does the first part perfectly - centre cut.
Back on the 11th, Spaun faded his second shot into the vast bunker down the right and is facing a really difficult up and down now. Bhatia and Spaun have just slightly gone off the boil over the past few holes. Even with that gain for Spaun, it hasn't looked particularly easy for the American.
PLAY SUSPENDED
We've just had the horn sound out on course and play is suspended for the time being due to the threat of lightning in the area.
The rain is really coming down heavily at TPC Sawgrass now. I will keep you posted as and when we receive an update.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR
While we've got a break, let me give you a quick recap of what we've seen so far today.
Firstly, McIlroy and Bhatia came out all guns blazing with the Northern Irishman three under through the first two holes via an opening birdie and a subsequent eagle. Bhatia also raced to three-under for the day, but it took him four holes courtesy of three separate birdies.
Meanwhile, JJ Spaun scrambled well early on before his luck ran out on the fifth and he dropped his first shot. One-over became two on the par-3 eighth before Spaun snatched one back on the ninth.
Elsewhere, Tom Hoge has been rocketing through the pack thanks to a six-under round on Sunday. The interruption is frustrating for all concerned, I'm sure, but even more so for Hoge who was in position A1 down the 18th fairway and looking to set the clubhouse target at 11-under.
Arguably the story of the week, Bradenton-born Danny Walker was not in the field at 7am on Thursday. On Friday, he made the cut by one stroke. With a handful of holes remaining on Sunday, the man who now lives in Jacksonville is right in contention on 10-under - two shots back of McIlroy. What a story that would be if he were to somehow win this.
Speaking of potentially awesome stories, Bud Cauley is playing on a major medical exemption and needs to finish inside the top-18 to secure his playing rights for the rest of this season. Should he end with a check for over $1.25 million (top-5), then he would be locked up for 2026 as well.
He's currently sixth on his own - two-over for the day - following three bogeys and a lone birdie on the front nine. Importantly for both Cauley and Walker, they still have enough time to seal their destiny.
LIKE A NERVOUS PARENT
When we do get back underway, Justin Thomas will be pulling hard for former roommate, Bud Cauley.
The pair lived together in Jupiter, Florida for several years after Thomas turned pro in 2014 and the two-time Major winner calls Cauley one of his best friends.
Speaking after his final round 73, which leaves him in a tie for 35th, Thomas said: "Yeah, I would do some really, really weird things for Bud to win today. (Laughing). Yeah, I probably wanted it too bad.
"I was telling Jill (Thomas' wife) last night, I was like a nervous parent. I just want him to play well so bad, because I know how bad he wants it. And it's a huge stage, it's a big, big moment. There's a lot of golf left, he hasn't gotten off to the start he's wanted, I'm sure, but he's right there."
"I would do some really, really weird things for Bud to win today."@JustinThomas34 is all in on his former roommate taking home his first TOUR win @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/eTQwzL2h5EMarch 16, 2025
DRAMA TO COME ON 17
We're some way off reaching that point, but this is the pin position the leaders will be faced with when they reach the iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass' Stadium Course. Earlier in the day, a fair few golf balls skipped off the back into the water while several more settled in that low area down in the bottom left. Sungjae Im made a seven there after watching his ball fly off the back from the tee and then doing the same thing with his first drop.
Who will be brave enough to go right at it later? Who might need to? Hopefully, we will find out in the next few hours rather than tomorrow morning...
Sunday at 17. #THEPLAYERS pic.twitter.com/gu0H5hmlP8March 16, 2025
STATE OF PLAY UPDATE
According to The Players' official account on X, "play is expected to resume later this afternoon." That's the good news.
Bad news is, we don't know when that might be at this point. We'll keep you posted.
PGA TOUR officials are closely monitoring the weather and play is expected to resume later this afternoon. Updates regarding resumption of play and gate reopening times will be shared via THE PLAYERS social channels and website. #THEPLAYERS | @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/xtmVUdqtxfMarch 16, 2025
WEATHER UPDATE
We've just been informed that there will be an update from TPC Sawgrass at 4pm local time (ET), with play, reportedly, expected to get back underway this afternoon.
MONDAY FINISH?
We have around four hours of sunshine left in Florida and, with around two hours of golf left to be played, we remain hopeful the conclusion of The Players Championship will take place this evening.
For those wondering, the last Monday finish we had at TPC Sawgrass came back in 2022, where Cameron Smith carded a final round 66 to win by a single shot. In total, there have been eight Monday finishes at The Players Championship.
UPDATE MOVED TO 4:30pm
We were supposed to receive an update at 4pm local time, but that has been pushed back to 4.30pm due to electricity still being in the area.
To finish today, we will need around 2.5 hours of daylight, which means a start time of no later than 5-5:30pm ET.
PLAY TO RESTART TONIGHT
Ding ding ding, we have a restart time! The PGA Tour has said that practice facilities are back open and play will resume in around 45 minutes' time - at 5:15pm ET.
Practice facilities are now open. The final round will resume at 5:15 p.m.March 16, 2025
SIGNATURE HOLES WAIT PATIENTLY
There remains hope that we will see McIlroy, Spaun and Bhatia et al playing along the attached view this evening before the sun sets (although it will be close).
Our favorite view. #THEPLAYERS pic.twitter.com/GVMZahcew1March 15, 2025
WHAT IS THE PLAYOFF FORMAT?
The leaderboard is so bunched at the moment, there is every chance we will see just the sixth-ever playoff in Players Championship history this year. The last time was in 2015 when Rickie Fowler defeated Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner.
But what is the Players Championship format? In short, it's a three-hole aggregate competition which takes place across the Stadium Course's three signature holes - 16, 17 and 18. Lowest three-hole score at the end wins.
If it's still tied, the players go back to 17 and there's a sudden death competition which cycles between the final three holes. As someone who is nowhere near taking part in The Players, I desperately want to see that. But I sincerely doubt the pros involved will feel the same...
Although, given the fading daylight situation, I'd assume any playoff would likely take place tomorrow morning and that would dramatically kill the enthusiasm around it. So maybe someone just wins it today this time?
BACK UNDERWAY
This weather delay has been going on for four hours. But it's over now and we are back underway! Spaun is playing from the middle of the fairway bunker down the 11th while McIlroy is smack bang in the centre of the 12th. Two hours of daylight left and seven holes to complete. This is going to be fun.
MCILROY THREE AHEAD
And just like that, McIlroy has a three-stroke advantage. I say 'just like that', the gap was almost four hours, in a way.
Once play restarted, McIlroy flicked a wedge into the 12th green and left himself with a 10-foot birdie putt back down a little slope. Catching just enough of the left edge, McIlroy gave a solid fist pump as it toppled into the hole.
Almost at the same time, JJ Spaun was making a bit of a mess of the 11th hole and ended up pushing his five-foot par putt to the right of the target.
McIlroy is out to -13 while there is a four-way tie for second on -10 as it stands.
Eight minutes after play resumed, Rory extends his lead to 3 👀📺 NBC pic.twitter.com/jF4jxekdxPMarch 16, 2025
WALKER WOBBLES
Local man, Danny Walker goes long with his tee shot on the par-3 13th, makes a tame chip towards the hole, and then slices across his par putt to end up with a bogey in his first hole back.
CONNERS COMING UP THE RAIL
Keegan Bradley made an ace on this hole earlier today, but neither McIlroy, Conners nor Smalley can follow suit several hours later. McIlroy went first and left his tee shot up on the top ledge - it just didn't quite have enough draw to fall down the hill. Possibly the amount of moisture in the ground stopped his ball from falling further.
Conners has the best chance for birdie as his ends on the correct shelf, with Smalley needing to lean on his short game to make par after pushing it right off the green. That's a great effort from the American, though, leaving it a few feet away. Great touch. But he can't take advantage and Smalley drops another shot at 13.
The Canadian, however, can find his range with the putter and pours in a fantastic birdie to reach nine-under. McIlroy continues his march towards the title with a smart par save. Another one ticked off.
WILD DRIVE FROM MCILROY
Woah now, Rory. That is well off target. On the par-4 14th, McIlroy push-slices his tee shot quite a way right. It might be OK simply due to the distance he's missed the fairway by. There's nothing much out there. It's past the trees and the fans, so the chances of a decent lie and look at the green may be quite high. Even still, you don't want to be relying on luck down the back nine of a massive tournament like this...
BACK IN PLAY
The lie was good but the view wasn't. In the end, McIlroy took out a wedge and zipped his misdirected golf ball into orbit before it came down softly back in the middle of the fairway some 114 yards closer to the hole.
McIlroy's task now is to get up and down from 90 yards. Elsewhere, Bhatia's putter has gone ice cold. The man who uses a broom handle flat stick has to make do with a par just ahead and he remains on -10. Speaking of players in a tie for second, Spaun leaves his birdie attempt on the 13th in the jaws despite it being right on line.
BOGEY FOR RORY
McIlroy flicked his approach over the top of the flag and reeled it back up the hill, such was the amount of spin on the golf ball. But with a par chance on the table, the Northern Irishman rifled it past the left side of the hole. Left with three or four feet, McIlroy made no mistake from the other side. But his lead is down to two.
SPAUN CLOSES IN
JJ Spaun says 'hold on, this isn't over just yet' and lobs a wedge shot over the flagstick at the 14th before zipping it back to kick-in territory. That was as easy as you like from the 54-hole leader. A birdie moves him on to -11, one stroke behind now.
MCILROY RESPONDS
Here we go, now it's a party! McIlroy sweeps a 3-wood down the 15th and muscles a wedge in from 161 yards to eight feet. That's a great look for birdie and the two-shot advantage might be restored very shortly.
Elsewhere, Glover marks a three down on the 14th to reach nine-under and move up into a share of fifth.
NO REPEAT OF HISTORY
When Rory McIlroy won the 2019 Players Championship, he bogeyed the 14th before making birdie at 15. In 2025, he had the chance to repeat the statistic, but he can't do it! A pretty short-range putt was inside left at most, but the Northern Irishman either mis-read or pulled his effort and it lipped out. Three holes to play and only leading by one...
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
Spaun hits the centre of the 15th fairway and only has 155 yards in, going on to nudge a wedge towards the green. But it skips on back towards the front edge and is considerably further out than he'd have liked.
Up ahead, Bhatia and Walker steer their respective approaches towards the left rough rather than going anywhere near the lake that lines the right. No one is fancied to make any significant gains from where they are currently, except from possibly Bhatia.
Spaun can't find his birdie, and neither can Walker. Surprisingly, Bhatia joins them via a three-putt. That feels like his race is run. He's only two back, but Bhatia is one-over for the back nine and can't make a putt.
TAKE WHAT THE COURSE GIVES YOU
After just pushing his drive into the right rough on the par-5 16th, McIlroy appears to be contemplating going for the aggressive play and flag hunting with the angle against him. From 210 yards, he thumps a mid-iron towards the green but misses it just left and sees his ball land in a collection area hole high. That was probably the idea all along, but you just never know with McIlroy.
On 17, Bhatia goes right at the flag - which is tucked away in the bottom right corner - and sees his ball rip back towards the water. Luckily for the two-time PGA Tour winner, his ball just about stops in time. It'll be an awkward chip, though, with Bhatia's feet likely on the sleepers. Rather him than me...
SLOW 16TH
Patrick Cantlay left a chip near the top of the ridge on the 16th green not that long ago, and he didn't really hit it that hard. McIlroy seemed to be much more aggressive from a similar position and it still didn't get down to the hole side despite travelling down hill over the second half. McIlroy will have some 12 feet left for birdie as Bhatia misses with his chip on 17.
DOOR LEFT AJAR
The current leader is the latest to fail with a birdie attempt on the 16th - McIlroy going narrowly right after over-reading his attempt. As a result, Spaun will feel like there is a chance to tie or even surpass the four-time Major winner over these closing holes. He'll have to make a birdie from a similar position to the one McIlroy was just in, though, with the American drawing his second into that collection area. Both have to take on 17, too, with McIlroy up first.
A GAME OF INCHES
Conners finds dry land on the 17th but is on the opposite side of the island to the hole. Next up is Smalley, who watches his ball skip onto the wood which frames the iconic hole, run along the edge and eventually drop into the drink.
McIlroy goes last - first backing off after a fan lets out an excited scream while he's ready to go - and lands his wedge aboard. Relief. Then it rolls around to the little bowl in which the hole sits. A smile. However, McIlroy's golf ball has come to rest right up against that collar of rough between the green and the water. That will be awkward now.
Golf is a cruel roller-coaster. pic.twitter.com/AAJ9xHAiCGMarch 16, 2025
SPAUN TIES MCILROY AT THE TOP
Oh boy, what a finish we have in store! Played as if he'd watched those before him, Spaun drives his chip into the green and allows it to roll out down to a matter of inches. The simplest of birdies arrives at the 70th hole for Spaun.
Glover also nabs a birdie at the 16th, not long after Cauley had accidentally stepped on Glover's ball while watching the action over at 17. The ball was replaced in its natural position and the glove-less Glover continued on as if nothing had happened. The ultimate professional.
On the 17th, McIlroy is tied up by the position of his ball against the collar and he can't produce a fair crack at birdie. In the end, he walks away with a par.
A DIFFERENT STATE
Spaun makes an aggressive swing towards the 17th green, but it doesn't quite end up as he'd hoped. The ball bounced in the back-middle portion of the green before spinning wildly back down towards the front-left bowl. Spaun would snap your hand off for a two-putt from there. It's miles away.
On the 18th, Bhatia finishes with another par to shoot 70 and end on 10- in a tie for third (as it stands). Walker also cards a 70 to finish T6th at the moment. An unreal performance from the Jacksonville native and a brilliant display form Bhatia, who left it all out there.
ONE-HOLE SHOOTOUT
This is going down to the wire! Spaun does brilliantly to escape with a par on the 17th via an excellent two-putt. It was his first effort which did the majority of the work, really.
On the 18th, McIlroy fires a long-iron down the heart of the fairway with a touch of draw but sees his approach become held up by the breeze and fall back down to the lower tier. What did I say about Spaun snatching your hand off for a long-rang two-putt? McIlroy would do that deal 10 times over, you feel.
PART ONE DONE
McIlroy absolutely hammers a putt up the hill and leaves himself possibly five feet for par, just to the left as he was looking. Back on the tee box, Spaun crunched his drive out to the right and it ended up coming to rest just into the pine straw.
They're closing in on sunset in Florida. Will we have a resolution before the daylight disappears? We all hope so!
MCILROY SETS CLUBHOUSE LEAD
The Northern Irishman ignores a wayward shout from a fan in the distance after settling over the putt and confidently rolls his putt in. Surely he'd have had those US Open demons in his head somewhere? But that is extremely impressive from McIlroy to make it under the circumstances. Over to you, JJ.
4 feet for the clubhouse lead ... 😅 pic.twitter.com/izZzEVmlw6March 16, 2025
SPAUN SETS UP WINNING CHANCE
Wow, JJ Spaun, that is really good! The American appeared to slip slightly as he struck his ball off the pine straw, but the shot didn't seem to be affected. It floated towards the centre of the green and stuck some 25-30 feet away. Birdie putt and the chance to win incoming...
INCHES AWAY
No way! No way. How has that not gone in?! Spaun drills his putt up the slope and towards the hole. It was tracking the whole way and appeared to be heading in, but Spaun's golf ball slammed the breaks on about six inches out and leaves him with a par.
More golf awaits tomorrow.@JJSpaun’s birdie putt on the 72nd hole comes out just short to force a playoff at @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/50rTalDgL6March 16, 2025
PLAYOFF TO TAKE PLACE ON MONDAY
The PGA Tour has confirmed the Players Championship will conclude on Monday with a playoff between Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun. The exact tee-off time is to come, but the Players Championship playoff format has already been set.
MONDAY PLAYOFF START TIME
The three-hole playoff to decide the 2025 Players Championship is due to start at 9am ET on Monday. That's 1pm GMT for those of you in the UK.
Bonus golf!J.J. Spaun will face Rory McIlroy in a three-hole aggregate playoff starting Monday morning at 9 a.m. ET. pic.twitter.com/Bu5isJcit5March 16, 2025
IT'S PLAYOFF DAY
Good morning everyone and welcome back to Golf Monthly's coverage of The Players Championship. After four days of incredible action that featured everything to a new joint course record to several big names missing the cut, we're left with two world-class players who could not be separated.
Rory McIlroy will be striving to claim his second Players title on St Patrick's Day while JJ Spaun will hope that luck is on his side as he goes for his second PGA Tour victory and the biggest of his career so far.
Thank you for tuning in as we bring you all of the action from the Players Championship playoff at TPC Sawgrass' Stadium Course.
It’s almost time. pic.twitter.com/bi71cIU4KnMarch 17, 2025
HOW DID WE GET HERE?
Spaun and McIlroy put together excellent weeks but neither could get over the line after four rounds of regulation golf. Thursday saw Spaun card a five-under 67 and McIlroy post 68 before the duo maintained their distance via a couple of 68s on Friday.
Cut safely made, JJ Spaun took a giant leap forward thanks to a two-under 70 in extremely windy conditions during round three while McIlroy battled to a one-over 73. However, the Northern Irishman roared back to post 12-under for the week via a hot start on Sunday.
Unable to generate quite the same momentum, Spaun recovered to his original score at the start of the day and almost won it at the last, only to see his 31-foot birdie attempt on 18 pump the brakes inches out from the hole.
But due to a four-hour weather delay which earlier tee times had been designed to try and avoid, there was no time for a playoff on Sunday - hence everyone has come back out in much sunnier conditions on St Patrick's Day to crown a champion.
WHAT DID THEY SAY?
Rory McIlroy: "I Feel Like I Had A Chance To Go Home With The Trophy Tonight"
At one point during the back nine on Sunday, shortly after the restart, McIlroy had a three-shot lead over Spaun. However, a bogey on 14 preceded four pars on the way in, leaving the door open for Spaun to try and force his way through.
The four-time Major champion explained that fading daylight prevented him from being able to properly read the greens late on and he was disappointed at not being able to complete the job in regulation.
He said: "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."
WHAT DID THEY SAY?
JJ Spaun: "I Think This Amount Of Pressure Is The Most I've Ever Been Under"
Spaun began the final round with a one-stroke lead and a cluster of capable players chasing him down behind, one of which was Rory McIlroy. The American admitted he felt "a little tentative, a little scared and stuff" at the start of his round, but once he had lost the lead after the weather delay, Spaun shared that it almost freed him up and his fightback arrived because he felt he had nothing to lose at that point.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Spaun said: "I think this amount of pressure is the most I've ever been under. To make some clutch shots on the back nine gives me some self belief.
"[McIlroy is] going to be tough to beat, but on this final stretch of 16, 17 and 18 anything can happen."
Later on in his press conference, the American said: "Once that bogey [on 11] kind of hit me, I just tried to just fight back. I kind of went with the odds. I had nothing to lose. Now I'm trying to catch Rory, and I can't really control what he does, but I can control what I do, and I just started committing to my shots and my swing and trusting it more.
"When I'm hunting, it's easier to let it go. Whereas, starting the round I was a little tentative, a little scared and stuff. I think it put me in a pretty comfortable spot to finish off the round."
WEATHER FORECAST
With sunny skies above, the wind is still expected to blow between 10-20mph this morning. According to Rory Tracker on X, that will help the players on the par-5 16th but potentially hinder them on 17 and 18. The par-3 is tricky enough with no wind, but with a stiff breeze blowing back into the players' faces, it could be a nightmare...
Wind update:- 16 will play “stiffly” downwind - into the wind on 17 & 18Coming out of the northwest this morning which is a different wind they’ve seen all weekMarch 17, 2025
FIVE-MINUTE COUNTDOWN
The playoff is due to get underway at 9am ET. The players are making their way down to the 16th tee as we speak...
PLAYOFF RECORDS
McIlroy has played in five playoffs on the PGA Tour and won three, but those were his most recent attempts. His overall record in extra holes on the DP World Tour is pretty awful, however, with just one win and five defeats.
Spaun, meanwhile, has only contested one playoff in his pro career. He lost to Ollie Schniederjans back in 2016 on the Web.com Tour where an amateur Collin Morikawa was also involved.
MCILROY WITH THE HONOR
McIlroy reached the clubhouse first, so he has the honor. He's going with driver. A brave play with the wind behind, but he's found the centre of the fairway so it turns out to be a good call.
Spaun, possibly a little intimidated by that cracking first shot from McIlroy, clips one a little out of the neck and he's in the rough down the right-hand side. Early advantage to the Northern Irishman...
LUCKY SPAUN
Spaun has 217 yards to go, but it's in the right rough so the lie isn't ideal. It looks like he's going for it. That is a brave move. Is 'brave' the right word? Anyway, Spaun thumps one towards the flag and it just skirts the water before landing on the upslope in the front bunker. Lucky, lucky boy.
From 180, McIlroy butters a short-iron into the heart of the green but it stays up the top rather than sliding down towards the flag. I should say, all pin positions are in the same places as yesterday, so players will be familiar with their locations.
GROOVE YET TO BE FOUND
Spaun splashes his ball out of the bunker nicely, but it didn't release, leaving him with some 20 feet or so for birdie.
McIlroy's eagle putt from 30-plus feet is blasted through the break and ends four or five feet past below the hole. A little rusty so far.
ADVANTAGE MCILROY
Spaun's birdie putt is slow up the hill from mid-range, but he leaves it a couple of feet short. In response, McIlroy tidies up his loose eagle attempt and goes one-under through one hole.
Spaun is in for par as McIlroy bounces off to the 17th knowing a dry tee ball could put him within touching distance of a second Players title.
336 yards down the fairway. On the green in two. Birdie to go up one. pic.twitter.com/0ZR2F7xzV2March 17, 2025
MCILROY SAFELY ABOARD
Taking a nine-iron from 130 yards, McIlroy drills his tee shot to the back of the 17th green and it sits down immediately. Not like yesterday when balls were spring off into the water like it was a trampoline out there.
SPAUN IN THE WATER
Is that it? Has The Players been decided? With an eight-iron in hand, Spaun completely flew the island green and watched his ball crash into the water behind. The wind was into him and he had to go for broke, did Spaun, but that might have been a tournament-ending mistake...
The TV cameras picked up Spaun taking a glance at McIlroy's bag before he played, so did McIlroy's club choice ultimately play a part in that error?
J.J. Spaun is in the drink at the 17th! 🫣 pic.twitter.com/MsAyFzKBeyMarch 17, 2025
FROM THE DROP ZONE
Spaun wedges onto the green successfully from the DZ, but he's right down in the collection area to the bottom left so it will likely take at least two putts to hole out still...
The American drives one up the slope. His ball turns to the left before going back to the right as it reaches closer to the hole. Spaun's fifth is 15 feet away.
LEAD EXTENDED
McIlroy tries to dab his birdie putt down that perilously fast slope but it gets away from him and ends close to the collar. That just shows how fast these greens are this morning.
Before returning to his par attempt, Spaun is unsuccessful with his fifth and ultimately makes triple bogey.
But with a four-stroke advantage, McIlroy gives one back after missing with his third. I'm not sure it's going to matter much, though. They're on to 18 with McIlroy ahead by three.
WIDE RIGHT
McIlroy wants nothing to do with the water down the left. So much so, he fades an overly-safe drive towards the fans lining the right side of the hole. A bogey may end up winning this for McIlroy anyway, so it's not the worst idea.
Meanwhile, Spaun pretty much follows suit despite knowing he has to make birdie at worst.
POWERS OF RECOVERY
Both players find themselves in fairly similar situations out near the grandstands on the right but opt for differing styles of recovery shots. Spaun attempts a stinger with a 4-iron towards the green but tops it and - fortunately - ends up in the middle of the fairway.
With a chance to go over the trees, McIlroy simply decides to chip out sideways to leave a comfortable yardage.
The pair will both go from roughly 140 yards.
CHAMPAGNE ON ICE
With a 20mph wind to deal with from 142 yards, Spaun flicks a short-iron into the green, but it comes all the way back down to near the water's edge on the putting surface.
Showing Spaun how it's done, McIlroy feathers a lovely drawing shot right up to the back level from 139. He'll have maybe 15 feet left before a celebratory champagne (or perhaps a Guinness) can be consumed...
MCILROY WINS
Rory McIlroy wins the 2025 Players Championship! He makes bogey at the last but it matters not one bit as Spaun could do no better himself.
The Northern Irishman wins on St Patrick's Day for the third time. It is also the first time that he's won twice in the USA before The Masters. An omen, perhaps?
Rory McIlroy wins The Players on St Patrick's Day! 🍀🏆 pic.twitter.com/OQ3eAIFahzMarch 17, 2025
MCILROY REACTION
The man who has just collected his 28th PGA Tour victory (and 16th after trailing going into the final round) said he was "unbelievably proud" to win his second Players Championship. Speaking immediately after the final putt dropped, McIlroy also admitted he was glad he didn't have to play 18 holes with that wind and was relieved to be done after only three.
"Unbelievably proud to win my second Players Championship. And it's the third time I've won on St Patrick's Day!" 🍀Rory McIlroy reflects on winning The Players after a playoff against J.J. Spaun 🏆 pic.twitter.com/upvD6IxWszMarch 17, 2025
SPAUN REACTION
The American began his post-playoff debrief by standing by his club selection on the 17th - the moment which all but took him out of contention earlier on. Spaun revealed that his Trackman numbers - with a very similar wind direction in practice - were producing the exact number he wanted to see out on the course, but suggested he almost struck it too well and the wind didn't take hold of his ball.
Reflecting on a brilliant week overall, though, Spaun said: "It's hard to not feel discouraged a little bit, but nothing but positives in putting myself in contention and giving myself a chance to win in a playoff.
"If someone told me that would happen to start the week, I would totally take it. Nothing but positives to take from it, and hopefully I can just learn from this and get it done next time."
TWO-TIME PLAYERS CHAMPION
NOT ALL BAD FOR SPAUN
Although beaten today, the future looks really bright for JJ Spaun. Despite not producing his best stuff in the playoff, the American was excellent all week and will have the chance to prove his quality again at The Masters this year after moving up to a career-high of 25th in the world.
He ended 2024 as the World No.119 but has kicked on alongside his caddie, Mark Carens and appears to be on course for a FedEx Cup Playoff spot if he can keep up this momentum for a few more months.
Plus, lest we forget, he will collect a check for $2,725,000. So it's not all bad for JJ Spaun.
