Rory McIlroy comfortably beat unheralded American JJ Spaun in a three-hole Monday play-off to decide the winner of The Players Championship after a dramatic day on Sunday had seen the Northern Irishman let slip a three-shot lead.
McIlroy, who was bidding for his second title at TPC Sawgrass in what is colloquially known as ‘golf’s fifth major’, went into Sunday’s final round four strokes behind Spaun but an exceptional start saw him move three ahead with six holes to play, despite a four-hour weather delay due to the threat of lightning. But the world No 2 missed chances to stay ahead and Spaun made up the ground, leaving them both 12-under after 72 holes when play was suspended due to bad light, requiring a Monday return for a three-hole play-off.
With the lowest aggregate score over the 16th, 17th and 18th holes determining the winner, McIlroy piped his first drive down the middle of the 16th fairway to lay down a marker and when Spaun sent his response into the rough, it seemed to set the tone.
McIlroy’s birdie on the 16th put him a stroke ahead and when Spaun found water with his tee shot on 17, it was all but over. He would go on to triple bogey the hole and the Northern Irishman nursed his three-shot lead up the 18th to become The Players champion for the second time after his 2019 success – setting him up for a tilt at that elusive Masters title in three weeks’ time.
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- Rory McIlroy comfortably beats unheralded American JJ Spaun in a three-hole play-off to win the 2025 Players Championship
- Spaun found the water on the 17th hole in the decisive moment of the play-off
- The two men were level after the conclusion of Sunday's final round before McIlroy went on to win The Players for the second time
Rory McIlroy receives Masters boost as career first arrives before Augusta bid
16:57 , Phil CaseyRory McIlroy believes the best golf of his career is yet to come after he celebrated St Patrick’s Day by defeating JJ Spaun in a play-off to win a second Players Championship title.
Following his victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, McIlroy has now won twice on the PGA Tour before the Masters for the first time in his career.
The world number two needs a victory in the year’s first major championship at Augusta National to complete the career grand slam.
Asked if his best golf could be yet to come, McIlroy told Sky Sports: “Absolutely. I don’t think I should be out here if I didn’t believe my best golf was in front of me.”
Rory McIlroy receives Masters boost as career first arrives before Augusta bid
Rory McIlroy’s St Patrick’s Day delight gives him perfect Masters springboard
15:18 , Luke BakerRory McIlroy celebrated St Patrick’s Day in style by defeating JJ Spaun in a play-off to win the prestigious Players Championship for the second time and set himself for a tilt at the Masters in three weeks’ time.
McIlroy covered the three-hole aggregate play-off in one over par but that was comfortably enough to beat Spaun in a somewhat anticlimactic finish at TPC Sawgrass.
Following his victory in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, it means McIlroy has won twice on the PGA Tour before the Masters for the first time in his career.
The world No 2 needs a victory in the year’s first major championship at Augusta National to finally complete the career grand slam and end an 11-year major drought.
Rory McIlroy’s St Patrick’s Day delight gives him perfect Masters springboard
JJ Spaun discusses heartbreaking defeat
14:29 , Luke BakerJJ Spaun has reflected on his play-off defeat, starting with his water-bound tee shot on the 17th.
“I was committed to the club and the shot shape I was trying to hit,” said Spaun. “It was a perfect club but I hit it too good and it went right through the wind.
“I was actually telling it to get up because it looked like it floated. Then I didn’t see it land and assumed it was in the front bunker, then my caddy said it had gone over the green into the water. I hit a great shot, did what I needed to do but it jut didn't work out for me.
“It’s hard to not feel discouraged a little bit. The positives this week were putting myself in contention and getting a play-off to win. If someone told me that would happen at the start of the week, I would have taken it.
“So there are nothing but positives to take from it. Hopefully I’ll learn from this and get it done next time.”
Rory McIlroy reacts to Players Championship win
14:11 , Luke BakerRory McIlroy has discussed his victory in a three-hole play-off and the tough conditions this morning.
“The wind was coming out of a completely different direction,” said McIlroy. “Three holes was enough in that!
“I feel bad for JJ – he hit a really good shot on 17 and it just went through the wind. Luckily, I had enough to get the job done.
“I’m proud and happy to win my second Players Championship. It’s the third time I’ve won a tournament on St Patrick’s Day, so it's a lucky charm.
“I've worked really hard and I’m a way more complete player than a few years ago, even in conditions like this. I’m really happy to win it.”
WATCH: JJ Spaun finds the water on 17
14:01 , Luke BakerHere was the key moment in this play-off. JJ Spaun’s tee shot found the water on the iconic 17th hole
Splash for Spaun on 17 💔 pic.twitter.com/Rdj0eYu6nM
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 17, 2025
Rory McIlroy beats JJ SPaun in play-off to win The Players Championship
13:59 , Luke BakerJob done for Rory McIlroy who is now a two-time Players champion
Rory McIlroy wins the Players Championship
13:53 , Luke BakerSpaun’s long par putt comes up short. McIlroy two putts and that’s it! Rory McIlroy is the winner of the 2025 Players Championship.
A comfortable victory over the valiant JJ Spaun and McIlroy wins ‘golf’s fifth major’ for the second time after his 2019 success.
After three-hole play-off:
- McIlroy: +1
- Spaun: +4
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 18
13:46 , Luke BakerSpaun to play first and his iron shot - the third on this 18th hole - is short of the green.
McIlroy left with 139 yards with his third and lofts a lovely shot about 12 feet short of the flag. Just the final knockings of this play-off to tidy up now and Rory McIlroy will win the Players Championship for the second time.
After second of three play-off holes:
- McIlroy: -E
- Spaun: +3
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 18
13:43 , Luke BakerFrom bad to worse for Spaun. He’s left with 222 yards to the green and only a sliver of a gap through the trees to reach it. Takes a 4 iron, needs a miracle shot and tops it. Goes on to the fairway but nowhere near the green.
McIlroy, with no need for anything silly, simply chips his ball out on to the fairway.
After second of three play-off holes:
- McIlroy: -E
- Spaun: +3
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 18
13:39 , Luke BakerOn to the par-four 18th, the final hole of this three-hole play-off. Another iconic hole, with the vast expanse of water down the left but the hole curving from right to left.
McIlroy is going anywhere but left, understandably. His tee shot soars into the crowds to the right of the fairway. A chink of light for Spaun?
No... The American follows him, short and well right. He needs a birdie and McIlroy to double bogey but I’m not sure he’ll be able to reach the green in two The trophy has slipped away from him
After second of three play-off holes:
- McIlroy: -E
- Spaun: +3
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 17
13:34 , Luke BakerIt’s all over now, you’d think. Spaun swings his double bogey putt and it stays high. Rolls in the triple bogey - disastrous for the underdog.
McIlroy misses his par putt as the ball slips left of the hole up the hill. He taps in for bogey but still has a three-shot lead up the 18th. Surely there’ll be no mistakes from here...?
After second of three play-off holes:
- McIlroy: -E
- Spaun: +3
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 17
13:32 , Luke BakerSpaun actually tries a chip to take out the first slope - delicate shot and it’s decent but he’s still got the best part of 12 feet for a double bogey.
McIlroy takes his birdie putt, surely just a lag up to the hole... Sets it on course and that’s got some legs. Slips just past the hole and keeps on running, and running. Suddenly he’s left with a six-footer for par!
After first of three play-off holes:
- McIlroy: -1
- Spaun: E
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 17
13:30 , Luke BakerSpaun pitching from the drop zone after finding the water. And even that’s not a great chip - you feel the occasion has got to the American.
The ball spins back and comes to rest up against the fringe of the green, probably 30 feet from the hole. That’s not an easy two putt from there, given the curve of rough between him and the hole and a two-putt would be a double bogey...
McIlroy in complete control of this play-off now and has one hand on the Players Championship trophy
After first of three play-off holes:
- McIlroy: -1
- Spaun: E
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 17, Spaun finds the water
13:24 , Luke BakerIt’s on to the iconic 17th hole - one of the most famous holes in world golf. The par three with the island green. A watery grave on all sides if you err.
McIlroy has the honour - no need for heroics with the one-shot lead. He clips his iron safely towards the back of the green, lovely tee shot. Probably 20 feet or so away.
All the pressure now on Spaun. Discussion with his caddy. He’s got to take this flag on really... 8 iron in hand, and OH NO! Disaster for Spaun. His ball flies over the back of the green and lands in the water. It never touched dry land. That, you fear, could be that for the American.
After first of three play-off holes:
- McIlroy: -1
- Spaun: E
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 16
13:21 , Luke BakerSpaun takes his birdie putt first, from around 20 feet. Up the hill and he doesn’t hit it. Three feet short - slightly cautious.
Chance for McIlroy to take a lead on the first hole in this matchplay scenario. Six feet or so, maybe. And McIIroy makes it! Birdie on the first hole of this play-off for the favourite - calmly rolled in.
Spaun tidies up his par but he now trails by a stroke.
After first of three play-off holes:
- McIlroy: -1
- Spaun: E
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 16
13:16 , Luke BakerSpaun splashes out of the greenside bunker but it doesn’t release and roll down to the hole as intended. It’s ok but nothing more. Outside chance of a birdie
McIlroy is about 35 feet away and set his eagle putt trundling towards the hole. He wants it to swing left to right but it doesn’t turn and races past the hole. That’s not a great putt - work to do for the birdie
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 16
13:14 , Luke BakerSpaun playing first and out of the right rough, he pushes it. His heart will have been in his mouth as it looked headed towards the water down the right but bounces on dry land and lurches forward into the bunker. That will be a bit of a relief for the underdog.
Meanwhile, after a mega drive, McIlroy is only left with 180 yards into the green - that’s just a flick of the 9 iron for the Northern Irishman. Decent enough shot, safely into the heart of the green and he’ll have a long-range look at an eagle. He’s chewed up a 540-yard par five with a drive and a 9 iron - very impressive.
Very much advantage McIlroy
McIlroy vs Spaun - hole 16
13:06 , Luke BakerMcIlroy picks the driver out of his bag for this opening drive. The 16th is a par five and McIlroy is trying to eat up as much of the distance on the hole with one shot.
Flushes it down the middle of the fairway. A marker laid down to JJ Spaun.
Spaun also taking driver and his drive bounces on the short stuff but takes a couple of bounces into the rough. He’s well back of McIlroy - advantage to the Northern Irishman
Rory McIlroy vs JJ Spaun - The Players Championship play-off
13:04 , Luke BakerOK, we’re not far away from the McIlroy vs Spaun showdown getting underway. It’s a glorious morning at Sawgrass and this should be a lot of fun.
They’re milling about on the 16th tee as we speak. Remember, they’ll play the 16th, 17th and 18th and the player with the lowest aggregate score from those holes will win.
Rory McIlroy - as the player who finished his final round first - will have the honour and tee off first on 16.
McIlroy tries to match 2019 Players Championship success on St Patrick's Day
12:48 , Luke BakerIf you’re looking for good omens for McIlroy this afternoon, then his only previous Players Championship title - won back in 2019 - also came on St Patrick’s Day.
A thrilling final round at Sawgrass saw McIlroy recover from an early double bogey to card a closing 70 and finish on 16-under, one stroke ahead of Jim Furyk, who missed out on becoming the oldest winner in tournament history.
Birdies at 15 and 16, before safely negotiating the tricky 17th and 18th were enough for the Northern Irishman to pip Furyk’s clubhouse target and he admitted that winning ‘golf’s fifth major’ was a huge moment for him.
McIlroy said: “It’s very special. I just tried to treat it like any other day. Even though I’ve had all those close calls this year, they didn’t mean anything. If anything they were good for me, I called them ‘remote misses’, it gives you even more hope to go forward and go again. I think all those experiences this year led me to this point and ultimately they were good for me because it got me over the line today.”
Highlights from Sunday's play
12:30 , Flo Clifford
McIlroy refuses to comment on hecklers
12:15 , Flo CliffordMcIlroy got off to a good start at the Championship, carding seven birdies and two bogeys at Sawgrass to end the opening day just a shot behind joint leaders Lucas Glover, JJ Spaun and Camilo Villegas.
But the day was mostly notable for the Irishman’s response - or lack of response - to a heckler during a practice round earlier in the week.
Rory McIlroy refuses to comment on fan who heckled him at Players Championship
How to watch the Players Championship
12:00 , Flo CliffordThe final, extra day of action at TPC Sawgrass takes place today, live on Sky Sports.
The play-off gets underway at 1pm UK time (9am local time).
How will the play-off work?
11:45 , Flo CliffordThe three-hole play-off will be staged across the iconic closing holes at TPC Sawgrass with the aggregate score across 16, 17 and 18 determining the winner. McIlroy is aiming to become a two-time Players champion.
"It would mean an awful lot, there aren't many multiple Players champions,” he said. "Scottie [Scheffler] won the last two years, it'd be nice to get two like him, and two like Tiger I guess.
"But I have to put that out of my head and just play three good holes in the morning and hopefully that's good enough."
McIlroy grateful for chance to 'reset' on Sunday night
11:30 , Flo Clifford“It's been a long day,” he told Sky Sports at the close of play yesterday. "I got off to a great start before play was called. And once we got back out there, I made the perfect start again with a birdie at 12.
"On the way in, I feel like I gave myself chances to close the door and win this golf tournament - and I didn't quite do that. I'm going to have to do it the hard way, stay one more night and try to do it tomorrow."
Rory McIlroy set for three-hole Monday play-off to decide Players Championship
11:15 , Flo CliffordRory McIlroy will return for a Monday play-off as he looks to win a second Players Championship “the hard way”. McIlroy will face JJ Spaun across the final three holes at TPC Sawgrass, with the play-off starting at 1pm UK time.
McIlroy and Spaun were tied on -12 at the conclusion of the final round on Sunday night and, with light fading, the PGA Tour confirmed that a three-hole play-off would settle the tournament.
McIlroy carded a four-under 68 but missed chances down the stretch to win. Spaun, who was playing in the final ground, shot an ever-par 72 but was inches away from a closing birdie on the 18th.
Rory McIlroy set for three-hole Monday play-off to decide Players Championship
Good morning
11:00 , Flo CliffordWelcome to the final day of action at TPC Sawgrass, with an extra day required after lengthy weather delays on Sunday.
The title hangs in the balance as Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun go into today’s three-hole play-off 12-under 276.
