Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun Head to Monday Playoff at THE PLAYERS Championship
Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun will have to return to TPC Sawgrass on Monday morning to settle their battle for THE PLAYERS Championship title after finishing tied at 12-under-par 276 on Sunday. The final round was filled with drama, delays, and a classic David-versus-Goliath storyline.
McIlroy, the four-time major champion and one of the sport’s biggest stars, seemed poised to claim the trophy after building a three-shot lead following a four-hour weather delay. However, Spaun, with just one PGA TOUR title to his name and never having reached the TOUR Championship, refused to back down.
Spaun clawed his way back, matching McIlroy’s score and forcing a playoff that was postponed due to darkness. The two will now face off in a three-hole aggregate playoff across TPC Sawgrass’ most iconic closing stretch: the par-5 16th, the island green on the par-3 17th, and the dangerous par-4 18th.
McIlroy admitted he felt like the trophy was already his but is ready for the challenge ahead. “I’m standing here feeling like I should be going home with the trophy today,” McIlroy said. “But it’s all right. I’ll reset and try to go home with the trophy tomorrow.”
Spaun, undeterred by the underdog label, is focused on proving himself. “Everyone expects him to win,” Spaun said. “I don’t think a lot of people expect me to win. I expect myself to win. That’s all that matters.”
The final round saw plenty of momentum shifts. McIlroy erased a four-shot deficit early on with birdies and an eagle on the par-5 second hole. He took his first lead when Spaun bogeyed the seventh.
Spaun responded with a stroke of luck on the ninth, gaining relief from a sprinkler head that allowed him a clean lie and led to a birdie. McIlroy, however, pushed ahead after the rain delay, sinking birdie putts on the 11th and 12th holes to build his cushion back to three shots.
But Spaun mounted a late charge. He birdied the 14th with a perfect approach and added another on the 16th to tie McIlroy, who struggled to capitalize on scoring chances down the stretch.
Both players successfully found the green on the daunting island 17th. McIlroy, with an awkward lie near the collar, missed his birdie attempt. Spaun, steady under pressure, nearly holed a 45-foot birdie putt but settled for par.
Elsewhere, Tom Hoge (66), Lucas Glover (71), and Akshay Bhatia (70) tied for third place, each earning $1.325 million from the $25 million purse. Bud Cauley, who fought back from career-threatening injuries, finished tied for sixth.
McIlroy and Spaun will now face five decisive swings on Monday morning. “You’ve got to make five good swings. That’s all it is,” McIlroy said, focused on closing out one of golf’s biggest events.
It will be the first Monday finish at THE PLAYERS since 2022 and the first playoff since Rickie Fowler’s win in 2015.
