McIlroy beats Spaun in play-off to win Players

In a three-hole play-off at Sawgrass, Rory McIlroy defeated JJ Spaun to win his second Players Championship title.

The Northern Irishman won the most prestigious event on the PGA Tour besides the annual four majors, earning him his second victory of the season and his 28th of his career.

The world no. two praised his performance in winning his second Players, saying, “I am unbelievably proud and happy.”

“It’s my third victory on St. Patrick’s Day.” It has helped me have a good fortune.

McIlroy, a four-time major winner, dominated the play-off from the par-five 16th hole, blasting his drive down the fairway’s center, while Spaun, who has just one PGA Tour victory, was confined to the rough.

McIlroy, who hit his second into the center of the green, two-putted for a birdie, while the American world number 57 dutifully tucked his third into a greenside bunker and took three from there to make par.

On the famous par-three 17th “insula hole,” McIlroy then found the green with his tee shot, but Spaun effectively put his ball in the water.

Even though McIlroy three-putted drop a shot, his lead was three going down the final shot when he took a triple-bogey six.

Following reckless drives out to the right that had left them obstructed by trees, both players scrambled down the 18th.

However, McIlroy could capitalize on his advantage with a bogey in order to win the play-off. Spaun, who had taken four shots while chasing four over, picked up his ball without going through the hole.

McIlroy, who becomes the first European event to win the competition more than once, continued, “I feel really bad for JJ.” On the 17th, he hit a fantastic shot that simply went straight through the wind.

Spaun’s tee shot on the short hole read, “It looked like it was floating and we didn’t see it land.”

McIlroy will now concentrate on the Masters competition in May as he works to complete the Grand Slam by winning the only major that is out of his reach.

He claims that Scottie Scheffler, the world’s number one, inspired him when he won two PGA Tour victories before making his debut at Augusta National.

The American became the first player to win consecutive Players and won an incredible nine titles in 2024, including the Masters.

The 35-year-old McIlroy praised Scottie for her “unbelievable run” and for inspiring all of us to strive for better.

“I need to improve if I want to compete with him.” I’ve worked hard, and I’ve knuckled down. It’s nice to tie him up with Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods, and the other five players who have each won this numerous times.

By the time the final round’s four-shot deficit to lead Spaun had already been eliminated, but by the time the hooter sounded due to the threat of lightning, play had widened.

McIlroy birdied the 12th to give himself a three-shot lead on the field when play resumed four hours later. However, he missed birdie opportunities on the 15th and 16th holes because he played the final four holes at par on par. A bogey on 14 checked his progress.

Spaun birdied the 16th to equalize, and on the final hole, he put a 30-foot putt to claim the title, but his shot was inches off the hole.