The Players Championship LIVE: Rory McIlroy beats JJ Spaun in dramatic three-hole play-off
The world No 2 comfortably won the play-off after Spaun found the water on the 17th and the Northern Irishman claimed a memorable St Patrick’s Day triumph
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.
Follow all the action with The Independent’s live blog here:
Rory McIlroy receives Masters boost as career first arrives before Augusta bid
Rory 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
Rory 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
JJ 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
Rory 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
Here was the key moment in this play-off. JJ Spaun’s tee shot found the water on the iconic 17th hole
Rory McIlroy beats JJ SPaun in play-off to win The Players Championship
Job done for Rory McIlroy who is now a two-time Players champion
Rory McIlroy wins the Players Championship
Spaun’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
Spaun 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
From 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
On 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
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