McIlroy wins second Players title, defeating Spaun in playoff

Posted : 17 March 2025

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland clinched his second Players Championship title in a dramatic three-hole playoff against JJ Spaun on Monday morning at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, after celebrating St. Patrick's Day with a thrilling win. McIlroy took control of the playoff with a birdie on the par-5 16th hole, but Spaun faltered when he hit his tee shot into the water on the par-3 17th, resulting in a triple-bogey and leaving him trailing by three strokes. McIlroy’s steady play, despite a three-putt bogey on the same hole, put him in a strong position.

The final blow came at the par-4 18th when both players missed their shots to the right, but McIlroy’s consistent play ensured he emerged victorious after Spaun's third shot narrowly missed the green. McIlroy finished with a bogey and secured the win at 1-over, outlasting Spaun in the playoff. He reflected on his progress as a golfer, commenting that he feels like a more complete player than ever, able to play under various conditions with confidence and resilience.

This victory marked McIlroy's 28th PGA Tour win and his second title of the year, following his triumph at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. It was also his second Players Championship win, his first coming in 2019. Remarkably, both of his victories at this prestigious event have occurred on St. Patrick's Day, which McIlroy humorously described as a lucky charm. He is now the eighth player to win multiple Players titles.

Spaun, 34, continued his impressive start to the season despite falling short of his first Players Championship victory. He has had an excellent year so far, with three top-three finishes, including a tie for third at the Sony Open and a second-place finish at the Cognizant Classic. Spaun expressed pride in his performance, noting his consistency and self-belief, despite the tough competition. He highlighted how much progress he had made compared to last year and was satisfied with his performance throughout the week.

Both McIlroy and Spaun acknowledged the challenging windy conditions at TPC Sawgrass, which had affected play throughout the tournament. Spaun called the morning conditions especially difficult and praised his commitment to each shot. He was particularly disappointed by his shot on the 17th hole, despite executing it as planned, noting the wind had caused it to veer off course. Spaun remained optimistic, focusing on the positives and looking forward to future opportunities.

McIlroy, playing with a one-shot advantage in the playoff, took a smart approach by hitting his tee shot on the par-3 17th just 29 feet from the hole with a 9-iron. Spaun followed with his shot, but it did not match McIlroy's precision. McIlroy reflected on Spaun's unfortunate misfortune, recognizing the wind as a key factor in the outcome. On Sunday, Spaun held the overnight lead with a 72, but McIlroy's 68 propelled him to a 12-under total of 276, setting up the dramatic playoff.

Tom Hoge finished tied for third, shooting a 66 and finishing 10 under par, alongside Akshay Bhatia (70) and Lucas Glover (71). Danny Walker (70), Bud Cauley (74), and Corey Conners (71) were tied for sixth, another stroke behind.

McIlroy wins second Players title, defeating Spaun in playoff

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