Rory McIlroy outlasted JJ Spaun over a three-hole playoff to win his second Players Championship title on Monday morning.
Spaun agonisingly sent his tee shot at 17th long over the green and into the water which would prove a costly mistake for the world No 57, having already gone a shot behind McIlroy on the 16th hole.
It is McIlroy’s 28th PGA Tour title and second this year, with the 35-year-old Northern Irishman coming into a brilliant vein of form three weeks out from this year’s Masters, having previously won at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.
‘I’ve worked really hard, I feel like I’m more of a complete player now,’ McIlroy said.
‘I feel like I can play in all conditions and anything that comes my way. I’m really happy I was able to get it done today.
‘I’m really proud of my body of work. I’ve tried to get better every year. I feel like I’m continually trying to do that. The younger guys are getting better and better each year. And I feel like I’ve got a few good years ahead.’
He joins the likes of Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler to become one of eight players to win multiple Players Championship titles.
Inclement weather forced a halt to proceedings on Sunday afternoon, with PGA Tour bosses suspending play for four hours, with McIlroy and Spaun finding themselves tied at the top of the leaderboard at 12-under par, following 72 holes of golf.
The sun shined down on TPC Sawgrass after stormy conditions swept through Florida yesterday but a cold 20mph wind caused some issues for both players as they made their way around the 16th, 17th and 18th holes.
It was the first time Spaun has contended in a playoff hole in his career, as the 34-year-old chased after his second career PGA Tour victory.
Rory McIlroy claimed his second Players Championship title and his second PGA Tour win of the season on Monday morning
The Northern Irishman beat JJ Spaun (pictured) over a three-hole play-off, with the American finding the water on the par-three 17th
Spaun, the 2022 Valero Texas Open winner, had the chance to clinch the tournament on Sunday with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th but couldn’t slide the shot home, with the world No 57 agonisingly leaving his putt short, before tapping in for par to take the tournament to a playoff.
McIlroy also could have wrapped up the win on Sunday, carding a bogey on the 14th.
But the playoff was perhaps a disappointing end to his time at Sawgrass, with the American star impressing this week.
McIlroy had the honour with the pair teeing off on the 16th hole at TPC Sawgrass. It was an awkward start for the 2019 Players Champion, whose tee shot appeared to land in a divot on the 16th.
It would though, not prove too much of a problem for the six-time Race to Dubai winner, who pitched a nine-iron onto the green at the par-five 16th before tapping in for a birdie while Spaun tapped in for par.
It meant that McIlroy took the honour heading onto the tee at the infamous par-three 17th. With the wind swirling into the faces of both players, the five-time major winner dropped his ball onto the heart of the green with a terrific tee shot.
With the pressure on, Spaun could not respond. Sending his tee shot into the drink before chipping on from the drop zone.
Despite taking an advantage, McIlroy was errant with his putter which was perhaps not indicative of his week with the flat stick. He sent his birdie putt long past the hole and couldn’t slide his next in for par. Spuan would go on to card a treble bogey.
It was a tough defeat for Spaun (left) who was competing in only his first-ever play-off and for his second PGA Tour title
With a three-shot lead going into the 18th, McIlroy sliced his drive long and right into the trees on the right of the lake, while Spaun followed, sending his tee-shot into the patrons on the right flank of the fairway.
McIlroy then dropped an approach onto the green, before two-putting to card a bogey on the last to win the Players Championship.
McIlroy is interestingly the second player to hit less than half of the fairways at the Players Championship to win the title.
More to follow…
