Rory McIlroy claimed victory in The Players Championship on Monday in a playoff against J.J. Spaun, winning after just three holes and three shots. Despite the brief playoff, McIlroy’s win highlighted both the current state of his game and the unforgiving nature of TPC Sawgrass.
McIlroy quickly took control, delivering his best drive of the week, which set up an easy birdie, followed by a solid 9-iron shot into the tough, gusty winds that landed on the island green at the challenging 17th hole.
“I didn’t have my best stuff this week,” McIlroy admitted after becoming one of the eight players to win The Players Championship multiple times. “But I was still able to win one of the biggest tournaments in the world. That’s a huge accomplishment.”
This victory marks the first time in McIlroy’s career that he has won twice before the Masters, the major that has eluded him for over a decade, keeping him from joining the elite group of golfers with a career Grand Slam.
J.J. Spaun thought he had found the perfect shot to answer Rory McIlroy’s early lead, but his hopes were dashed when his 8-iron shot sailed over the island green on the second playoff hole, landing in the water and ending his chances at the biggest win of his career.
“Can I watch this?” Spaun asked as he sat at a table, watching a replay of his tee shot on the 17th hole. It was the first time he saw where his ball landed — just beyond the wooden frame and into the water. He had only heard the disappointed groans from the gallery as the ball flew off course.
J.J. Spaun still couldn’t believe what had happened.
“I never thought it was long,” he said softly. “I never thought it was long.”
And just like that, the exciting week at golf’s richest tournament came to an end. Thousands of spectators braved the cold and wind to watch 47 minutes of golf between Rory McIlroy — now with 39 worldwide wins and among the sport’s most renowned players — and Spaun, a 34-year-old with one PGA Tour win who had never broken 70 at TPC Sawgrass until this week.
McIlroy, who woke up at 3 a.m. and struggled to fall back asleep, didn’t mind whether it was the pressure to win or to avoid losing. Despite holding a three-shot lead with five holes to play on Sunday, the tension was still present.
Rory McIlroy worked on his tee shot with the same wind that was helping him from the right. To practice for the 17th hole, he adjusted his aim and hit balls from the range toward the third green, simulating the wind conditions.
Throughout the week, McIlroy had struggled off the tee, missing nearly half of his fairways. However, he started the final stretch strong, hitting his best drive of the week — a 336-yard shot down the middle. This set him up with a pitching wedge from 176 yards on the par-5 16th, where he made a two-putt birdie from 35 feet.
“I thought if I could get the ball in the fairway there, it would put a little pressure on J.J.,” McIlroy said. “Making that swing was awesome.”
And then, the moment of truth came on the 17th hole.
As McIlroy’s ball was in the air, he was urging it to land.
Spaun, on the other hand, hit an 8-iron with a higher trajectory, into the strong wind from the right. His first instinct was to shout, “Get up.”
“It looked like it was going to be short,” Spaun recalled. “I was stunned when it went long. I’m happy with the swing I made, but the wind must have calmed down just enough for the ball to carry. It just wasn’t my time.”
The first three-hole playoff at The Players in 10 years was triggered by a four-hour rain delay on Sunday. McIlroy needed to sink a 4-foot par putt on the 72nd hole, while Spaun had a 30-foot birdie attempt to win that came up just inches short.
After losing a three-shot lead on the back nine, McIlroy, feeling disappointed, focused on the playoff, saying, “Make five good swings tomorrow morning and get this thing done.”
In the end, McIlroy only needed three great shots — a driver and wedge on No. 16, and a 9-iron on No. 17 — to beat Spaun and claim the $4.5 million prize from the $25 million purse.
This moment was reminiscent of a 2008 playoff between Sergio Garcia and Paul Goydos, when the 17th hole was used in sudden death. Garcia hit the green, while Goydos came up short and into the water, making the walk to the drop zone a lonely one.
Spaun ended up three-putting from 45 feet for a triple bogey. McIlroy ran his 30-foot putt well past the hole for a bogey, extending his lead to three shots. Both players then hit their drives well right on the 18th hole. McIlroy took a safe bogey, while Spaun chose not to putt his 10-footer left for bogey.
McIlroy is steering clear of labeling The Players as the “fifth major” or anything resembling it because he knows the real challenge — the Masters — is just a month away at Augusta National. The goal now is to maintain his current form and continue to improve. He also claimed victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month and plans to add one more tournament, either in Houston or San Antonio, before the Masters.
“Everything feels like it’s in good working order at the minute,” McIlroy said. “Just keep practicing and doing the right things, practicing the right habits, and day after day, week after week, they all add up to days like today.”
Spaun, who finished as runner-up, earned $2,725,000 and moved up to No. 25 in the world rankings, securing a spot in the Masters.
“A good consolation to the week,” Spaun commented.
