Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun battled through a dramatic final round at The Players Championship, which was interrupted by storms, but neither could secure the title outright. As a result, the tournament will be decided by a three-hole aggregate playoff on Monday.
McIlroy, a four-time major champion and the 2019 Players winner, finished tied with Spaun at 12-under 276 after 72 holes at TPC Sawgrass. He had started the final round four shots behind Spaun but surged ahead after play resumed from a four-hour lightning delay, taking a three-stroke lead with six holes remaining.
However, McIlroy bogeyed the 14th hole, and Spaun responded with birdies at 14 and the par-five 16th to pull even. Both players held their nerve with pars on the final holes, forcing a playoff.
Reflecting on the round, McIlroy admitted he felt he should have already secured the win but remained hopeful for the playoff. Spaun, seeking his second PGA Tour victory, credited the weather delay for helping him regain composure, allowing him to stay in contention despite early mistakes.
The playoff will take place over three holes: the par-five 16th, the iconic par-three 17th island green, and the difficult par-four 18th.
Lucas Glover, Tom Hoge, and Akshay Bhatia finished tied for third at 10-under 278. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the reigning Masters champion, finished well off the pace at even-par 284, ending his bid for a third consecutive Players Championship title. Keegan Bradley, the U.S. Ryder Cup captain, provided one of the day’s highlights with a hole-in-one at the par-three 13th.