The 2025 PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass is going to require at least 75 holes to determine a winner. That is because Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun finished tied at 12-under par, two strokes clear of a host of other golfers.
Due to an extended rain delay, the playoff has been postponed until Monday morning. Players will tee off on the par-5 16th at 9:00 AM ET. It will be a three-hole cumulative score playoff between McIlroy and Spaun.
But this ending could have been very different, both ways.
McIlroy got off to a quick start on Sunday, erasing a four-shot deficit rather quickly.
The highlight came on the par-5 2nd when McIlroy eagled.
Meanwhile, Spaun had the opposite beginning to his day. He played his first eight holes at 2-over par.
But Spaun had what he called afterward a ‘fortuitous’ break that turned his day around.
While playing the par-5 9th, Spaun’s approach shot found the thick stuff. But upon addressing his ball, his feet were over a set of sprinklers. That allowed him free relief one club length.
Spaun then used the PGA Tour rules to his advantage, reportedly dropping his ball onto the sprinkler for his drop. That, per Tour rules, allowed free relief yet again.
The 34-year-old pro then was able to drop into the fairway. Suddenly, he had a great lie and was able to get up-and-down for birdie.
Meanwhile, McIlroy was cruising along.
Following a four-hour rain delay, the Northern Irishman birdied 11 and 12. That helped him build a three-shot lead as he teed off on 14.
Unfortunately for Rory, he dropped a shot on the difficult par-4 14th and parred out from there. Spaun, playing one group behind, birdied 14 and 16 to tie McIlroy at 12-under.
The relatively unknown PGA Tour pro then had a birdie putt on 18 to end it.
JJ Spaun was an inch from winning The PLAYERS Championship.Playoff time. Tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/4uLdv8e7Bd
— Fore Play (@ForePlayPod) March 16, 2025
Spaun’s birdie putt on 18 was headed center cup, but came up just inches short. One has to wonder what was going through McIlroy’s head as that ball rolled toward the hole.
He settled for the tap-in par, forcing the three-hole playoff on Monday.
It will be a David vs Goliath matchup, with McIlroy looking for his 28th career PGA Tour victory. Spaun, on the other hand, will be looking for his second.
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