J.J. Spaun's putt to win The Players stopped heartbreakingly short of an epic victory
J.J. Spaun, the No. 57 golfer in the world, hasn't won a PGA Tour event since the 2022 Valero Open — though he's come close plenty of times since.
Two week ago he was the runner-up at the Cognizant Classic for his second Top 10 finish of the season. If Spaun finishes second at The Players on Monday, he might not be too happy about it. The Tour veteran had a 30-foot birdie putt for a walk-off win on No. 18 at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday evening, only to leave it agonizingly short.
We're talking maybe one or two full revolutions short after a perfect read.
More golf awaits tomorrow.@JJSpaun’s birdie putt on the 72nd hole comes out just short to force a playoff at @THEPLAYERS. pic.twitter.com/50rTalDgL6
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 16, 2025
That's all that stood in the way between a triumphant night for Spaun and another heartbreaking loss for Rory McIlroy.
Instead the two will face off again on Monday in a three-hole aggregate playoff — the first at The Players since 2015. Coverage begins on Golf Channel at 9 a.m. ET. Which means Spaun is going to have a very long night thinking about his missed opportunity on no. 18.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: J.J. Spaun forces playoff at The Players as final putt barely misses
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