Players Championship: Rory McIlroy blows 3 shot lead with five holes to play; in Monday playoff

PONTE VEDRA BEACH — Rory McIlroy feels like he should have been headed home to Jupiter Sunday night with The Players Championship trophy.

Instead, a three-hole playoff Monday will determine if McIlroy or J.J. Spaun is in possession of that hardware.

McIlroy had a three-shot lead Sunday at TPC Sawgrass with five holes to play. A two-shot swing on No. 14 (McIlroy bogeyed while Spaun stuck his approach within a foot for a birdie) and Spaun's 9-foot birdie putt on No. 16 put both players at 12-under.

Both players parred the final two holes to finish at 12-under. McIlroy, who started the day four shots behind 54-hole leader Spaun, shot a 68. Spaun shot 72.

"All day it was a bit of a battle," McIlroy said. "I'm standing here thinking I should be going home with a trophy tonight.

"But I'll get a good night's sleep and reset and try to win it tomorrow."

McIlroy's best chance to retain the lead came on No. 15 but his 6-foot birdie putt caught the left edge. He made the comebacker from 2-feet for the par.

The playoff will start at 9 a.m. at No. 16 on the Stadium Course. This is the fourth Players playoff in the last 35 years, the second with a three-hole aggregate. Rickie Fowler defeated Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner in 2015.

While McIlroy is seeking his 28th PGA Tour victory, Spaun is seeking his second. The winner will earn $4.5 million. The runner-up takes home $2.725 million.

Players' final round suspended for four hours because of rain, lightning

Rory McIlroy plays his shot from the 13th tee during the final round of the 2025 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

The final round was suspended for four hours starting at 1:15 p.m. because of rain and lightning. The area already was under a tornado watch.

McIlroy had a one-shot lead over Spaun and was two clear of Tom Hoge, Jupiter's Akshay Bhatia and Danny Walker when the horn sounded.

Hoge, Bhatia and Jupiter's Lucas Glover tied for third at 10-under.

McIlroy was in the fairway on the 12th hole when play stopped. He hit it to 13 feet after returning to the course and made the birdie putt.

Spaun then bogeyed No. 11 to fall three shots back.

"I was like … anything can happen on this final stretch," Spaun said. "So I just had to keep plugging, keep plodding."

J.J. Spaun reacts on the 16th green during the final round of the 2025 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

Both players hit the dangerous No. 17 island green, McIlroy 13-feet away, Spaun 45 feet, to remain tied.

The 18th provided drama for both players. McIlroy's 4-foot par putt rolled around the right edge before dropping. Spaun's drive settled in the pine straw but his approach was to 31 feet. His birdie putt was headed to the hole but died about 2-inches short.

"I showed myself that I don't have to shy away from the moment," Spaun said. "I think in the past I've done that, just kind of been afraid of being in that spotlight, being in that pressure, be worried about failure. But it's hard to win, and you have to fail multiple times in order to win.

"That's kind of what I've learned throughout my career, and it paid off today."

Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Rory McIlroy, J.J. Spaun in Monday playoff at Players Championship

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