Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun will battle it out in a playoff at the Players Championship after a tense final round at Sawgrass.
World number two McIlroy went into the closing 18 holes trailing by four shots at a time when Spaun held the lead, but the pair will do battle over a three-hole playoff on Monday.
Despite the early start due to the forecast bad weather, a four-hour delay ensured that there was only enough daylight for Spaun to go agonisingly close to holing a 31-foot putt for victory.
McIlroy had earlier missed a short par putt at the 14th hole to bring in back towards the pack after establishing a three-shot lead, and the Northern Irishman had required a nerve-jangling four-foot putt for par on the last to give himself the clubhouse lead.
Birdies at 14 and 16 kept Spaun in the hunt, before a terrific two-putt on the 17th and near-miss for the trophy led to an extra day being required.
4 feet for the clubhouse lead ... 😅 pic.twitter.com/izZzEVmlw6
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 16, 2025
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
What else happened on Sunday?
Akshay Bhatia threatened to join the party but missed short putts ensured that the left-hander had to make do with a share of third alongside Tom Hoge and Lucas Glover.
Bud Cauley is in line to regain his full playing rights on the PGA Tour after securing a tie for sixth with Corey Conners and Danny Walker.
Scotland's Robert MacIntyre shot a final-round 69 to finish in ninth place, with Collin Morikawa and Davis Thompson completing the top 10.
The English duo of Tommy Fleetwood and Aaron Rai secured a share of 14th spot, while world number one and two-time defending champion Scottie Scheffler was 20th.
Darren Plant
