PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Rory McIlroy built a three-shot lead on the back nine at The Players Championship and unheralded J.J. Spaun didn’t blink.
They wound up tied after a four-hour rain delay and will return Monday for a playoff to decide who wins the richest tournament in golf.
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Prestige, a gold trophy, and a massive cash prize are all on the line.
The winner will receive $4.5 million, while the runner-up will receive $2,725,000.
The remainder of the $25 million purse has already been determined among the other players.
Here’s what fans need to know about the Monday playoff:
- Gates Open: 8 a.m.
- Playoff begins: 9 a.m.
- Ticketing: Fans with a Sunday Stadium Pass or hospitality venue ticket will be admitted at no charge. The youth policy remains in effect, allowing two children 15 and under to enter free with a ticketed adult.
- Parking: Complimentary parking will be available in the general parking lot off County Road 210 on a first-come, first-served basis for all Sunday ticket holders. The rideshare entrance at the Couples entry off ATP Boulevard will be closed for drop-off and pick-up. Fans can instead use the general parking lot for drop-off.
- On-Site Services: Limited concessions will be available for purchase (including 18 Landing, The Local, and Tropical Smoothie). Please note that the PGA TOUR Fan Shop will be closed.
- Playoff Format: A three-hole aggregate playoff will be contested on the most dynamic holes at TPC Sawgrass: the par-5 16th, the island green on the par-3 17th and the daunting par-4 closing hole. If players remain tied after three holes, the playoff will move to sudden death, starting at the par-3 17th hole, followed by 18, 16, 17, and 18, repeating in order until a champion is determined.
How we got here
McIlroy needed two putts from 75 feet on the par-4 18th for a 4-under 68. All he could do was wait in the scoring area on Spaun, who had caught up with a marvelous chip on the par-5 16th and stood over a 30-foot putt for the win.
It stopped inches short, giving Spaun a 72 to match McIlroy at 12-under 276.
The News4JAX sports team caught up with both players after they learned they would be facing off in a playoff.
“I had a pretty bad tee shot on 14 and gave myself a chance for par there and then had two really good chances on 15 and 16. I felt like it got a little darker at 15 and 16. There was a little cell. It was about 2 miles away, and I really struggled to read those two puts, so I had two good chances that slipped by there,” McIlroy said. “I feel like I should be going home with the trophy tonight, but that’s fine. I will reset. Hopefully, I’ll go home with the trophy (Monday) morning.”
Spaun said he knew it wouldn’t be an easy final round, and he put faith in himself and his caddie -- and then took advantage of the weather delay.
“It was nice getting a birdie on 9. I got a fortuitous break there. I think the break we had with the weather helped me regroup and reset and kind of came out with a different mindset instead of being so nervous,” Spaun said.
It will be the first Monday finish since Cameron Smith won in 2022 and the first playoff at The Players since Rickie Fowler won 10 years ago.
