2025 Players Championship, recap: Rory McIlroy defeats J.J. Spaun in Monday playoff

Rory McIlroy is now here twice:

The Players Championship: Every winner through the years

Here’s a look at the players who have won The Players, since 1974.

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• Golf Channel Staff,

Rory McIlroy says he has now won three times on St. Patrick’s Day.

Rory McIlroy: Birdie-Bogey-Bogey

J.J. Spaun: Par-Triple bogey-DNF

Once McIlroy putted out for bogey on 18, wrapping up his 2-over performance, victory was assured. Spaun didn’t need to finish the 18th hole.

McIlroy bogeys the 18th but it’s plenty good enough to defeat Spaun.

McIlroy add this Players title to his 2019 victory.

With the wind into them off the left, Spaun’s approach from 143 yards finishes 68 feet short of the hole.

McIlroy, playing from 140 — but more like a “160 shot” — flights his ball down, 17 feet away.

Spaun topped his into the fairway while McIlroy cleanly punched back into play.

Both will have about 140 yards in.

McIlroy hits driver way right. Spaun hits driver even farther right.

While McIlroy’s tee ball went 334 yards, Spaun’s only traveled 277.

One hole remaining in the aggregate playoff.

He runs his bogey effort 10 feet past the hole and can’t make the putt for double.

McIlroy’s birdie effort slides past the hole and he, too, can’t make the comebacker. It’s bogey for McIlroy but he still picks up two shots.

After dunking his tee shot into the drink, Spaun hits from the drop zone at No. 17.

Playing roughly an “89-yard shot,” Spaun’s ball lands in the middle of the green and spins back, 42 feet from the hole. He’ll be putting for bogey before McIlroy putts for birdie.

Using a 9-iron from 130 yards, McIlroy hits it to the back of the green, where it holds, 29 feet from the flag.

Spaun — after peeking into McIlroy’s bag to see what he used — flies an 8-iron over the green, straight into the water.

Spaun, as he did routinely Sunday, leaves his 22-foot birdie putt short and settles for par.

McIlroy rolls in his 5-footer for birdie to take the early advantage.

Spaun hits his bunker shot heavy, leaving himself 22 feet for birdie.

McIlroy, with 33 feet for eagle, runs it 5 feet past.

Playing first, Spaun has 213 yards to the hole, his ball nestled in the thick, right rough. After a club change, his approach shot barely carries the water and finishes in the front greenside bunker.

McIlroy, hitting a wedge downwind from 180 yards, plays safely into the middle of the green, 33 feet from the hole.

McIlroy: Driver down the middle, 336 yards.

Spaun: Driver into right rough, 309 yards.

Par-5 16th:

• McIlroy: -1
• Spaun: -3

Par-3 17th:

• McIlroy +1
• Spaun: Even

Par-4 18th:

• McIlroy: -3
• Spaun: +1

He hit his “strong 3-iron” off the tee Sunday and carved it into the fairway, leaving himself 182 yards in. Johnson Wagner says, with the chill in the air and the wind off the left, no chance McIlroy hits iron off the tee today.

Johnson Wagner, on Gary Williams’ “5 Clubs” show, is on the Stadium Course. He says with the different Monday morning — compared to Sunday afternoon — conditions, the par-5 16th will be playing downwind, the par-3 17th will play into the wind, and on the par-4 18th, the wind will be coming strong off the left.

Here’s how to watch:

How to watch Monday’s playoff with Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun in the 2025 Players Championship

Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun will be in a Monday playoff to determine the winner of The Players Championship.

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• Golf Channel Staff,

Rory McIlroy: 3-2
J.J. Spaun: 0-0

J.J. Spaun comes up inches short and we’ll have a Monday playoff at The Players.

Spaun shoots even-par 72 but overcomes a late three-shot deficit to still have a chance.

Here’s the playoff format:

What is The Players Championship playoff format?

Here’s the playoff format for Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun at The Players Championship.

• Golf Channel Staff,

• Golf Channel Staff,

That’s what J.J. Spaun has after his approach shot from the pine straw, to win The Players Championship.

McIlroy coaxes his 4-foot par putt into the hole at 18 to shoot 68. Now, he waits.

Spaun’s drive runs through the fairway, through the first cut and into the pine straw. He’s 198 yards out.

J.J. Spaun two-putts from 45 feet at the 17th to remain at 12 under.

Up ahead, Rory McIlroy lags his 73-footer to 4 feet.

After backing off his 182-yard approach shot, McIlroy hits a sweeping hook that lands about 40 feet short of the hole and rolls back another 30. He’s going to have 73 feet for birdie to take the solo lead.

Bhatia misses an 8-footer for birdie at the 18th to shoot 70 and finish at 10 under, tied with Tom Hoge.

The 23-year-old bogeyed the 10th and then parred his final eight holes in the final round.

Using his “strong 3-iron,” he hits a perfect draw down the middle of the fairway. McIlroy, who has birdied the 18th each of the first three rounds, has 182 yards in.

J.J. Spaun has overcome a three-shot deficit to join Rory McIlroy atop the leaderboard.

Spaun gets up and down from left of the 16th green for his second birdie in three holes. McIlroy pars the 17th.

Leaderboard:
T1. Rory McIlroy: -12 (17)
T1. J.J. Spaun: -12 (16)
T3. Tom Hoge: -10 (66)
T3. Akshay Bhatia: -10 (17)
T3. Lucas Glover: -10 (16)

So much so that Cauley stepped on playing competitor Lucas Glover’s ball near the 16th green.

No penalty assessed; Glover replaces ball closest to the spot where it was smushed.

After watching Alex Smalley’s ball take a long stroll on the bulkhead before dropping in the water at the par-3 17th, and then backing off his tee shot because of crowd noise, McIlroy spins a wedge inside 14 feet, against the collar.

On-course reporter Jim “Bones” Mackay said Spaun had a little mud on his ball for his second shot at the par-5 16th. Spaun pulls it left of the green and has 94 feet remaining.

Following a missed 6-footer at 15, McIlroy can’t capitalize at the par-5 16th, missing an 11-footer.

J.J. Spaun, meanwhile, is in the fairway off the tee at No. 16.

Leaderboard:
1. Rory McIlroy: -12 (16)
2. J.J. Spaun: -11 (15)
T3. Tom Hoge: -10 (66)
T3. Akshay Bhatia: -10 (17)

Bhatia, trailing by two, hit the green with his second shot at the par-5 16th.

After running his 47-foot eagle putt 5 feet past the hole, he missed the comebacker. Bhatia remains two back at 10 under.

Leaderboard:
1. Rory McIlroy: -12 (15)
2. J.J. Spaun: -11 (15)
T3. Tom Hoge: -10 (66)
T3. Akshay Bhatia: -10 (16)

Q. It seemed like yesterday there were some frustrating moments, for obvious reasons because of the conditions and stuff. When you stepped back last night, what did you take out of yesterday?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Well, I definitely felt myself getting a bit frustrated, but what was I thinking about at dinner — well, we were feeding Bennett (his son) some mushrooms. He liked those. Some raw mushrooms. He seemed to really enjoy those. The whole family was here, so believe it or not, I wasn’t contemplating what the wind was doing on 16 when I was up there eating dinner.

Q. We’re not used to seeing you visibly frustrated like it was yesterday, and obviously the conditions were bad --

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: You’ve played golf before, right?

Q. I’m frustrated more than you are.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: So you get it. It’s just one of those things. I’m a competitive guy, and I felt like I could have played a lot better this week. Like I said, I’m really close. I maybe finished the week 4 under par. I felt like I played some better golf than that. Looking forward to fine tuning things next week and then getting ready for Houston.

With a chance to reclaim a two-stroke lead, Rory McIlroy misses a 6-foot birdie at the 15th.

Leaderboard:
1. Rory McIlroy: -12 (15)
2. J.J. Spaun: -11 (14)
T2. Tom Hoge: -10 (66)
T2. Akshay Bhatia: -10 (15)

And a good thing, because he had made only 35 feet of putts over his first 13 holes. The birdie gets him to 11 under and one back of Rory McIlroy.

With a bogey at the 18th, Scheffler shoots 73 to finish at 4 under.

Scheffler, a year ago, became the first back-to-back champion in Players history. This time around, he made only four weekend birdies (just one Sunday) and was T-20 when he signed his card.

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McIlroy two-putts from 15 feet at the 14th to card his second bogey of the day.

Leaderboard:
1. Rory McIlroy: -12 (14)
T2. Tom Hoge: -10 (66)
T2. Akshay Bhatia: -10 (14)
T2. J.J. Spaun: -10 (13)

Out of the rough, over the trees and into the fairway. McIlroy has 54 yards remaining for his third shot on the par 4 14th.

McIlroy, up by three strokes over three players, goes wide right off the tee at the par-4 14th.

Morikawa, a pre-tournament favorite, had plenty of opportunities Sunday but couldn’t get the putts to fall, losing 2.133 strokes on the green in the final round.

After a 77-69 weekend, he finishes at 7 under.

In just 8 minutes, McIlroy turned a one-shot lead into three. McIlroy birdied the 12th hole from 12 feet while J.J. Spaun three-putted for bogey at the 11th.

Leaderboard:
1. Rory McIlroy: -13 (12)
T2. Tom Hoge: -10 (66)
T2. Akshay Bhatia: -10 (13)
T2. Danny Walker: -10 (12)
T2. J.J. Spaun: -10 (11)

Short. Hoge shoots 66 to post 10 under.

Bud Cauley was 66 yards away with his third shot on No. 11 while Spaun faced a 62-yard bunker shot.

Spaun, however, hit his shot first — to the surprise of Cauley — and finished 69 feet from the hole. Cauley then bounced his approach over the green.

Players are finishing their warmups and getting into position.

Practice facilities are open and play is scheduled to resume at 5:15 p.m. EDT.

Sunset is 7:34 p.m. in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The final group is currently on the 11th hole.

The 4 p.m. update is that there will be a 4:30 p.m. update.

This is like waiting on the tarmac. The Tour now says 4 p.m. EDT for an update (for real real).

In-booth rules official Mark Dusbabek says the forecast is looking good for a return to action (TBD on timing).

They have about 2 hours of regulation to play and sun sets at 7:35 p.m. EDT.

The 3 p.m. update is that there will be a 3:30 p.m. update.

Standby.

We’ll update you at 2:30 p.m. EDT.

1. Rory McIlroy: -12 (11)
2. J.J. Spaun: -11 (10)
T3. Tom Hoge: -10 (17)
T3. Akshay Bhatia: -10 (12)
T3. Danny Walker: -10 (12)
6. Bud Cauley: -9 (10)

Just before play was suspended, Hoge hit a 9-iron to 17 feet.

He is currently one off the lead with a chance to post the target.

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With a storm headed Ponte Vedra Beach’s way, PGA Tour officials have suspended play.

McIlroy makes a 13-footer for birdie at the 11th to reach 12 under. He’s one clear of J.J. Spaun, who is currently on the par 5.

While Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun share the lead at 11 under, Akshay Bhatia, Tom Hoge and Danny Walker are one back.

Hoge is on the 18th hole while Walker, who was an 11th-hour replacement, is on the 12th.

Bud Cauley and J.J. Spaun both made their first birdies of the round at the par-5 ninth. Lucas Glover has three bogeys and no birdies. Here’s where they stand:

T1. Spaun: -11 (1 over on the day)
T4. Cauley: -9 (2 over)
T14. Glover: -6 (3 over)

From behind the green at the par-5 ninth, McIlroy chips to 11 feet. He can’t convert the birdie, though, and remains at 11 under, tied with Akshay Bhatia.

In the span of minutes, J.J. Spaun bogeys the par-3 eighth (bad tee shot), while Akshay Bhatia birdies the ninth. McIlroy, meanwhile, is over the green in two at the par-5 ninth.

Leaderboard:
T1. Akshay Bhatia: -11 (9)
T1. Rory McIlroy: -11 (8)
3. J.J. Spaun: -10 (8)

McIlroy hits his tee shot to 15 feet at the par-3 eighth and curls in the birdie. He’s now 3 under on the day and, again, a co-leader.

Leaderboard:
T1. Rory McIlroy: -11 (8)
T1. J.J. Spaun: -11 (7)
3. Akshay Bhatia: -10 (8)

Bhatia bogeys the eighth and J.J. Spaun is again alone at the top.

Leaderboard:
1. J.J. Spaun: -11 (5)
T2. Akshay Bhatia: -10 (8)
T2. Rory McIlroy: -10 (8)

After a poor drive into the bunker at the par-4 seventh, McIlroy cards his first bogey of the day.

Leaderboard:
T1. Akshay Bhatia: -11 (7)
T1. J.J. Spaun: -11 (6)
3. Rory McIlroy: -10 (7)

Fowler won the 2015 Players in impressive fashion but after opening in 68 Thursday, he’s gone 71-82. He started his final round with a quadruple bogey to drop into last place — three clear of Xander Schauffele.

Bhatia poorly struck a 7-footer for birdie at the seventh that would have given him the outright lead.

Leaderboard:
T1. Akshay Bhatia: -11 (7)
T1. Rory McIlroy: -11 (6)
T1. J.J. Spaun: -11 (5)

J.J. Spaun has had multiple, stressful par putts over his first five holes. He finally missed one on the fifth.

Leaderboard:
T1. J.J. Spaun: -11 (5)
T1. Akshay Bhatia: -11 (6)
T1. Rory McIlroy: -11 (5)

That’s all there is to add at the moment.

After a bogey at the third, Cauley clips a tree off the tee at No. 4 and cards another square. He drops to 9 under, three back.

J.J. Spaun coaxes in a par putt at the fourth to remain on top. Akshay Bhatia and Rory McIlroy are the only other players in double-digits under par.

Leaderboard:
1. J.J. Spaun: -12 (4)
T2. Akshay Bhatia: -11 (5)
T2. Rory McIlroy: -11 (4)

NBC’s Dan Hicks said heavier rain is headed their way but, he added, no lightning for now.

With the torrid start, Bhatia is one off the lead. The 23-year-old was the 36-hole co-leader and struggled to a Saturday 75. He’s firmly in the mix now.

Leaderboard:
1. J.J. Spaun: -12 (2)
T2. Akshay Bhatia: -11 (4)
T2. Rory McIlroy: -11 (3)
T2. Bud Cauley: -11 (2)

Going all caps early.

After a 319-yard drive at the par-5 second, Rory McIlroy hits it to 10 feet from 228. He then rolls in the eagle to reach 11 under.

Leaderboard:
1. J.J. Spaun: -12 (1)
T2. Rory McIlroy: -11 (2)
T2. Bud Cauley: -11 (1)

Both pick up a shot at the first and both move to 9 under, three off the lead.

J.J. Spaun finds the fairway, Bud Cauley (who turned 35 today) does too, and Lucas Glover makes it 3-for-3.

Leaderboard:
1. Spaun: -12 (—)
2. Cauley: -11 (—)
3. Smalley: -10 (1)

Following a Saturday 77, Morikawa has three birdies in his first five holes Sunday to get back within five of the lead.

Among those playing in the first-hour window, no one is better than 1 under par on the round.

Beginning on the 10th hole, Spieth has started bogey-bogey-bogey-double bogey.

Pay no attention to the Monday forecast. Nothing to see here.