Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun Set for Monday Playoff at THE PLAYERS Championship
Seoul, Korea – Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun will return to TPC Sawgrass on Monday morning to decide the 2025 PLAYERS Championship in a three-hole aggregate playoff after both players finished at 12 under par.
McIlroy, a 2019 PLAYERS champion, shot a final-round 68 to storm up the leaderboard, while Spaun, the overnight leader, posted a 72, leaving the two tied atop the leaderboard when play was suspended for four hours due to inclement weather.
The playoff will begin at 9 a.m. ET, with Golf Channel and Peacock broadcasting live coverage. If the two players remain tied after holes 16, 17, and 18, the playoff will move to sudden death, rotating through holes 17, 18, and 16 until a winner is determined.
This marks the sixth playoff in THE PLAYERS Championship history and the first Monday finish since 2022.
McIlroy Seeks Second PLAYERS Title
With a win, McIlroy (World No. 2) would become just the eighth multiple winner of THE PLAYERS and the first two-time champion since the event moved to TPC Sawgrass in 1982.
A victory would also be his 28th career PGA TOUR title, tying him with Leo Diegel and Paul Runyan for 20th on the all-time list.
“I love this tournament, and I’ve put myself in a position to win again,” McIlroy said. “It’s going to be a battle tomorrow, but I’m ready.”
Spaun’s Bid for Career-Defining Victory
World No. 57 J.J. Spaun is searching for his second PGA TOUR win, with his only previous victory coming at the 2022 Valero Texas Open.
If he wins, Spaun would become the lowest-ranked player to claim THE PLAYERS since Si Woo Kim (No. 75 in 2017).
“I battled all day in tough conditions,” Spaun said. “I’m looking forward to the challenge tomorrow.”
Playoff Course History – Who Has the Edge?
Over the first four rounds, McIlroy has played holes 16-18 at -3, while Spaun has scored -2.
Player 16 17 18 Total Rory McIlroy -1 +1 -3 -3 J.J. Spaun -3 E +1 -2
While McIlroy holds a slight advantage, Spaun has outperformed him on the par-5 16th, potentially giving him an edge in the playoff.
Other Key Final Round Takeaways
Tom Hoge (-10, T3) continued his impressive form at TPC Sawgrass, matching the low round of the day with a 66 and recording his second consecutive T3 finish at THE PLAYERS.
Akshay Bhatia (-10, T3), the youngest 36-hole leader in tournament history, secured his third top-10 finish of the season at just 23 years old.
Lucas Glover (-10, T3), at 45 years old, matched his best-ever PLAYERS finish (T3 in 2010).
Bud Cauley (-8, T6) earned a full PGA TOUR exemption for the remainder of the season by surpassing the Major Medical Extension threshold.
Monday Finish Set for High Drama
With McIlroy chasing history and Spaun seeking a career-defining victory, the Monday playoff at THE PLAYERS Championship promises to be an unforgettable showdown at TPC Sawgrass.