Players Championship highlights, scores: McIlroy beats Spaun in St. Patrick's playoff – USA TODAY

Rory McIlroy is the 2025 Players Championship winner.
McIlroy beat American J.J. Spaun in a three-hole aggregate playoff Monday morning at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, earning his second Players Championship title and second victory on the PGA Tour this season. McIlroy finished +2 following back-to-back bogeys to close the playoff, but a triple bogey by J.J. Spaun was too much for Spaun to overcome.
Each golfer finished Sunday’s final round with a score of -12. There hadn’t been a playoff at the Players Championship since 2015 when Rickie Fowler defeated Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner, so TPC Sawgrass was due for another climactic finish.Here’s a recap of what happened, including highlights of McIlroy’s three-hole playoff win:
Rory McIlroy wins his second Players Championship in a three-hole playoff against J.J. Spaun. McIlroy finished +2 with bogeys on his final two holes, but a triple bogey by J.J. Spaun after hitting into the water on No. 17 proved to be the difference.
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One more playoff hole to go and it’d take a truly epic collapse for Rory McIlroy not to win the 2025 Players Championship. Though McIlroy wound up three-putting for a bogey on No. 17, Spaun ended with a disastrous triple bogey after hitting his tee shot into the water. McIlroy takes a three-shot lead into the final playoff hole at No. 18.
The famed Island Green at TPC Sawgrass just claimed another victim, and this time it might cost J.J. Spaun this three-hole playoff. Spaun hit his tee shot at the course’s signature par 3 into the water, while McIlroy hit safely onto the green with a birdie putt on the way.
McIlory stumbled down the stretch in Sunday’s final round, but he’s jumped out to a quick one-shot lead in the three-hole aggregate playoff. McIlroy sank a birdie putt on the par-5 No. 16 while Spaun wound up with a par. Spaun hit his approach shot and left his ensuing bunker shot and birdie putt short. McIlroy played it safe hitting into the middle of the green after Spaun’s splash into the sand before his birdie.
Spaun’s second needed to carry the water just off to the right. With wind a factor this morning, Spaun just cleared disaster on his second shot.
The playoff will begin at 9 a.m. ET on Monday with coverage on the Golf Channel. Fans can also stream the event with Peacock or through the NBC Sports app. It is also available with Fubo, which offers a free trial subscription for new users.
Here’s the latest forecast from AccuWeather: Monday will offer breezes with partly cloudy conditions. The temperature will reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
The Players Championship is considered by many to be the PGA Tour’s unofficial fifth major, bringing a lot of attention and respect to the winner.
The prize pool is nothing to scoff at either. The winner will take home $4.5 million, with second-place claiming $2.725 million.
Rory McIlroy is the favorite to defeat J.J. Spaun in Monday’s playoff according to BetMGM.
Odds as of Sunday, March 16
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