Rory McIlroy clinches his second Players Championship title outlasting JJ Spaun over a dramatic three-hole playoff – after the American found the water on the infamous 17th hole

Rory McIlroy outlasted JJ Spaun over a three-hole playoff to win his second Players Championship title on Monday morning.

It came as Spaun agonisingly sent his tee shot at 17th long over the green and into the water, having gone a shot behind McIlroy on the previous hole.

It is McIlroy’s 28th PGA Tour title and second this year, with the 35-year-old Northern Irishman coming into a brilliant vein of form three weeks out from this year’s Masters. 

Inclement weather forced a halt to proceedings on Sunday afternoon, with PGA Tour bosses suspending play for four hours, with McIlroy and Spaun finding themselves tied at the top of the leaderboard at 12-under par, following 72 holes of golf.

The sun shined down on TPC Sawgrass after stormy conditions swept through Florida yesterday but a brisk wind caused some issues for both players as they made their way around the 16th, 17th and 18th holes.

It was the first time Spaun has contended in a playoff hole as the 34-year-old chased after his second career PGA Tour victory.

Spaun, the 2022 Valero Texas Open winner, had the chance to clinch the tournament on Sunday with a 30-foot birdie putt on the 18th but couldn’t slide the shot home, with the world No 57 agonisingly leaving his putt short, before tapping in for par to take the tournament to a playoff.

But the playoff was perhaps a disappointing end to his time at Sawgrass, with the American star impressing this week.

McIlroy had the honour with the pair teeing off on the 16th hole at TPC Sawgrass. It was an awkward start for the 2019 Players Champion, whose tee shot appeared to land in a divot on the 16th.

It would though, not prove too much of a problem for the six-time Race to Dubai winner, who pitched a nine-iron onto the green at the par-five 16th before tapping in for a birdie while Spaun tapped in for par.

It meant that McIlroy took the honour heading onto the tee at the infamous par-three 17th. With the wind swirling into the faces of both players, the five-time major winner dropped his ball onto the heart of the green with a terrific tee shot.

With the pressure on, Spaun could not respond. Sending his tee shot into the drink before chipping on from the drop zone.

Despite taking an advantage, McIlroy was errant with his putter which was perhaps not indicative of his week with the flat stick. He sent his birdie putt long past the hole and couldn’t slide his next in for par. Spuan would go on to card a treble bogey.

With a three-shot lead going into the 18th, McIlroy sliced his drive long and right into the trees on the right of the lake, while Spaun followed, sending his tee-shot into the patrons on the right flank of the fairway.

McIlroy then dropped an approach onto the green, before two-putting to card a bogey on the last to win the Players Championship.

More to follow…