McIlroy vs. Spaun: The Players Championship Heads to Monday Playoff

The Players Championship isn’t over yet, as Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun will battle for the title in a Monday playoff after finishing tied at 12-under 276.

McIlroy shot a 68 in Sunday’s final round, which included a four-hour weather delay, while Spaun carded an even-par 72. Spaun erased McIlroy’s three-stroke lead on the back nine, nearly sinking a 30-foot putt for the win on the 18th hole. His ball stopped just inches short, forcing a playoff.

This marks only the sixth playoff in tournament history and the first since Rickie Fowler’s dramatic 2015 win.

Playoff Details

📅 Date: Monday, March 17
⏰ Time: 9 a.m. ET
📺 TV: Golf Channel
💻 Streaming: Peacock

The playoff will be a three-hole aggregate, played on the par-5 16th, par-3 17th, and par-4 18th. If still tied, sudden death will begin on the 17th hole.

McIlroy vs. Spaun

McIlroy, a four-time major champion, won The Players in 2019 and holds a 3-2 career playoff record. Meanwhile, Spaun, a one-time PGA Tour winner, is entering his first career playoff.

The Stakes

With a $25 million purse—the largest in PGA Tour history—the winner will take home $4.5 million, while the runner-up earns $2.72 million.

All eyes will be on TPC Sawgrass Monday morning as McIlroy and Spaun battle for golf’s unofficial fifth major.