Rory McIlroy earned his second win on the PGA Tour this season, beating out J.J. Spaun in a three-hole playoff Monday at The Players Championship.
The 35-year-old took the first hole with a birdie on the par-5 16. Spaun then made a critical error on the par-3 17, with his tee shot missing the island green and landing in the water.
With the advantage, McIlroy took a three-shot lead despite finishing with a bogey to sit at even-par, while Spaun shot a triple bogey to fall to 3-over heading into the final hole.
On the par-4 18, McIlroy and Spaun missed the fairway off the tee. This forced both players to hit layup shots to get back on the fairway, and McIlroy then hit his approach shot closer to the hole.
The world No. 2 golfer ended with a two-putt victory to finish with a 1-over as Spaun finished at 3-over.
During Sunday’s final round, McIlroy built up a three-shot lead on the back-nine of the final round, but Baun made a push to force the playoff.
This was the first playoff at The Players since Rickie Fowler won back in 2015.
Both golfers were able to finish in regulation before sunset. The Players has a three-hole aggregate playoff on the most dynamic holes on the TPC Sawgrass — the par-5 16th, the island green on the par-3 17th and the daunting par-4 closing hole.
McIlroy faced a four-shot deficit going into the final round and roared into contention with an 8-foot birdie putt and a beautiful long iron to 10 feet for eagle on the par-5 second. He took the lead for the first time when Spaun made bogey on the seventh hole.
–With files from the Associated Press.