Rory McIlroy, J.J. Spaun set for Monday playoff at The Players

Post by: Omar Nasser

Photo : AP

The Players Championship will finish on Monday for the ninth time in history. Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun both ended the final round with a score of 12-under-par 276. They will now play a three-hole playoff to decide the winner. The last time this event had a Monday finish was in 2022 when Cameron Smith won.

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The playoff will start at 9 a.m. local time and will take place on holes 16, 17, and 18. The weather on Monday is expected to be sunny but windy, with strong gusts of up to 30 mph.

McIlroy had a three-shot lead with six holes left but could not keep the gap. He started strong with a birdie and an eagle and finished with a 4-under 68. However, he missed important birdie chances on holes 15 and 16, which could have helped him win earlier.

Spaun struggled in the first 11 holes but made a strong comeback. He finished with an even-par 72, making key birdies on holes 14 and 16. On the 16th hole, he hit a brilliant chip shot to within a foot of the hole. He nearly won the tournament outright, but his long birdie putt on the 18th hole stopped just three inches short.

McIlroy, who won The Players Championship in 2019, is now aiming for his second title in this event. He is also looking for his 28th PGA Tour win. He said that the last few holes were difficult because it was getting dark.

Spaun won his first and only PGA Tour title at the 2022 Valero Texas Open. He said he tried to stay positive and play his best shots while chasing McIlroy.

Tom Hoge shot a 66 with seven birdies and one bogey to finish tied for third place at 10 under. He shared this position with Akshay Bhatia (70) and Lucas Glover (71). Danny Walker (70), Bud Cauley (74), and Canada’s Corey Conners (71) finished one shot behind them in sixth place.

The final round was delayed for four hours due to a storm. Play stopped at 1:15 p.m. ET as bad weather moved across the course. When the round resumed, McIlroy extended his lead to three shots with a birdie on hole 12. But he dropped a shot on hole 14 after hitting his tee shot into the rough and struggling to recover.

Spaun took advantage of McIlroy’s mistakes and fought back to force a playoff.

Meanwhile, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler was hoping to win his third straight Players Championship but finished tied for 20th at 4 under after a final-round 73.

Now, all eyes will be on McIlroy and Spaun as they battle for the title in Monday’s playoff at TPC Sawgrass.

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