And the world number two had some kind words for the world number one, Scottie Scheffler.
Picking up the trophy, McIlroy said of the 2023 and 2024 Players Championship winner: “Seeing what Scottie did last year going back-to-back – Scottie’s been on an unbelievable run and I think it’s inspired all of us to try to be better.
“I know I need to be better to compete with him. I’ve knuckled down, I’ve worked hard, and it’s nice to tie him with this, and with Tiger [Woods] and the five others who’ve won this multiple times.”
Rory McIlroy’s been speaking after his win. Here’s what he had to say:
“Wind coming out of a completely different direction. I’m just glad we didn’t have to play 18 in that, three was enough.
“I feel bad for JJ. He hit a really good shot on 17 and it just went straight through the wind.
“I was lucky to do enough to get it done but unbelievably proud and happy to win my second Players Championship. And I think this is a third time I’ve won on St Patrick’s Day so it’s been a good-luck charm for me.”
On his 28th win on the PGA Tour and becoming the eighth player to win multiple Players Championships, McIlroy added: “I’ve worked really hard. I feel like I’m a way more complete player than I was a few years ago, even in conditions like this.
“I feel like I can play in all conditions and anything that comes my way. Really happy I was able to get it done today.”
It’s Rory McIlroy’s second win at The Players Championship and his 28th victory of the PGA Tour.
Rory McIlroy makes the putt at the second time of asking to take the win!
Spaun moves closer to the pin with his first putt, but it’s all eyes on Rory.
He lines up his putt. It’s just to the left. He’ll need another go.
Spaun hits to the green. Shorter than he would have liked.
Three shots ahead, Rory looks nice and calm. And he hits a lovely shot to give himself an easy final putt.
Both golfers have to find their way through the trees.
Two easy chips brings them both back on to the fairway.
McIlroy’s shot from the tee goes into the trees.
Spaun’s goes a similar direction thanks to the wind.
On to the 18th we go. Last of the three-hole play-off.
McIlroy’s on level par, Spaun’s on three over.
Again, Rory’s first up to the tee.
Spaun ends his nightmare 17th on three over.
McIlroy fails to take the putt on his second attempt. He knocks it in for a bogey.
Sapun opts to chip instead to see his shot over the slope.
McIlroy up now with his first attempt. The putt goes beyond.
JJ Spaun gets to the green but his ball goes with the slope. It finds its stop at the collar of the green making for a very difficult two-putt attempt.
Spaun overcooks it and finds the water.
He heads over to the drop zone to have another crack at making the green.
McIlroy steps up to the 17th tee. Over the water to find the green. Lovely stuff.
Rory McIlroy takes a birdie on the 16th.
JJ Spaun stays level par.
Solid effort from Spaun but his first putt attempt is a yard short.
Spaun finds his way out of the bunker well to get himself on to the green.
McIlroy is eyeing up his putt. He sends it just left, a few yards beyond the pin. Not ideal.
Spaun is readying his shot. He has to negotiate the water to the right. He gets over the water to find the bunker.
McIlroy goes with the 9 iron and finds the green.
McIlroy gets a nice strike to set himself up for a possible 9 iron shot.
Not case for Spaun. He finds himself that bit further back just right of the fairway.
Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun are at the 16th tee. PGA Tour rules official Gary Young is chatting them through the day’s proceedings.
Quick shake hands. McIlroy is up first.
Here’s how the two players have managed the three holes involved in the play-off over the weekend.
Rory McIlroy
16th (par 5): R1 5; R2 4; R3 5; R4 5
17th (par 3): R1 3; R2 3; R3 4; R4 3
18th (par 4): R1 3; R2 3; R3 3; R4 4
JJ Spaun
16th (par 5): R1 4; R2 5; R3 4; R4 4
17th (par 3): R1 3; R2 2; R3 4; R4 3
18th (par 4): R1 4; R2 5; R3 4; R4 4
We’re now 10 minutes out.
Did I mention there’s $4.5 million on the line?
McIlroy and Spaun will play the 16th, 17th and 18th in the play-off.
16th = 5 par
17th = 3 par
18th = 4 par
Scores across four rounds:
Rory McIlrory – 67 (-5), 68 (-4), 73 (+1), 68 (-4)
JJ Spaun – 66 (-6), 68 (-4), 70 (-2), 72 (E)
How did we get here? Here’s Philip Reid’s report from yesterday’s final round:
Rory McIlroy got an extra night in Orlando, for good reason: the Northern Irishman’s bid to claim The Players for a second time in his career was only thwarted by a weather delay, so that the world number two’s quest for a second The Players title required extra time, a three hole aggregate play-off against JJ Spaun.
McIlroy started the final round four shots adrift of Spaun but a 68 to the American’s 72 left the pair locked together on 12-under-par 276, two shots in advance of Tom Hoge, Akshay Bhatia and Lucas Glover. Shane Lowry closed with a 67 for 284 to finish in tied-20th.
On a weather interrupted final round, with a four-hour suspension due to the front that included lightning, McIlroy and Spaun, the world number 57, finished tied through 72 holes and required to return to the TPC Sawgrass course for a play-off.
Have a full read of Philip’s report below:
McIlroy has fond memories at Sawgrass having won here in 2019, seeing off American Jim Furyk.
This time around McIlroy survived a Saturday wobble to pull it back for a fourth-round 68, finishing on 12-under.
Spaun had a less impressive Sunday with a round of 72, but was already in a strong position after a 66 and 68 in the opening rounds.
One of the shocks of the weekend saw last year’s champ Scottie Scheffler, who also won in 2023, finding himself back in tied-20th after the four rounds, with Shane Lowry for company.
Let’s start with a quick run over how this will play out.
Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun will tee off at 1pm Irish time, playing three holes – the 16th, 17th and 18th.
Their respective scores across the three holes will be totted up, lowest scorer takes the title.
If the pair are tied after the three holes then we go to sudden death on the 17th hole, proceeding to the 18th if needed.
If they’re STILL tied at that point (give me strength) then it’s back to the 16th hole we go, moving on to the 17th and 18th if needed.
Rory McIlroy’s bid to become a two-time The Players champion requires extra time with a three hole aggregate playoff against JJ Spaun this afternoon.
The players are expected to tee-off at 1pm Irish time where they will play the 16th, 17th and 18th to decide the winner at TPC Sawgrass.
We’ll be following proceedings at Ponte Vedra Beach live, keeping you updated on all the action as it happens.
