Rory McIlroy showed his class moments after securing victory in the Players Championship play-off against JJ Spaun in Florida. The Irishman finished four shots clear of his opponent in a dramatic play-off, with Spaun sinking one of his shots into the water.
It was where the play-off swung, with Spaun – who overhit his tee on the second of three holes – unable to recover from his mistake. Despite the error gifting him his second Players Championship title, McIlroy remained magnanimous in victory.
Speaking after he confirmed the victory with a 13-shot three-hole play-off, he said: “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.
“Unbelievably proud and happy to win my second Players Championship and my third time winning on St Patrick’s Day so it’s been good luck for me! I’ve worked really hard and 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.”
Reacting to the defeat, Spaun added: “Yeah I was committed to the club and the shot shape I was trying to hit. It was the perfect club and I hit it too good I guess, kind of went right through the wind. When I didn’t see the ball land I thought maybe it was in the front bunker. I hit a great shot, did what I needed to do and it just didn’t work out in my favour. It’s hard not to feel discouraged but nothing but positives. If someone told me this would happen at the start of the week I’d totally take it.”
It isn’t a major championship, but winning the Players Championship is possibly the second-best thing. Plus, given the issues McIlroy has endured in majors of late, this victory – his second on the PGA Tour already this year – will boost him heading into next month’s Masters.
On his form in 2025 so far, he said: “Watching Scottie [Scheffler] go two in a row last year was unbelievably impressive, and I think the only multiple major champions and multiple Players champions are Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler and myself, so it’s a pretty nice group to be a part of. I feel like I’m a better player now than I ever have been, and it’s nice to see the fruits of my labour paying off.”
The Masters, now just three weeks away, kick off on Thursday, April 10. It’s over a decade since McIlroy last won a major.
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