Rory McIlroy defeated J.J. Spaun in a windy Monday playoff to win The Players Championship, the PGA Tour’s flagship event at TPC Sawgrass.
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PONTE VEDRA BEACH — Welcome to the club.
The names: Jack Nicklaus, Fred Couples, Steve Elkington, Hal Sutton, Davis Love III, Tiger Woods, Scottie Scheffler… and now Rory McIlroy, latest in the exclusive list of multiple winners at The Players Championship.
Surrounded by crowds in green, McIlroy notched a 1-over 13 to win Monday’s three-hole aggregate playoff, while watching opponent J.J. Spaun blast his ball into the blue waters surrounding the Island Green, at a virtual wind tunnel at The Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
Spaun’smiscue—heultimatelystaggeredtoatriplebogey—providedmorethanenoughofanopeningforthegolferfromNorthernIreland,whohoistedhissecondGolfMantrophyonSt.Patrick’sDay.
McIlroyreapstherewards,andtheyaresubstantial:750FedExCuppoints,a$4.5millionfirst-placepurseandeligibilityformajorsforthenextthreeyears.
TheplayoffwasallbutoveronceSpaun,alreadydownastroke,launchedhisteeshotatthe17thovertheIslan
