Rory McIlroy Wins Players Championship Playoff; 4th Ever with Multiple TPC, Major Wins

Rory McIlroy beat J.J. Spaun in Monday's playoff to win the 2025 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

ESPN noted McIlroy is the fourth golfer with multiple victories at the Players Championship and major tournaments.

While the playoff was contested over three holes, it was pretty much over after one.

Spaun's drive landed in the rough to the right of the fairway, and his second-shot approach found a bunker. From there, he two-putted his way to a bogey.

Meanwhile, McIlroy got onto the green in two en route to birdieing the hole.

Spaun's luck didn't get any better as he approached the tee box on No. 17, which features Sawgrass' trademark island green. He overshot the green and deposited his tee shot straight into the drink.

Although McIlroy bogeyed, he widened his lead thanks to Spaun's triple bogey. That effectively removed any drama from the final playoff hole.

Coming out of the fourth round, Spaun posited he might be playing with house money. McIlroy, one of the top contenders coming into the tournament, carried the weight of expectations that could linger into the playoff.

But McIlroy's experience in these settings certainly seemed to be a decisive factor. He got off to a strong start and did what he needed on Nos. 17 and 18 to lift the trophy.

The result probably won't be enough to have the four-time major champion unseat Scottie Scheffler as the favorite for the 2025 Masters. This is the one major tournament he has yet to win, and his 2019 triumph in the Players Championship didn't foreshadow how he'd finish at Augusta National Golf Club later that spring. McIlroy tied for 21st at the 2019 Masters.

But between coming out on top in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and then besting Spaun on Monday, this could be the year McIlroy finally completes a career Grand Slam and adds a green jacket to his wardrobe.