Dramatic Showdown: Rory Mcilroy And Jj Spaun Head To Monday Playoff At Storm-hit Players Championship

dramatic showdown rory mcilroy and jj spaun head to monday playoff at stormhit players championship

Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun battled through Sunday's dramatic final round at the storm-hit Players Championship without determining a winner, forcing a three-hole aggregate playoff on Monday to decide the champion.

Second-ranked McIlroy, a four-time major winner from Northern Ireland, and 34-year-old American Spaun, chasing his second PGA Tour title, both finished on 12-under 276 after 72 holes at TPC Sawgrass.

McIlroy, the 2019 Players winner, began the day four adrift of 54-hole lead Spaun, but just minutes after play resumed following a four-hour lightning delay, McIlroy had seized a three-stroke lead with six holes remaining.

After a McIlroy bogey at 14, Spaun responded with birdies at 14 and the par-five 16th to share the lead and both made tense pars down the stretch to force the playoff.

'All day it was a bit of a battle,' McIlroy said. 'I'm standing here feeling like I probably should be going home with the trophy tonight but that's fine. I'll reset and hopefully go home with the trophy tomorrow morning.'