By Canadian Press

McIlroy, Spaun tie at The Players Championship to set up Monday playoff

Mar 16, 2025 | 5:57 PM

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Rory McIlroy built a three-shot lead on the back nine at The Players Championship and unheralded J.J. Spaun didn’t blink. They wound up tied after a four-hour rain delay and have to return Monday for a playoff to decide who wins the richest tournament in golf.

McIlroy needed two putts from 75 feet on the par-4 18th for a 4-under 68. All he could do was wait in the scoring area on Spaun, who had caught up with a marvellous chip on the par-5 16th and stood over a 30-foot putt for the win.

It stopped inches short, giving Spaun a 72 to match McIlroy at 12-under 276.

They did well to finish in regulation before sunset. The Players has a three-hole aggregate playoff on the most dynamic holes on the TPC Sawgrass — the par-5 16th, the island green on the par-3 17th and the daunting par-4 closing hole.

It will be the first Monday finish since Cameron Smith won in 2022 and the first playoff at The Players since Rickie Fowler won 10 years ago.

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Tom Hoge had to wait out the four-hole delay with a 15-foot birdie putt on the 18th. He returned and missed, posting a 66 and wound up two shots behind. Lucas Glover rallied from a rough front nine for a 71 and joined Hoge and Akshay Bhatia (70).

Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., finished in a three-way tie for sixth at 9 under, three shots back of the co-leaders. Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., finished in a four-way tie for 38th at 1 under.

Bud Cauley, whose thought his career was over from crushing injuries in a 2018 car crash in Ohio, fell back early and steadied himself for a 74. He tied for sixth, giving him more than enough points to fulfil his medical exemption for the rest of the year.

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AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press