Severe thunderstorms at TPC Sawgrass delayed the end of the Players Championship, extending it to Monday morning. A three-hole playoff was held between Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun, the first playoff in the Players Championship since 2015.
McIlroy’s rally wins Players Championship title.
Rory McIlroy, the 2019 Players Championship winner, stayed in the hunt on the last day until JJ Spaun narrowed the gap, fighting for a playoff spot. McIlroy guided the par-5 16th hole flawlessly, notching a birdie, as Spaun merely achieved a par. The next test was the island green, and Spaun’s drive flew past the green and into the water. McIlroy took a conservative line, reaching the green but settling for a bogey, whereas Spaun’s bad luck handed him a triple bogey. Thus, McIlroy had total control over the match.
The tournament came to an end when McIlroy demonstrated his expertise by completing a successful shot at the last hole, even though his ball had gotten into the rough. The design of the golf course gave him a sure route to victory, which ended in his successful putt that won him his second Players Championship title, thus making him one of the tournament’s legendary winners.
A historic victory on St. Patrick’s Day
This win is more meaningful than the performance results, as McIlroy won on a day that will be etched in golfing history. Importantly, he has won two of his three Players Championship titles on March 17, St. Patrick’s Day, making the occasion even more special. With this victory, McIlroy joins golfing greats like Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus, with his multiple titles in the Players Championship.
The result left Spaun disappointed. As much as his attempt at a comeback was impressive, it was blighted by many mistakes in the last holes. The turning point on the 17th hole ended up determining the winner of the tournament. The match concluded with McIlroy displaying great composure and even performance.
Playoff format and prize money
The Players Championship playoff consisted of three holes, namely holes 16, 17, and 18, where players competed to win based on the lowest total score. In case of a tie, a sudden-death system would have been used, where the players would keep playing holes 16, 17, and 18 until a winner was determined.
McIlroy won $4.5 million out of the purse of $25 million, adding more strength to his status as one of the highest-earning golfers. The fourth and final round of the tournament, conducted in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, was affected by heavy winds and chilly weather.