The 2025 Players Championship is heading to a thrilling playoff on Monday as Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun finished their final round tied at 12-under par, necessitating a showdown to determine the champion. This playoff is set to take place at TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, on March 17, 2025, starting at 9 a.m. ET.
The playoff format will be unique—consisting of three holes played on the renowned finishing holes of the Stadium Course: the par-5 16th, par-3 17th, and par-4 18th. Should the players remain tied after these three holes, they will enter sudden death, starting at the par-3 17th and, if necessary, continuing to the 18th hole. This will be the sixth playoff in the history of The Players Championship, and the first since 2015.
Unforeseen weather delays played a significant role on Sunday, as officials had hoped to complete the final round without interruption. Rain and lightning resulted in a four-hour delay, pushing the players to finish their rounds late on Sunday evening, but daylight would not permit the playoff to occur. With both players eager to finish what they started, they now have the opportunity to claw for victory on Monday morning.
Rory McIlroy, the world number two, displayed skillful play during the final round, shooting a 68. He had initially trailed Spaun by four shots leading up to the final round but managed to hold off the competition with some impressive birdies, especially on the back nine. Unfortunately for McIlroy, he relinquished his lead down the stretch, landing both players at 12-under when the last hole concluded.
On the other hand, J.J. Spaun had mixed results, finishing at even-par 72. He remarkably erased McIlroy's three-shot lead during the latter part of the round with several birdies, only to see his bid for victory thwarted when his long putt on 18 fell shy of the hole, forcing this playoff scenario.
This playoff has the golf world buzzing, particularly considering the economic stakes involved. With The Players Championship offering the richest purse on the PGA Tour—$25 million—the winner of the playoff will take home $4.5 million, making the stakes as high as ever. The runner-up will not leave empty-handed, as they will earn $2.72 million.
McIlroy is no stranger to high-pressure situations, boasting three wins and two losses across five playoff appearances. His last individual playoff victory took place at the 2020 World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions. Meanwhile, Spaun is new to the playoff format; this will be his first time competing under such pressure, though he has previously secured one PGA Tour victory at the Valero Texas Open.
The Players Championship is often referred to as golf's unofficial fifth major for good reason. Fans are excited not just for the stakes but for the captivating location. The iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass, known as the island green, remains one of the most photographed and talked-about holes on the tour.
Fans eager to see how the playoffs pan out can catch every moment of this exciting conclusion to the tournament. Golf Channel will provide comprehensive coverage starting at 9 a.m. ET, and there will be additional streaming options available on platforms like Peacock.
Don't miss out on what promises to be an exhilarating conclusion to The Players Championship, as McIlroy and Spaun go head-to-head on the course. With so much at stake, both golfers have everything to play for, and the golf world will be watching intently.
