McIlroy Snatches 6.5 Billion Won... Wins in 3-Hole Playoff Victory

Defeats Spaun at The Players Championship
Second Win of the Season and 28th Career Victory
Spaun's Tee Shot on the 'Death Hole' 17th Sinks into Water

World No. 2 Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) became the owner of 6.5 billion won.

Rory McIlroy celebrates after making a birdie on the first hole of the playoff, the 16th hole, at The Players Championship. Ponte Vedra Beach=AP·Yonhap News

On the 17th (local time), at TPC Sawgrass (par 72, 7,352 yards) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA, McIlroy defeated J.J. Spaun (USA) by 3 strokes (13-16) in a three-hole aggregate playoff at the PGA Tour The Players Championship (total prize money $25 million). This was his second win of the season and 28th career victory, earning a winner's prize of $4.5 million (about 6.5 billion won), one month after his win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on the 2nd of last month. It was his second trophy at this tournament since 2019.

Both players could not hold the playoff the previous day due to bad weather followed by sunset. The playoff was held at 9 a.m. local time on Monday, which is 10 p.m. on the 17th Korean time. This is the first time in three years since 2022 that The Players Championship winner was decided on a Monday. For McIlroy, it was his sixth playoff (4 wins, 2 losses), and for Spaun, it was his first playoff (1 loss).

McIlroy took the lead by making a birdie on the first playoff hole, the 16th hole (par 5), while Spaun made par. He then made bogeys on the 17th hole (par 3) and the final 18th hole (par 4), but still secured a comfortable victory.

Spaun collapsed with a triple bogey after hitting his tee shot into the water on the 17th hole. This was effectively the turning point of the match. Spaun, who won his first career victory in 147 starts over 6 years at the Valero Texas Open in April 2022, hoped for his second tour win in three years but had to settle for second place due to his tee shot troubles. Nevertheless, he earned a runner-up prize of $2.725 million (about 3.9 billion won).

The PGA Tour will continue with the Valspar Championship (total prize money $8.7 million) held at Innisbrook Resort (par 71, 7,352 yards) in Palm Harbor, Florida, USA, starting on the 20th. The defending champion is Peter Malnati (USA).