The Players Championship

What a thrilling conclusion to Sunday's play at TPC Sawgrass! Rory McIlroy and JJ Spaun will go head-to-head in a Monday play-off after an action-packed final round at The Players Championship.

McIlroy, starting the day four strokes behind, made a dream start with a birdie-eagle combination to storm into contention. By the turn, he was level at the top, and following a weather delay, he extended his lead to three shots with just six holes remaining.

However, the unpredictable nature of golf came into play, with McIlroy dropping shots and Spaun capitalising with crucial birdies down the stretch. Both players finished on 12 under par after 72 holes, forcing the event into an extra day of competition.

The three-hole aggregate play-off will be contested over the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes, with sudden death to follow if necessary. This marks the first play-off at The Players since 2015 and the first Monday finish since 2022.

McIlroy, a former winner of this event in 2019, reflected on his round, acknowledging missed opportunities but remaining determined to secure his second victory of the season. "I gave myself chances to win but didn’t quite take them. Now I have to do it the hard way," he said.

Spaun, relishing the challenge, admitted this was the most pressure he had ever faced but is confident in his ability to perform under these conditions. "Anything can happen over these final three holes, and I’m just happy to have a chance," he said.

With so much at stake, we look forward to an exciting climax to this year’s championship. Who will come out on top?