The Players Championship Play-Off: McIlroy Favourite To Beat Spaun
The Players Championship drew to a close on Sunday night with its customary drama over four days, and the winner has still to be decided.
A four-hour delay due to bad weather forced the world's best golfers into the clubhouse midway through their final rounds.
Overnight leader JJ Spaun had lost his place at the top of the leaderboard to Rory McIlroy, before drawing level with the Northern Irishman thanks to two birdies in his last five holes.
McIlroy is the odds-on favourite to win at Sawgrass on betting sites, but the American is not to be underestimated.
The pair will return to the Stadium Course at Ponte Vedra Beach to contest a play-off, but who will be crowned champion?
Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
Can you cash out of bets before an event has finished?
Three-Hole Play-Off To Decide The Winner
While some golf tournaments use one extra hole to decide their champion, The Players Championship uses a three-hole mini-tournament.
McIlroy and Spaun, who both finished on -12 over four days of high drama at Sawgrass, will start on the 16th and play the last three holes.
The player with the lowest score will be the 2025 champion.
Momentum Is With Spaun
If you believe in momentum in sport, then the advantage is with American JJ Spaun.
Spaun held his nerve on the closing holes to force a play-off with McIlroy, who missed a chance to card a birdie on the 17th, that would have won the tournament.
When play resumed after the rain delay, McIlroy opened up a three-shot lead thanks to birdies at the 11th and 12th, but a bogey on the 14th opened the door for his opponent.
Today's play-off is a brand new tournament, and what has happened over the previous four days might decide who will be victorious.
It all comes down to handling the nerves and taking any opportunities that come their way.
McIlroy Has The Edge On Closing Holes
Over the four rounds, McIlroy has a slight advantage over Spaun.
McIlroy has gone round the final three holes with an aggregate score of -3, one better than Spaun.
While McIlroy has birdied the last three times, Spaun has picked up two shots on the 16th and one on the 17th.
2025 Scores On 16th, 17th & 18th
Golfer | 16th | 17th | 18th | Total |
Rory McIlroy | -1 | +1 | -3 | -3 |
JJ Spaun | -2 | Par | +1 | -2 |
The European Ryder Cup star's only dropped shot on the last three holes was a third-round bogey on the 17th on Saturday.
Spaun's only blip was a bogey five on the 18th on Friday.
McIlroy's Experience Could Be The Key
Play-off golf is all about holding your nerve and making vital putts when it matters.
McIlroy is a lot more experienced than his American opponent who can be backed at 11/8 on golf betting sites.
This is McIlroy's 15th trip to Sawgrass, while Spaun has played the course three times before this year, missing the cut in his first two attempts and finishing in a tie for 64th last year.
McIlroy won the tournament in 2019 by one shot from Jim Furyk, thanks to two birdies in his last four holes.
The 35-year-old from Hollywood, County Down, will hope for a repeat of his third-round finish last year, when he birdied the 16th, 17th and 18th.
A similar finish should be enough to secure a second Sawgrass success.
