McIlroy defeats Spaun in playoff for second Players title

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by winning a three-hole aggregate playoff against JJ Spaun to capture his second title at The Players Championship on Monday morning at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. McIlroy took a one-shot lead when he birdied the par-5 16th hole, and the task of protecting […]

Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrated St. Patrick’s Day by winning a three-hole aggregate playoff against JJ Spaun to capture his second title at The Players Championship on Monday morning at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

McIlroy took a one-shot lead when he birdied the par-5 16th hole, and the task of protecting that advantage became much easier when Spaun hit his tee shot at the par-3 17th over the famed island green and into the water.

Spaun struggled his way to a triple-bogey 6 and dropped to 3 over, trailing by three after McIlroy made a three-putt bogey.

Both players missed to the right of the fairway at the par-4 18th, and the tournament was all McIlroy’s once Spaun’s third shot narrowly missed the green.

McIlroy finished up with a bogey and won the playoff at 1 over.

“I feel like I’m a way more complete player than I was a few years ago,” McIlroy said on the Golf Channel broadcast.

“Even in conditions like this. That little 9-iron into 17, the little 8-iron into the last there, I said to (caddie Harry Diamond) there, that little shot will take us a long way.

“I feel like I can play in all conditions and anything that comes my way. Really happy that I was able to get it done today.”