Experience pays off as McIlroy wins THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP again

Mar 17/2025 - RORY MCILROY is back in the winner’s circle at TPC Sawgrass, claiming his second PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP title in dramatic fashion! It took a three-hole playoff against J.J. SPAUN, and while MCILROY finished +2 in extra holes, SPAUN'S triple bogey on the 17th sealed the deal.

The playoff started with a bang—MCILROY crushed a 336-yard drive on the par-5 16th and birdied, while SPAUN found trouble off the tee. Then came the infamous island green at 17, where MCILROY safely landed on the dance floor while SPAUN'S ball took an unfortunate swim, leading to a costly triple bogey.  In a sport filled with pressure, it was the experience of MCILROY that came through, pretty much sealing the victory at that point.

This win didn’t come easy. MCILROY had lost a three-shot lead on the back nine, but a clutch par save on 18 forced the playoff. After a four-hour weather delay pushed the finish to Monday, MCILROY came through when it mattered most, and snagged that pot of gold for the Irishman on this lucky St. Paddy's day (sorry, couldn't resist)!

With 28 PGA Tour wins, he’s now the eighth multiple winner of The Players and the $4.5 million payday? Not bad either (more on that below in the Fun Facts)! With two wins already this season, MCILROY heads to Augusta with serious momentum and his best shot yet at that elusive career Grand Slam.

• 4 FUN GOLFER FACTS ABOUT THE 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

• This was MCILROYS 28th career PGA Tour title in his 261st start at the age of 35 years, 10 months and 13 days

• Even though SPAUN didn't get the victory, keep an eye on him as he became the first golfer this year with 3 Top-3 finishes (THE PLAYERS, T3 at the Sony Open and T2 at the Cognizant)

• This is the first playoff at THE PLAYERS in 10 years, with the last one coming in 2015 when RICKIE FOWLER defeated KEVIN KISNER and SERGIO GARCIA

• Maybe experience had something to do with the win as we look at both golfers playoff record heading into Monday;  MCILROY was at 3-2 (5 playoffs under his belt) while SPAUN entered at 0-0, making this his first pressure filled playoff experience

• MCILROY is the oldest winner of THE PLAYERS in 12 years...since TIGER WOODS won it at the age of 37 years back in 2013.

• 4 FUN GOLFER FACTS ABOUT RORY MCILROY

• With this recent win, MCILROY has now surpassed the $99 million career earnings mark, moving him past PHIL MICKELSON and into 2nd place on the all-time money list; only 1 golfer has passed the $100 million mark with a crazy $120 million+ in career earnings; of course it's TIGER WOODS.

• MCILROY'S father was also a scratch golfer and had RORY start at an early age; with custom clubs, he was hitting 40-yard drives by the age of 2, and had his 1st hole-in-one at the age of 9

• IN 2012 MCILROY was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to sport.

• Like many Europeans, MCILROY is a football (soccer) fan and is a Manchester United supporter