McIlroy and Spaun battle into playoff at storm-hit Players C'ship

Rory Mcllroy and JJ Spaun battled through Sunday's dramatic final round at the storm-hit Players Championship without determining a winner, forcing a three-hole aggregate playoff to decide the champion.

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Second-ranked Mcllroy, a four-time major winner from Northern Ireland, and 34-year-old American Spaun, chasing his second PGA Tour title, both finished on 12-under 276 after 72 holes at TPC Sawgrass.

Mcllroy, the 2019 Players winner, began the day four adrift of 54-hole lead Spaun, but just minutes after play resumed following a four-hour lightning delay, Mcllroy had seized a three-stroke lead with six holes remaining.

After a Mcllroy bogey at 14, Spaun responded with birdies at 14 and the par-five 16th to share the lead and both made tense pars down the stretch to force the playoff.

"All day it was a bit of a battle," Mcllroy said. "I'm standing here feeling like I probably should be going home with the trophy tonight but that's fine. I'll reset and hopefully go home with the trophy tomorrow morning.'