McIlroy Takes Drama Out of Playoff to Win Players Championship

The Northern Ireland golfer celebrated St. Patrick's Day by winning a three-hole aggregate playoff against JJ Spaun

- Associated Press

PONTE VEDRA BEACH: The playoff was only three holes. Rory McIlroy needed only three swings. And yet his victory on Monday over JJ Spaun in The Players Championship revealed so much about the state of his game and the cruel nature of the notorious TPC Sawgrass.

McIlroy delivered an early knockout against JJ Spaun with his best drive of the week that set up a simple birdie, followed by a three-quarter 9-iron into a cold, cackling wind that found land on the island green at the par-3 17th.

"By no means did I have my best stuff this week," McIlroy said after becoming the eighth multiple winner of The Players. "But I was still able to win one of the biggest tournaments in the world. That's a huge thing."

It's the first time in his career he has won twice going into the Masters, the Major that for more than a decade has kept him from joining golf's most elite group with the career Grand Slam.

Spaun thought he had the perfect answer until he saw his 8-iron sail over the island on the second playoff hole, ending his hopes of the biggest win of his career.