Rory McIlroy secured his second PGA Tour victory of the season, outperforming J.J. Spaun in the intense playoffs at the Players Championship. Observing the wind closely during his practice session, McIlroy’s meticulous preparation shone through as he dominated over the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes at TPC Sawgrass, brushing past Spaun with relative ease.
Beginning his Florida campaign with a birdie, McIlroy’s initial head start left his American competition struggling to keep up, as Spaun could only manage to maintain par on the 16th. The Northern Irish golf titan then faltered with a bogey on the infamous 17th island green, yet Spaun experienced an even more devastating blow by finding water and scoring a triple-bogey.
Spaun’s playoff performance at the Players Championship came under scrutiny, most notably due to his decision to peer into McIlroy’s bag before confronting the daunting island green par-three. This move seemed to backfire dramatically when Spaun’s shot landed in the water behind the green, sparking a wave of criticism from the spectators.
One fan voiced their disapproval on social media, cautioning against relying on opponents’ equipment choices for tactical inspiration. They pointed out that this strategy is flawed as it doesn’t offer insight into the player’s technique or approach. Other fans echoed this sentiment, with some arguing that it demonstrated a lack of preparation on Spaun’s part. McIlroy, on the other hand, received praise for his strategic shot selection, especially knowing that Spaun would be scrutinizing his bag.
While McIlroy’s victory in the Players Championship should have ideally been secured in regular time, having lost a significant lead on Sunday, his experience and prowess eventually paid off on Monday. The seasoned golfer leveraged his expertise to establish an upper hand over Spaun, displaying his dominance when it mattered the most.
Despite the setback, Spaun can draw positives from this experience, whereas McIlroy would undoubtedly be overjoyed with his second win of this season. With this victory, his tally of PGA Tour titles now stands at 28, including the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, which he won earlier in 2025.
Looking ahead, McIlroy seems set to continue his winning streak leading up to the Masters, while it seems unlikely that Spaun will repeat the mistake of peering into his opponent’s bag. However, according to pro-golfer Michael Kim, who didn’t make the cut at the Players Championship, this practice is quite common on the PGA Tour. Responding to a query about whether it’s acceptable or disparaged for Spaun to look in McIlroy’s bag during a playoff, Kim revealed that this is a strategy employed by many pros during tournament rounds.