Once again, Rory McIlroy emerged victorious at the Players Championship, making this his second triumph at the prestigious TPC Sawgrass. His weapon of choice this time around? A softer ball, which led him to an impressive win in a playoff against J.J. Spaun.
Spaun found himself in the crosshairs of criticism when he examined McIlroy’s bag on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass. This marked the second of three playoff holes between the two competitors. Not long after, Spaun’s ball took an unfortunate plunge into the water at the island green, a mishap from which he failed to recover during their Players Championship face-off.
While the American was left yearning for his second career PGA Tour win, the Northern Irishman confidently secured his 28th victory.
McIlroy’s triumph was met with abundant praise, with the champion himself hailing the Players as the ‘best experience’ in world golf. It seems his sentiment resonates with others in the field. Fellow PGA Tour player Michael Kim echoed McIlroy’s accolades. Despite failing to make the cut, Kim’s analysis was far from disillusioned.
“Personally, from a player’s perspective, I think The Players is the best run tournament in the world. Everything from the gym, food, practice facility, parking, and staff, it’s all first class,” he said.
Despite losing a three-shot lead in his final round on Sunday, McIlroy managed to come back strong, finishing on 12-under-par, level with Spaun. In contrast, Kim ended on even par after carding rounds of 75 and 69 in Florida, unfortunately missing the cut for the weekend.
The tournament, known for its challenging course, did not spare the world’s best. World number one Scottie Scheffler finished T20 on four-under. The notorious island green 17th hole proved heart-breaking for many, while the formidable hanging tree on hole six returned, in tribute to Pete Dye’s original design.
Kim, ever astounded by the course setup, expressed appreciation for its design. “Every year I play this tournament, I appreciate the design of the course more. The par 5s are great because you have to take on some risk and to make birdie you really have to take on the hazard. As soon as you bail out, you’re barely making par. There’s always slightly more room to the hazard side than it looks which makes you want to take on a more aggressive line,” he shared.
McIlroy’s Players Championship victories in 2019 and 2025, by a margin of one stroke and a playoff respectively, further solidify his standing in the world of golf. This latest win, in particular, serves as a testament to his enduring skill and competitive spirit.
