Jackson Reid
Monday playoffs in golf are still a feature of the sport, with the 2025 Players Championship featuring a Monday playoff between Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun. However, the PGA Championship has not seen a Monday playoff since 2008, when Tiger Woods famously defeated Rocco Mediate over 18 holes at Torrey Pines. The PGA Championship last had a playoff in 2022, but it did not extend into Monday. The Players Championship Monday playoff is a three-hole aggregate format, with players tied for the lead after 72 holes settling the championship with this format.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year | 2025 |
| Date | 17 March |
| Event | Players Championship |
| Location | TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra |
| Playoff Format | Three-hole aggregate |
| Players | Rory McIlroy, J.J. Spaun |
| Starting Time | 9:00 a.m. |
| Coverage | Golf Channel, Peacock |
| Prize | $4.5 million |
| Previous Playoff | Zurich Classic of New Orleans (2024) |
| Previous Individual Playoff Win | World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions (2020) |
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What You'll Learn
The 2025 Players Championship Monday playoff
The 2025 Players Championship was a highly anticipated event in the world of golf, and it certainly did not disappoint. The championship, hosted at the iconic TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, concluded with a thrilling Monday playoff between two exceptional golfers, Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun.
Both golfers displayed their skills and determination throughout the intense competition. McIlroy, a well-known figure in the sport with an impressive track record, including four major victories and 27 PGA Tour titles, was seeking his second Players Championship title. On the other hand, Spaun, a rising star in the golfing world, had already proven his mettle with a win at the 2022 Valero Texas Open and consistent performances on the PGA Tour in recent years.
The Monday playoff, which commenced at 9:00 a.m., consisted of a three-hole aggregate format, including the par-5 16th, par-3 17th, and par-4 18th holes. This format, introduced in 2014, added an exciting dimension to the championship, as the golfers' skills were tested over multiple holes. The tee and hole locations remained unchanged from the final round, ensuring a consistent challenge for the competitors.
As the playoff unfolded, the pressure intensified. Both McIlroy and Spaun demonstrated their prowess, navigating the course with precision and strategy. The outcome of the playoff was crucial, as the winner would take home a substantial $4.5 million first-place prize, the richest in professional golf, while the runner-up would still earn a notable $2.725 million.
In the end, only one could emerge victorious. Despite the fierce competition, the sudden-death playoff on the 17th hole decided the outcome if the scores were still tied after the initial three holes. This ensured that a winner was determined conclusively. The 2025 Players Championship Monday playoff will forever be etched in golfing history, with the champion claiming their rightful place in the annals of the sport.
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Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun
McIlroy had a three-shot lead over Spaun after a four-hour rain delay, but Spaun caught up with two great shots and held his nerve. The playoff was tied after the first three holes, so it moved into a sudden-death format.
McIlroy ultimately won the playoff and the Players Championship, marking his second victory at the tournament and his 28th career title. He needed only three swings to defeat Spaun, setting up a simple birdie with his best drive of the week. Spaun, on the other hand, hit his 8-iron on the second playoff hole with a higher trajectory, and the ball sailed into the water, resulting in a triple bogey that ended his hopes of winning.
This was McIlroy's first time winning twice in a row heading into the Masters, and he dedicated his victory to his daughter Poppy, who was born in 2020. He also acknowledged that he did not play his best golf during the tournament but was still satisfied with the outcome.
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Three-hole aggregate playoff
The three-hole aggregate playoff is a format used in golf tournaments to determine a winner when two or more players are tied after the regulation number of holes. This format was instituted in 2014 and has been used in the Players Championship and PGA Championship.
In the three-hole aggregate playoff, the tied players will play an additional three holes, usually the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes, which are chosen for their varying levels of difficulty. The player with the lowest total score over these three holes is declared the winner. If the players are still tied after the three extra holes, they will move to a sudden-death playoff, usually on the par-3 17th hole. This format ensures that a winner is determined and avoids the need for a full additional round of 18 holes.
In the 2025 Players Championship, Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun competed in a three-hole aggregate playoff to determine the winner. Both players had finished regulation at 12-under 276, and their performance in the playoff decided the outcome of the tournament. The playoff began at 9:00 am on Monday, with live coverage provided by Golf Channel and Peacock. The winner of the playoff received a $4.5 million prize, the richest in professional golf.
The three-hole aggregate playoff is an exciting and strategic format that tests the players' skills and consistency over a reduced number of holes. It provides a fair and efficient way to break ties and determine a champion, adding an extra layer of competition to golf tournaments.
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$4.5 million winner's prize
The $4.5 million winner's prize for the 2025 Players Championship was the biggest winner's share for the PGA Tour season. The prize money was part of a $25 million purse, the highest-paying golf tournament in 2024.
The winner of the 2025 Players Championship, Rory McIlroy, took home the $4.5 million first-place prize, with J.J. Spaun earning $2.725 million for his second-place finish.
The Players Championship Monday playoff took place on 17 March 2025 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. McIlroy and Spaun played the 16th, 17th and 18th holes, with the lowest total score after the 18th hole winning the title.
The Players Championship Monday playoff was the sixth in its history, with previous winners including Raymond Floyd in 1981, Sandy Lyle in 1987, Sergio Garcia in 2008, K.J. Choi in 2011, and Rickie Fowler in 2015.
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Live coverage on Golf Channel and Peacock
The 2025 Players Championship will be live on Golf Channel and Peacock, starting at 9 a.m. ET. This will be the ninth Monday for the event and the sixth time since the Players moved to TPC Sawgrass in 1982. The Monday playoff will see Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun face off in a three-hole aggregate playoff, playing the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes.
The Players Championship playoff has seen a variety of formats over the years. Until 2014, it was a sudden-death format. Since then, it has been a three-hole aggregate playoff, although the sudden-death format is used as a tiebreaker if the players remain tied after the initial three holes.
Rory McIlroy will be vying for his second Players Championship title, while J.J. Spaun is looking for his first PGA Tour win in 227 starts. The winner of the playoff will take home a $4.5 million prize.
This year's Players Championship was affected by weather delays, with a four-hour delay during the final round on Sunday. Tournament officials had brought forward the start time in the hopes of avoiding bad weather, but their efforts were in vain.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no set date for Monday playoffs to stop in golf. If less than half the players finish 72 holes by the end of Monday, the leader after 54 holes is declared the winner. In some cases, tournaments have ended on Tuesdays or even Wednesdays due to bad weather.
Monday playoffs in golf can be caused by weather conditions or a lack of daylight.
Monday playoffs are not routine but are also not uncommon, having occurred 18 times on the PGA Tour since 2011.
In a Monday playoff, players tied for the lead after 72 holes will settle the game in a three-hole aggregate playoff.
