Rory McIlroy wins 2025 The Players Championship over J.J. Spaun for the richest prize in golf in Monday Playoff

— Rory McIlroy won The Players Championship in a Monday finish over J.J. Spaun that featured three dynamic playoff holes at the TPC Sawgrass, a harsh wind and very little drama.

McIlroy seized control early with a big drive that set up an easy birdie on the par-5 16th hole, and he effectively ended the three-hole playoff on the notorious par-3 17th by hitting the green. Spaun's tee shot sailed over the island and into the water, leading to triple bogey.

McIlroy got into the playoff Sunday evening when he narrowly made a 4-foot par putt. He then had to wait on Spaun's 30-foot birdie putt for the win that stopped inches short. A four-hour rain delay forced them to finish on Monday morning.

McIlroy won The Players for the second time, and it's the first time in his career he has won twice before the Masters. McIlroy previously won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

McIlroy won $4.5 million from the $25 million purse, the richest tournament in golf.

Players Championship playoff scores, Rory McIlroy wins

Here's a look at live leaderboard from the playoff.

Rory McIlroy: +1 thru 18

J.J. Spaun: +3 thru 17 (DNF)

Winner of the Players Championship gets big money, tons of great perks

Here's what the Players Championship winner gets in 2025:

$4.5 million. Last year's U.S. Open paid out $4.3 million. Last year's Masters was good for $3.6 million, equal to some of the signature events on the PGA Tour. The PGA ($3.33 million) and the Open Championship ($3.1 million) also have big bucks, but nothing on the circuit pays like the Players.

A sterling silver and 24K gold vermeil trophy custom-designed by Tiffany & Co.

Fully exempt status on the PGA Tour through the 2030 season. PGA Tour events typically exempt a player for two years plus the remainder of the current season. For example, the winner of next week's Valero Texas Open is exempt through the end of 2027. Winning the Players means the rest of the 2025 and then all of 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029 and 2030.

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