– Rory McIlroy (-12) and J. J. Spaun (-12) will have to play the classic three-hole play-off at THE PLAYERS (holes 16, 17, and 18) this Monday after finishing tied at the top of the leaderboard and running out of light to finish the tournament. A four-hour suspension due to a thunderstorm caused this small disruption, which, on the other hand, extends the excitement for a few more hours.
– The Northern Irishman, who started today four shots behind the leader, made a comeback with a 68-stroke card, starting explosively with a birdie on the 1st hole and a fabulous eagle on the 2nd hole, although he certainly couldn’t find a way to seal the deal after the game resumed, especially after making a bogey on the 14th, following a dreadful tee shot, and missing a great birdie chance on the 15th hole, which he had played perfectly. To be fair, who hasn’t missed? Spaun, for example, was also unable to capitalise on his advantage, with a final round of 72 strokes, although he managed to leave a given birdie on the 16th, the last par 5 of the Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass, to reach co-leadership.
– McIlroy, as he has been explaining himself lately, is trying to play more strategically, prioritising strategy and, therefore, that so-called ‘boring’ golf, and it can’t be said that it hasn’t worked out for him this week. He’s in a two-way play-off. Besides, Rory, no matter what, is never boring. Just look at his second shot on the 5th hole in this final round, from the rough and between the trees, forcing a fade-slice to gently land the ball on the green. Old habits die hard.
– As for Spaun, despite not being able to play under par, it should not be concluded that the situation or the stage was too much for him. In fact, on the 72nd hole, he was still about to sink a nine-metre putt for birdie to avoid the play-off.
– Bud Cauley (-9), who was in the featured group alongside Spaun and Lucas Glover (-10) and started just one shot behind the leader, was out of the equation too soon. Or rather: he never really fell too far behind but also didn’t give the impression of being able to get into the fight for victory. Either way, his final sixth place secures his playing rights on the PGA Tour, as he has already met the minimum points required by the tour to accumulate in 27 tournaments due to a medical exemption (this was his 22nd tournament after overcoming that nearly three-year ordeal of medical issues, hospitals, and surgeries). Bravo for him. In some way, he has definitively turned the situation around.
– Ahead of the last two groups, Akshay Bhatia (-10) also let slip very good opportunities to at least get into the play-off. No one left the ball closer than him regularly in the last third of the round. But he missed a three-metre putt on the 15th, another one and a half metres on the 16th, and a final one from two and a half metres on the 18th. All for birdie. Another good opportunity could even be added on the 14th, slightly further away. Too many concessions.
– The big disappointment of the week, more because of who he is than the final result (20th), was Scottie Scheffler (-4). Tom Hoge (-10) showed in the final round that even coming from further down the leaderboard, it was possible to scare the leaders, but the World Number One is not at his best. It’s enough for him to finish high, even very high, but so far he hasn’t managed to really get into the fight for victory in the five tournaments he’s played in 2025. And it must be said loud and clear: that is in itself a newsworthy fact, almost strange, for a player who had ruled world golf with a firm hand for the last two seasons. He says he’s very close, and we have to believe him. The facts don’t describe any disaster, of course, but it’s evident that he’s lost some spark, sense of timing, solidity, and control of the situation. Nothing gross, it’s a matter of some nuances that are also spread over the enormity that is a 72-hole tournament, but enough to take him out of the winning equation. Because here, no one waits for anyone. Whether he’s the Number One or not.
