A three-hole play-off and the inspirational figure of American journeyman J.J. Spaun stand between Rory McIlroy and his second Players Championship. The pair will return to the Stadium Course for a Monday morning shoot-out after a thrilling conclusion to a marathon day.
But McIlroy acknowledged that, after enjoying a three-shot advantage with five holes remaining, the £3.5 million first prize and the status as Europe’s first multiple winner of the PGA Tour’s flagship event should already be in his possession.
“I am standing here feeling like I should be going home with the trophy tonight but hopefully I will go home with it tomorrow,” McIlroy said after his 68 completed a 12-under total.
If the 35-year-old does not manage to see off Spaun, the world No 57 with only one win in his 13-year professional career, then it will be another painful defeat. There were moments during the last hour of a contest, that was delayed for four hours due to storms that hit Ponte Vedra at lunchtime, when it appeared that this would be another close call for the Northern Irishman.
Ten months ago, McIlroy watched as Bryson DeChambeau overhauled his two-shot lead at the US Open and although he does not boast the quality of the big-hitter, Spaun evidently does not lack in courage, coming back from a poor eight holes – which he played in two-over – to play that final five in two-under for a 72.
Beginning four behind Spaun, McIlroy birdied the first and eagled the second, courtesy of a five-iron from 236 yards to 10 feet. As an indication of the rousing nature of this start, this was McIlroy’s 261st tournament on the PGA Tour and the first time he had played the opening two holes of any round in three-under.
Of course, this boded well and when Spaun bogeyed the fifth, McIlroy was tied for the lead. There was a sloppy bogey on the seventh, but when he birdied two of the next four holes – 14-footers on the eighth and the 11th – he was ahead for the first time of the week. It deserved a fanfare, but instead received a hooter.
And so ensued the frustrating wait (although, as a Manchester United fan, McIlroy was at least able to watch his team beat Leicester City in the clubhouse). He was in the middle of the fairway on the 12th when play resumed at 5.15pm and again, a putt in the 14-feet range carried him deeper into the red.
In behind, Spaun bogeyed the 11th and McIlroy was three clear. This appeared blessedly straightforward.
Alas, that adjective is not in the lexicon of McIlroy Mark II (or III or whichever incarnation you believe this to be) and an uncharacteristic slice into the trees gave his chasing rivals a chance and Spaun, with an outrageous approach to the 14th brought it to within one.
By then, the tension was excruciating, with the fans who returned for the denouement rewarded for their commitment. McIlroy’s putting had been impeccable all day, but suddenly after he had holed 11 putts out of 11 efforts of 10 feet or under, he missed from five feet from the 15th for what might have been the definitive birdie.
He failed to get up and down on the 16th, a par-five on which he is a remarkable collective 30-under in his 15 years at the Players, and had to settle for a par. From a similar spot, Spaun chipped to two feet and it was a level ballgame.
Both escaped the infamous island-green 17th with a three and after holing for his par on the 18th – it caught the edge and shook his head in relief as it dropped – and it was left for Spaun to try for his own birdie to bring the event to a natural Sunday conclusion.
Just like he did at Pinehurst, McIlroy was in the recorder’s hut, wearing a haunted expression as Spaun stood over a 30-footer. Two more rotations of the ball and Spaun would have been celebrating. In that moment McIlroy was handed a second chance of finishing off. He has never gone into the Masters with two wins on US soil already to his name in that season before.
It is not being over-sensational to suggest his Augusta hopes could be resting on Monday morning, when the play-off takes place at 9am.
“I’d like to think that I can fall back on my experience and maybe have a little bit more than JJ,” McIlroy said. “Tomorrow is all just about execution and getting up there and making five good swings.”
