It’s always a bit disappointing to not crown a champion on Sunday, but golf fans have a special treat on Monday morning from TPC Sawgrass. At least, those who are able to watch while juggling work.
If you’re not so fortunate, that’s where we come in. We’ll live blog what’s going in the three-hole aggregate playoff between Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun, which begins at 9 a.m. ET.
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Both players finished this edition of the Players at 12 under on Sunday, with Spaun coming agonizingly close to putting the tournament away on the 72nd hole. But if there’s any event you’d want to end with three more holes, it would be this one.
McIlroy, the four-time major champ, will take on Spaun, golf’s latest great underdog story, on Pete Dye’s famed closing stretch at TPC Sawgrass: The entertaining par-5 16th, the hold-your-breath par-3 17th and the demanding par-4 18th. And, yes, it’s all the same pin positions from Sunday. And, yes, if they’re still tied after three holes, it will go to sudden death.
Exciting stuff! So keep it right here for all the latest.
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9:05 ET: And . . . we’re off! McIlroy had the honors on the first (16th) tee having posted his score yesterday and he pipes a perfect drive down the middle. Spaun follows with a miss into the right rough. Big advantage to Rory right away. Speaking of advantages, check out this graphic NBC Sports put up comparing the two golfers:
Wow. But over three (volatile) holes, obviously, anything’s possible.
9:12 ET: Spaun drew a decent lie in the right rough, but barely stayed dry with his second shot. He’s in a good spot in the front greenside bunker. McIlroy follows with a beautiful iron shot to the left side of the green. Unfortunately, he just missed the slope that would have brought his golf ball a lot closer to the hole, but he’ll have a 30-footer for eagle.
9:19 ET: Spaun hits a poor bunker shot and misses his birdie putt from 20 feet. McIlroy runs his eagle putt some five feet by, but makes the comebacker for birdie to move to one under.
He leads by one shot as they head to the scariest hole in golf.
