Rory McIlroy has opened up about his nerve-wracking victory at the Players Championship, securing the title for the second time after a nail-biting playoff against J.J. Spaun. The Northern Irish golf star turned a four-shot deficit into a commanding three-stroke lead in a thrilling final round on Sunday, only to be challenged by severe weather conditions that caused a lengthy delay.
He later struggled and finished the day tied with Spaun at 12 under. The duo then faced off in a three-hole play-off on Monday morning, where McIlroy’s determination shone through as he clinched the win and a hefty £3.5million prize. Celebrating his 28th PGA Tour victory and his second in 2025, McIlroy admitted to battling intense nerves, especially during a critical moment on the final day.
“Standing over that tee shot on 16 this morning is the most nervous I’ve been in a long time,” said McIlroy. “So feeling like that and being able to hit the shots that I needed, while your stomach is sort of not feeling great and your legs are a little shaky and your heart rate is racing… To have to go through that, it’s nice to have that in recent memory for some of the tournaments coming up.”
Mcllroy extended his major championship drought to 10 years in 2024. His opponent on Monday, Spaun, has been vocal about having suffered his own heartbreaking moments in the game, and Mcllroy was later asked if he related with his words.
“Absolutely. I think we’ve all had periods where we’ve felt like that,” he said. “I’ve had to go through it. I’ve had my heart broken a lot over the last few years when I’ve had chances on Sundays and it hasn’t quite materialised.
“Back in 2019 [when he won his first Players], I maybe didn’t appreciate how big this tournament was and how much it meant. Every time we come back to this tournament, it gets bigger and better each and every year, from the course to the facilities for the players, to the facilities for the fans.”
With the Masters on the horizon, all eyes will be on McIlroy as he seeks to capture the elusive green jacket, having come close as runner-up in 2022. The quest for a maiden victory in the tournament remains a significant milestone for the four-time major champion.
However, he has never before graced the first major of the year with two victories already in the bag. “I feel like I’m a better player now than I ever have been,” he said on Monday. The 35-year-old will now be hoping he can deliver on those words as he aims for Augusta on April 10.
