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Rory McIlroy claimed his second Players Championship title with a comfortable victory over JJ Spaun in a three-hole play-off at Sawgrass.<\/b><\/p>\n
It is the Northern Irishman’s second PGA Tour win of the season – and 28th of his career – and comes in the most prestigious event outside of the annual four majors.<\/p>\n
“I am unbelievably proud and happy to win my second Players,” said the world number two. <\/p>\n
“It’s the third time I’ve won on St Patrick’s Day. It’s been a good-luck charm for me.”<\/p>\n
McIlroy, a four-time major winner, dominated the play-off from the opening tee shot on the par-five 16th, booming his drive down the centre of the fairway, while Spaun, who has just one PGA Tour win, could only find the rough.<\/p>\n
The American world number 57 chopped his second into a greenside bunker and took three from there to register a par, while McIlroy, who hit his second into the centre of the green, two-putted for a birdie.<\/p>\n
McIlroy then found the green with his tee shot on the iconic par-three 17th ‘island hole’, but Spaun dunked his ball in the water to effectively end his hopes.<\/p>\n
He took a triple-bogey six and although McIlroy three-putted to drop a shot, his lead was three going down the last.<\/p>\n
Both players scrambled their way down the 18th following wayward drives out to the right that left them blocked by trees.<\/p>\n
But McIlroy’s advantage was so great he could tap in for a bogey to win the play-off on one over par. Spaun, who was at four over, picked up his ball without finishing the hole having taken four shots.<\/p>\n
“I feel really bad for JJ,” added McIlroy, who becomes the first European event to win the event more than once. “He hit a great shot on the 17th but it just went straight through the wind.”<\/p>\n
Spaun said “it looked like it was floating and we didn’t see it land” of his tee shot on the short hole.<\/p>\n
However, despite saying it was “hard not to feel discouraged” he would have “totally taken” getting into a play-off for the title at the start of the week.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n