Six. This is how many playoffs The PLAYERS has seen since its inception in 1974. 2015. This is the last year when golf’s fifth major saw the playoff. Until yesterday, that is. All because of the 4-hour weather delay that ended with Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun tied with a score of 12-under. 

When McIlroy walked to Sawgrass’s famed island green, he had a one-stroke lead. After watching Alex Smalley’s tee shot roll along the wall and drop into the water, McIlroy was able to stick the green and set up a successful par putt. Spaun, just behind him, had birdied the 16th and held the green on the 17th. His 45-foot putt rolled to within three feet, and he tapped a par. So, when they both came to the 18th, they were tied at -12.

Because of his approach spinning back away from the pin, the Irish golfer was left with a 74-foot putt for a birdie. He rolled the putt to about four feet from the hole. Then, Spaun’s tee shot rolled into the pine straw on the right side of the fairway. Finally, McIlroy made a par putt, and for Spaun, the pressure was ON. All Spaun had to do was make that 30-foot putt to win. His birdie putt finished just inches short, forcing a Monday playoff.

Notably, Spaun is seeking his second Tour victory at this $25M event. His first came at the 2022 Valero Texas Open. McIlroy, on the other hand, is looking for his second win this season. Do you know that he’s never won twice on the PGA Tour in a calendar year before the Masters? He has already recorded a win this season at Pebble Beach.

So, unlike other tournaments that use different playoff formats, The PLAYERS employs a unique three-hole aggregate playoff system, implemented in 2014. This format utilizes what insiders call “The Gauntlet”—the final three holes at TPC Sawgrass that offer the perfect mix of risk and reward.

Players must navigate the reachable par-5 16th, the iconic island green par-3 17th, and the treacherous water-lined par-4 18th. The lowest combined score across these three holes determines the champion. If players remain tied after the three-hole playoff, the format shifts to sudden death, beginning at the island green 17th, then moving to the 18th, and cycling back to the 16th if needed.

What makes this format so compelling is how it tests every aspect of a player’s game. The 16th demands power and decision-making, the 17th requires precision under pressure, and the 18th calls for both accuracy and nerves of steel. This comprehensive examination ensures that the player who prevails truly deserves the title.

It’s actually true when we say that in golf, nothing quite matches the heart-pounding tension of a playoff. The crowd falls silent, cameras zoom in on players’ faces, and careers can be defined in just a few swings. The playoff format surely delivers some of the most dramatic moments in the sport. Although the format itself maximizes drama, the players have created these rare playoff moments, making them truly unforgettable throughout the tournament’s history.

The PLAYERS Championship historic playoffs

The most notable playoff under the current format came in 2015 when Rickie Fowler produced one of the most remarkable finishes in tournament history. After an extraordinary final round that saw him play the last four holes in 5-under par just to make the playoff, Fowler went head-to-head with Kevin Kisner and Sergio Garcia in the three-hole playoff.

Earlier playoffs have featured their dramatic moments. In 1981, at Sawgrass Country Club, before the tournament moved to its current home, Raymond Floyd defeated Barry Jaeckel and Curtis Strange with a clutch par on the very first playoff hole.

Then, in 1987, Sandy Lyle outlasted Jeff Sluman in a three-hole battle that showcased the difficulty of TPC Sawgrass under pressure. In the 2008 playoff,  Garcia overcame Paul Goydos after Goydos found the water on the island green on the 17th, and in 2011, K.J. Choi edged David Toms when Toms missed a short par putt on the first extra hole, each creating their slice of PLAYERS Championship lore.

With each playoff occurring roughly once every 8.5 years, these rare occasions become instant classics in golf history. As Rory McIlroy and J.J. Spaun prepare for their playoff showdown, golf fans eagerly anticipate which player will navigate “The Gauntlet” more successfully and add their name to the exclusive list of playoff victors.

Will McIlroy’s power and experience prevail, or will Spaun create an upset for the ages?