Rory became only the eighth player in history to win THE PLAYERS multiple times
World No. 2 Rory Mcllroy secured his 2nd career PLAYERS Championship title, the 5th unofficial Major Championship, after a dramatic Monday playoff against American J.J. Spaun played on the iconic TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course) in Florida from March 13-17.
This was Rory’s second win of the season after his AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am success. He now leads the FedExCup standings, having earned 750 points and a $4.5 million share of the $25 million purse.
J.J. Spaun, ranked 57th in the world, defied expectations throughout the tournament, holding the solo lead entering the final round. Despite his resilience, a crucial mistake at the notorious 17th island green sealed his fate. The 33-year-old still walked away with his best finish of the season, securing 2nd place, 525 FedExCup points, and $2.7 million in earnings.
Akshay at the iconic par-3 17th “Island Green” hole
Akshay Bhatia’s standout performance
Indian-American Akshay Bhatia delivered a career-defining performance, finishing tied-third alongside fellow Americans Lucas Glover and Tom Hoge at 10-under 278.
Reflecting on his performance, Bhatia acknowledged the learning experience gained from contending in one of the toughest fields on the PGA TOUR. “This was a huge learning opportunity,” he said. “Being in contention at a tournament like this helps you understand your tendencies and improve. Playing alongside someone like Rory, whom I’ve admired for years, was surreal.”
Bhatia earned 325 FedExCup points and $1.3 million for his T3 finish.
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, aiming for a historic three-peat, finished in a tie for 20th. He was unable to mount a significant challenge, extending a relatively quiet start to his 2025 campaign following a hand injury late last year.
With two wins in four starts this season, McIlroy heads into The Masters in prime form within two weeks’ time, while Akshay Bhatia’s breakthrough performance signals the arrival of a promising young talent on the PGA TOUR.
