What is The Players Championship playoff format? All you need to know as Rory McIlroy faces J.J. Spaun

Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy will face J.J. Spaun in a playoff to determine the winner of the 2025 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass.

McIlroy and Spaun could not be separated over 72 holes and the pair finished the PGA Tour's flagship event on 12-under par.

A four-hour weather delay on Sunday meant there was not enough daylight to complete the tournament. 

McIlroy is looking to become a two-time winner of The Players, having tasted victory here in 2019. 

Spaun is trying to win for the second time on the PGA Tour. He secured his first title three years ago at the Valero Texas Open.

All four of golf's men's major championships have different formats. 

The Masters is sudden death and the U.S. Open uses a two-hole aggregate. 

The US PGA Championship uses a three-hole aggregate and The Open is decided over four extra holes.

What is The Players Championship playoff format?

• Three-hole aggregate playoff over holes 16, 17 and 18
• If they are still tied, it becomes sudden death
• Sudden death starts at the par-3 17th and heads to the 18th if necessary
• If still tied, they will continue sudden death on holes 16, 17 and 18

There have been five previous playoffs in Players Championship history. 

The current format was instituted in 2014 and most recently employed in 2015.

That saw Rickie Fowler defeat Kevin Kisner and Sergio Garcia in an electric playoff.

Fowler won with a birdie on the 17th on the fourth hole. 

How many times has The Players Championship gone to a playoff?

The Players Championship winner has been determined over extra holes on five occasions.

Take a look here:

• 1981: Raymond Floyd defeated Barry Jaeckel and Curtis Strange.
• 1987: Sandy Lyle defeated Jeff Sluman.
• 2008: Sergio García defeated Paul Goydos.
• 2011: K.J. Choi defeated David Toms.
• 2015: Rickie Fowler defeated Kevin Kisner and Sergio García.
• 2025: TBC

Fowler's victory was the first time The Players used the three-hole aggregate system.