Rory McIlroy to face JJ Spaun in play-off at Players Championship

PLAY OFF: Rory McIlroy couldn’t close the door on a three-shot lead with five holes to play on Sunday. Now he’ll wake up to face a three-hole aggregate playoff Monday morning against dogged underdog J.J. Spaun with the Players Championship on the line. Pic: AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson

Rory McIlroy couldn’t close the door on a three-shot lead with five holes to play on Sunday. Now he’ll wake up to face a three-hole aggregate playoff Monday morning against dogged underdog J.J. Spaun with the Players Championship on the line.

McIlroy played the final five holes in 1-over, making a bogey on 14 and missing birdie chances from under 6 feet on 15 and 12 feet on the par-5 16th to open the door for Spaun to catch him with kick-in birdies at 14 and 16. McIlroy’s 68 and Spaun’s 72 left both players at 12-under, two shots ahead of Tom Hoge, Akshay Bhatia and Lucas Glover at TPC Sawgrass.