There are few things that Spaun would take back from what has to be considered a career-best performance, even if he has a single tour win in the Valero Texas Open. Maybe his putt on the 72nd hole on Sunday evening, when his ball came up about two rolls short of victory on a birdie try.

It wasn’t until the end of his press conference that J.J. Spaun finally saw a replay of his ill-fated shot that doomed his longshot bid to win this Players Championship. He paused his answer to fix his eyes on one of the TVs in the back of the media center.

Rory McIlroy needed an extra hour and three additional holes to confirm his spot in the winner's circle at the 2025 Players Championship when he won an aggregate playoff over J.J. Spaun in a three-hole aggregate playoff in chilly and windy conditions Monday morning at TPC Sawgrass.