The Players Championship LIVE: Rory McIlroy faces JJ Spaun in dramatic three-hole play-off

From bad to worse for Spaun. He’s left with 222 yards to the green and only a sliver of a gap through the trees to reach it. Takes a 4 iron, needs a miracle shot and tops it. Goes on to the fairway but nowhere near the green.

McIlroy, with no need for anything silly, simply chips his ball out on to the fairway.

After second of three play-off holes:

On to the par-four 18th, the final hole of this three-hole play-off. Another iconic hole, with the vast expanse of water down the left but the hole curving from right to left.

McIlroy is going anywhere but left, understandably. His tee shot soars into the crowds to the right of the fairway. A chink of light for Spaun?

No… The American follows him, short and well right. He needs a birdie and McIlroy to double bogey but I’m not sure he’ll be able to reach the green in two The trophy has slipped away from him

After second of three play-off holes:

It’s all over now, you’d think. Spaun swings his double bogey putt and it stays high. Rolls in the triple bogey – disastrous for the underdog.

McIlroy misses his par putt as the ball slips left of the hole up the hill. He taps in for bogey but still has a three-shot lead up the 18th. Surely there’ll be no mistakes from here…?

After second of three play-off holes:

Spaun actually tries a chip to take out the first slope – delicate shot and it’s decent but he’s still got the best part of 12 feet for a double bogey.

McIlroy takes his birdie putt, surely just a lag up to the hole… Sets it on course and that’s got some legs. Slips just past the hole and keeps on running, and running. Suddenly he’s left with a six-footer for par!

After first of three play-off holes:

Spaun pitching from the drop zone after finding the water. And even that’s not a great chip – you feel the occasion has got to the American.

The ball spins back and comes to rest up against the fringe of the green, probably 30 feet from the hole. That’s not an easy two putt from there, given the curve of rough between him and the hole and a two-putt would be a double bogey…

McIlroy in complete control of this play-off now and has one hand on the Players Championship trophy

After first of three play-off holes:

It’s on to the iconic 17th hole – one of the most famous holes in world golf. The par three with the island green. A watery grave on all sides if you err.

McIlroy has the honour – no need for heroics with the one-shot lead. He clips his iron safely towards the back of the green, lovely tee shot. Probably 20 feet or so away.

All the pressure now on Spaun. Discussion with his caddy. He’s got to take this flag on really… 8 iron in hand, and OH NO! Disaster for Spaun. His ball flies over the back of the green and lands in the water. It never touched dry land. That, you fear, could be that for the American.

After first of three play-off holes:

Spaun takes his birdie putt first, from around 20 feet. Up the hill and he doesn’t hit it. Three feet short – slightly cautious.

Chance for McIlroy to take a lead on the first hole in this matchplay scenario. Six feet or so, maybe. And McIIroy makes it! Birdie on the first hole of this play-off for the favourite – calmly rolled in.

Spaun tidies up his par but he now trails by a stroke.

After first of three play-off holes:

Spaun splashes out of the greenside bunker but it doesn’t release and roll down to the hole as intended. It’s ok but nothing more. Outside chance of a birdie

McIlroy is about 35 feet away and set his eagle putt trundling towards the hole. He wants it to swing left to right but it doesn’t turn and races past the hole. That’s not a great putt – work to do for the birdie

Spaun playing first and out of the right rough, he pushes it. His heart will have been in his mouth as it looked headed towards the water down the right but bounces on dry land and lurches forward into the bunker. That will be a bit of a relief for the underdog.

Meanwhile, after a mega drive, McIlroy is only left with 180 yards into the green – that’s just a flick of the 9 iron for the Northern Irishman. Decent enough shot, safely into the heart of the green and he’ll have a long-range look at an eagle. He’s chewed up a 540-yard par five with a drive and a 9 iron – very impressive.

Very much advantage McIlroy

McIlroy picks the driver out of his bag for this opening drive. The 16th is a par five and McIlroy is trying to eat up as much of the distance on the hole with one shot.

Flushes it down the middle of the fairway. A marker laid down to JJ Spaun.

Spaun also taking driver and his drive bounces on the short stuff but takes a couple of bounces into the rough. He’s well back of McIlroy – advantage to the Northern Irishman