Rory McIlroy has won The Players Championship in a three-hole playoff against J. PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The playoff was only three holes. Rory McIlroy needed only three swings. And yet his victory Monday over J.J. Spaun in The Players Championship revealed so much about the state of his game and the cruel nature of the notorious TPC Sawgrass.

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.

Rory McIlroy defeated J.J. Spaun in a three-hole aggregate playoff Monday to win his second Players Championship, perhaps cementing his status as the favorite to finally break through and complete the career Grand Slam at the Masters next month.