Summary

  1. Water for Spaun!published at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy -1, Spaun E (1*)

    Disaster!

    Agony for the contender as he hits it too hard, with the wrong club, and the ball flies straight over the 17th green.

    He looks on stunned.

  2. Postpublished at 13:24 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Iain Carter
    BBC golf correspondent at Sawgrass

    Rory is going to have a relatively flat putt and he's said to his opponent, 'over to you, I'm dry and you're one behind'.

  3. Postpublished at 13:23 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy -1, Spaun E (1*)

    Rory McIlroy is a better golfer than me - I'll admit it.

    Retaining the honour, he's landed his tee shot in a perfect spot. Above the hole and with a reasonable shout at birdie.

    Over to JJ Spaun.

  4. Postpublished at 13:21 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy -1, Spaun E (1*)

    Maybe I'm in the minority.

    Thumbs up if you'd rather have the honour.

  5. Postpublished at 13:20 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Mcilroy -1, Spaun E (1*)

    I think I'd rather go second than first on this nightmare par-three 17th.

    At least that way you could see what the wind was doing.

    With the pin tucked over the bunker on the left of the green, the stage is set for drama.

  6. McIlroy takes lead on first play-off holepublished at 13:19 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy -1, Spaun E (1*)

    One weakness in JJ Spaun's putting is a tendency to leave it short and he has done just that so Rory McIlroy can strike a blow here.

    The wind is swirling but in it goes.

    Advantage McIlroy as Spaun tidies up for par.

  7. Postpublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Zane Scotland
    Former European Tour player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That was quite a straightforward bunker shot for JJ but he's played quite a poor shot. It was 20-25 yards with the green running down towards the hole.

  8. Postpublished at 13:16 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy -1, Spaun E (1*)

    Out of the sand comes JJ Spaun but his ball holds up and if he wants a birdie, he'll have to drain from 22 feet.

    A chance for Rory McIlroy to bring some pressure? Well, his eagle putt is long and off line and he's given himself more work than he should have for a birdie.

    Five feet coming back. If Spaun converts, this will get tasty.

  9. Postpublished at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy -1, Spaun E (1*)

    JJ Spaun has never been in the intensity of this head-to-head match-up before.

    Rory McIlroy has faced down opponents countless times.

    Given the way he's striding so far, you can tell who has the experience.

  10. Postpublished at 13:14 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Zane Scotland
    Former European Tour player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Rory is going to be on a similar line to the putt he missed on 16 yesterday so he'll have a bit of an idea as to where his ball will go on the putt.

  11. Postpublished at 13:13 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy E, Spaun E

    Iain Carter
    BBC golf correspondent at Sawgrass

    Advantage McIlroy continues here. That's another statement. He takes his glove off his left hand and marches down to the green knowing the pressure is all on Spaun.

  12. Postpublished at 13:12 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Mcilroy E, Spaun E

    Can't say JJ Spaun doesn't have guts. He's threaded that alongside the water at the 16th almost the whole way to the green out of the rough. It bounces inches from the edge and scoots into the greenside bunker.

    Bravery and then some.

    However, from 30 yards further down the fairway Rory McIlroy can take aim at the green and lands it in the heart.

    He'll have 34 feet to start with an eagle.

  13. Postpublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy E, Spaun E

    Anyone worrying about a lack of fans around Sawgrass given it's a Monday will be relieved. There are plenty gathered for this theatre.

    And to be fair, where else would you rather be at 9am on a Monday morning?

  14. Postpublished at 13:10 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Zane Scotland
    Former European Tour player on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Rory will stride down the fairway and stand slightly in JJ's eyeline, just to say 'I'm here, I'm 40 yards further down the fairway than you'.

  15. Postpublished at 13:09 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy E, Spaun E

    JJ Spaun has been better on this hole this week and it was on the 16th that he rolled a beautiful chip for a kick-in birdie to tie up the tournament late on in yesterday's round.

    He's -3 over the four rounds compared with McIlroy's -1.

    Spaun has donned his sunglasses too as he strides down the fairway. Stark contrast to Sunday's stormy conditions.

  16. Postpublished at 13:07 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Iain Carter
    BBC golf correspondent at Sawgrass

    Not a cloud in the sky but a tricky breeze out there, which might come into play on the 17th.

  17. Postpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    Iain Carter
    BBC golf correspondent at Sawgrass

    McIlroy is the substantially longer player off the tee and that was a statement of intent.

  18. Postpublished at 13:05 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy E, Spaun E

    Thwack. Picture perfect from Rory McIlroy to start this play-off as he thunders it plumb down the middle.

    Gauntlet laid down to JJ Spaun whose ball takes a couple of bounces before landing in the first cut of rough down the right.

  19. Who's winning this?published at 13:03 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    JJ Spaun and Rory McIlroyImage source, Getty Images

    Let's keep it as simple as our thumb tool allows.

    Thumbs up if Rory McIlroy is going to win.

    Thumbs down if JJ Spaun is going to win.

  20. Hole 16 - here we gopublished at 13:03 Greenwich Mean Time 17 March

    McIlroy E, Spaun E

    It's been the easiest hole this week at TPC Sawgrass, serving up 13 eagles and 174 birdies over the four rounds.

    Yesterday Rory McIlroy was frustrated to walk off with a par.

    He has the honour and is stepping up to the tee box now.