Rory McIlroy was left to rue his missed chances, meaning he will face JJ Spaun in a play-off on Monday at the Players Championship.

McIlroy had trailed Spaun by four shots going into Sunday's fourth round, but a strong birdie-eagle start thrust him back into contention before he took a share of the lead at the turn.

The Northern Irishman then went ahead of the pack shortly before a four-hour weather delay due to the threat of lightning. Upon the restart, he birdied the 12th, moving three shots ahead with six holes to play.

However, he let a three-shot lead slip in that space, bogeying the next hole before missing chances that could have secured him the title, though he posted a four-under 68.

Spaun, meanwhile, fought back in the closing stretch, getting birdies on two of the last five holes to draw level with the world number two on 12 under after 72 holes.

A playoff at THE PLAYERS. #THEPLAYERS pic.twitter.com/XZBY5YrLNZ

— THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERS) March 16, 2025

"It [was] a long day," McIlroy told Sky Sports.

"I got off to a great start before play was called. And once we got back out there, I made the perfect start again with a birdie at 12.

"On the way in, I feel like I gave myself chances to close the door and win this golf tournament - and I didn't quite do that.

"I'm going to have to do it the hard way."

Spaun is hopeful of his chances, though expects a challenge against McIlroy.

"This amount of pressure is the most I've ever been under, so to really fight through the adversity on the front nine, it gives me that boost of confidence that I need," he told Sky Sports.

"I definitely need some birdies. He [Rory] is a great player and is going to be tough to beat... but this final stretch of 16, 17 and 18, anything can happen.

"I'm just happy to have a chance at it."

The weather delays meant that there was not enough daylight left on Sunday to contest the three-hole play-off, with the tournament moving into a fifth day.

Five good swings is all it takes. #THEPLAYERS | @McIlroyRory pic.twitter.com/GwbM2KuqG9

— THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERS) March 17, 2025

McIlroy has won the Players Championship before, winning by one stroke in 2019, and he admitted how much he wanted to add a second title to his name.

"It would mean an awful lot to win," he added.

"There's not many multiple Players champions. Scottie [Scheffler] has won the last two years... and I've spoken a lot about how much I admire Scottie - it would be nice to get two like him and two like Tiger [Woods].

"But I have to put that out of my head, play three good holes and hopefully that's enough."

Tom Hoge, Akshay Bhatia and Lucas Glover finished two strokes back in tied-third on 10 under, while reigning champion Scottie Scheffler finished in joint-20th, finishing on four under after carding a final-round one-over 73.