Rory McIlroy’s victory at The PLAYERS Championship 2025 was nothing short of spectacular. He had to overcome a four-shot deficit in the final round to tie for the lead after 72 holes, and then defeat J.J. Spaun in a three-hole playoff to lift the trophy.
But this new title at the PGA Tour’s flagship event had an even bigger impact on McIlroy’s already illustrious career. With his second victory at TPC Sawgrass, the Northern Irishman joined a select list that, prior to Sunday, included just three players.
McIlroy is now only the fourth player to win multiple PLAYERS Championship titles and multiple major championships. He joins two golf legends in Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, and another who is well on his way to becoming one, Scottie Scheffler.
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Nicklaus was the first member of this group, and it didn’t take him long to establish it. The Golden Bear won the inaugural TPC Sawgrass event in 1974, and by the time he won his second title two years later, he had 12 major championship victories under his belt.
It took Tiger Woods a little longer to join Nicklaus in that select group. The Big Cat won The PLAYERS in 2001, but did not lift the title again until 12 years later, in 2013, with 14 of his 15 major titles already in his trophy case.
Scheffler, for his part, joined the group in just two years, winning the Masters Tournament in 2022 and 2024 and The PLAYERS in 2023 and 2024.
In the case of McIlroy, he won for the first time at TPC Sawgrass in 2019, five years after winning his fourth major championship. He has yet to return to the winner’s circle of major championships, but he has not stopped adding titles to his record.
Proud to join such elite company with two @THEPLAYERS wins. It’s one of the greatest championships we play. This game has a way of testing you, but there’s no better feeling than getting it done on a stage like this. pic.twitter.com/EQsC1VL1FW
— Rory McIlroy (@McIlroyRory) March 17, 2025
Naturally, Rory McIlroy is delighted with this new milestone in his career. He said as much at his championship press conference.
“Yeah, I’d seen it. I’d seen it somewhere, that Jack, Tiger and Scottie were the only three with multiple PLAYERS and multiple majors. It’s a nice club to be a part of.”
McIlroy also entered in a group of only seven players to win at TPC Sawgrass more than one time. Fred Couples, Steve Elkington and Hal Sutton join him, Nicklaus, Woods and Scheffler in that list.
The win at the PLAYERS Championship was the 28th of McIlroy’s PGA Tour career and the second of the season. It definitely puts him on the right track to win the Masters, which he has said is his main goal for the rest of his professional career.
In addition, the Northern Irishman is now the leader of the FedEx Cup standings and has consolidated his position as number two in the world rankings.
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