While Rory McIlroy believes he should already be celebrating a second Players Championship title, instead the world No.2 will have to return for what shapes as an intriguing three hole playoff against American J.J. Spaun at Sawgrass on Monday.

With a wind shift expected to make the infamous closing stretch at the Ponte Vedre Beach layout even more challenging in a playoff that begins at midnight AEDT, the Northern Irishman will have the weight of expectations on him.

That, according to his 57th ranked rival Spaun, may work against the four-time major winner, who led by as much as three shots late on an eventful final round before sneaking a par putt in on the 72nd to finish at 12-under.

“I would think so. Everyone expects him to win. I don’t think a lot of people expect me to win but I expect me to win,” Spaun said.

“I like having the opportunity to play. I like having the opportunity to win and I like being in the spotlight now. Tomorrow, it can go my way and if so, it would be great.”

McIlroy, who shot a 4-under 68, charged to the top of the leaderboard prior to a lengthy interruption due to lightning that also prompted a tornado warning in the area of Florida where the prestigious event is being played.

But after bogeying the 15th hole when missing a short putt that evoked memories of his disastrous finish finish at the US Open at Pinehurst last year, he was able to sneak another short putt into the side of the hole on the 18th.

He then watched from the clubhouse as Spaun, a 34-year-old from California, produced a strong approach from the pine straw before falling narrowly shy with a birdie putt to clinch the the trophy.

Spaun is already a winner regardless of what occurs in the playoff, with his deeds at Sawgrass certain to push him inside the top 50, which will almost certainly secure him a spot in the Masters at Augusta in April.

McIlroy, who has won three of his five playoffs and carries the experience into the first playoff to decide the Players Championship in a decade, is seeking a second success in the tournament after his one stroke win over Jim Furyk in 2019.

He is seeking to join Jack Nicklaus, who won three times, Tiger Woods, world No.1 Scottie Scheffler, Aussie Steve Elkington, Fred Couples, Hal Sutton and Davis Love III as a multiple winner of an event considered the biggest outside the four majors.

The 35-year-old attributed a couple of missed putts in the latter stages of his round to the sky darkening as another weather front closed in on the Sawgrass course.

“I hit a pretty bad tee shot on 14 and gave myself a good chance for par there and then I had two really good chances on 15 and 16, but I felt like it got a little darker,” he told the Golf Channel.

“At 15 and 16, there was like a little cell that was a few miles away and I really struggled to read those two putts. So I had two good chances slip by there on both those holes. And … I hit a good shot into 17 (but it) just spun back and got caught up against that collar. It was awkward. And then, ultimately, (I made) a good two putt on 18.

“But all day it was a bit of a battle. I’m standing here feeling like I probably should be going home with a trophy tonight, but that’s fine. I’ll reset and hopefully go home with the trophy tomorrow.”

Former Ryder Cup winning captain Paul McGinley said the three-hole playoff on Monday, which will be the first delayed finish at Sawgrass since Cam Smith’s success there in 2022, was intriguing because he does not believe McIlroy has played at his peak.

“Rory is not quite on his game (and) he is going to be asked to play some big shots tomorrow,” he said.

“You still expect Rory to win but it is a tough spot to be in when everyone expects you to win.”

But McGinley said it is a credit to the development in the four-time major winner’s game that he will vie for the title tomorrow despite playing below his best, stating McIlroy’s ability to scramble has improved significantly.

“He’s a more complete and rounder player than he’s ever been before, even when he was winning major titles, he wasn’t a complete player. He is now,” McGinley said.

“This is a Rory McIlroy in third, third and a half gear out of five, and here he is at the biggest tournament on the PGA Tour in a playoff. And that would not have happened seven or eight years ago.”