If Rory Mcilroy claims his greatest victory in six years, he will have to prevail at a Monday tie against an officer whose resilience would embarrass most of the rocks.
As a 12 -year -old professional who has never finished more than 23rd in an important one, JJ Spaun, 34, will not be excessively familiar for the casual audience, but for four days a name has been made in the players championship.
That goes so much for its increase in the left field to lead the tournament after three rounds as the way it defended three behind Mcilroy in the nine interiors on Sunday to force the confrontation of Monday. Recognizing at 9 AM for a three holes shooting, you will have to wait for your 57 world ranking not to be an indicator of the result against a parked man 55 higher steps.
The fact that they tied in 12 under was a story of the recovery of Mcilroy of a four -shooting night deficit to Spaun, but it was also thought that he let an opportunity pass, since he had three clearings in 12.
To the carding a 68, on both sides of a four -hour suspension due to lightning, Mcilroy still had a good day, but the tie with Spaun was reduced to the pure negative of Californian to fade. He was two years after eight holes and saw a Mcilroy-shaped train speed, but the 34-year-old man simply did not yield and his 72, built in a 35 in the internal half, did enough to force the play-off. Gutsy does not cover it.
From here, much will depend on Mcilroy's ability to close, as always. A lot has been said about this issue in the 11 years after his last victory in a specialty, but too often he overlooks how much he has won in the stages below. Of the titles collected in the intermediate period, its triumph here in 2019 remains the greatest.
Regardless of whether the players' championship still deserves its brand as' Quinto Mayor ', a repetition on Monday would be a considerable feat, especially as a signifier before the teachers next month.
“All day a battle was a bit,” Mcilroy said. I am standing here thinking that I should be at home with the trophy tonight. But I will restart and I hope to go with that tomorrow.
Spaun said: 'I knew it was not going to be easy, but I put a lot of faith in myself. The break we had with the weather helped me out with a different mentality. I was seeing Rory's scores all the time, so I wasn't in a position where I could make many mistakes. I will have another chance tomorrow.
Starting four behind Span on Sunday, Mcilroy had the psychological advantage of being the only member of the world's top 30 among friends. To persecute the three men in front of him, Spaun, Bud Cauley and Lucas Glover, a fast charge was necessary from the door and the Irish of the northern delivered with a Birdie to the first.
A 228 yards approach at 10 feet then established an eagle in the second and was soon in a part of the leadership with Spaun in 11 bass after the Californian, in the group behind, bogeted the fifth.
A hook to approach the seventh green saw Mcilroy drop a blow, but recovered it 15 feet to the next. A rude for Birdie on the 11th led him to 12 bass and the direct advantage for the first time in the tournament and was one of Span when the storms of the rays began.
In the resumption of softer vegetables, Mcilroy bisló on 12 to go 13 under and a span Bogey opened a three -shooting advantage. With him came the question loaded with whether Mcilroy would have the composure to seal the agreement.
The initial response was a bit familiar: a global trip to the right hand in the 14th led to a Bogey and a reminder that his game outside the shirt has been inconsistent this week. He also opened a door for Span, who affected a two -shooting swing with a Birdie a few minutes later, and observed how Mcilroy lost opportunities of seven and 11 feet in 15 and 16.
At this stage, the world not 73 Tom Hoge had established the goal of the Club house in 10 below, and the persecution of Mcilroy depended on two of the most nervous closing holes in the circuit and did not arise from Spaun. The latter was not granted: he considered the 16 and a McCilroy pair in the iconic Isla Verde at 17 meant that they were level again.
With the possibility of a skill on Monday in three holes in sight, Mcilroy, who had twisted 18 times from three this week, put on the precautionary side and faced the four four with a two yard iron of 472 yards with a two iron. An iron of nine out of 181 yards cut well, establishing a four, while Spaun had escaped with the pair in 17 after being left in a range of three putt.
Spaun, with only one tour of PGA won in his name and never again than 23 in an important one, played the 18 knowing that a Birdie would bring the greatest victory of his career. To do so, he needed to stay dry from the TEE, but corrected excessively and dragged down the right of the street to the wooden sticks. That was a difficult place, but hit in the middle of the green.
With a 30 feet foot for the title, two inches were left short, establishing a meeting on Monday.