Rory McIlroy blasted his opening tee shot and hit a pitching wedge to the par-5 16th to set up birdie, and then he found the island green at the par-3 17th with a 9-iron into a cold, crackling wind at TPC Sawgrass that effectively gave him a second title at golf’s richest event.
Spaun posed over his 8-iron until he heard the groans of the spectators lined up behind the 17th green. His ball cut through the wind and sailed clear over the green into the water, leading to a triple bogey that ended his hopes.
“It was a great shot … perfect if it was the right distance,” he said. “I just couldn’t believe it was long. Just not my luck of the gust.”