Rory McIlroy Extends Lead in European Ryder Cup Qualification After PLAYERS Victory

Rory McIlroy moved further ahead in the 2025 European Ryder Cup qualification race after a play-off victory at THE PLAYERS Championship on the PGA TOUR.

The win sees McIlroy move to 1,962.75 points, extending his lead over second-placed Tyrell Hatton to 1,039.91 points, as he targets an eighth consecutive Ryder Cup appearance.

Should the five-time Ryder Cup winner make Captain Luke Donald’s team in New York, he will also be looking for a second victory on U.S. soil after being part of the winning European team at Medinah in 2012.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 16: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland plays his shot from the 17th tee during the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 16, 2025 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

McIlroy and America’s J.J. Spaun couldn’t be separated after 72 holes of golf at TPC Sawgrass, and after an extended weather delay on Sunday, the pair returned for a three-hole aggregate play-off on Monday.

Played over the closing three-hole stretch, McIlroy immediately claimed a one stroke lead over his opponent with a birdie on the par 5 16th hole.

However, it would be the famous 17th hole with its island green that would bring the play-off drama.

With McIlroy securely on the green, Spaun hit it long into the water and ultimately carded a triple bogey, six. After McIlroy three-putted, the Northern Irishman took a three-stroke lead into the final hole, with a closing bogey enough to take THE PLAYERS title for a second time and secure his 28th PGA TOUR victory.

McIlroy said: “I did it a different way this week. I had to putt well. I needed to chip well. I saw way too much of the pine straw.

"But I feel if one part of my game isn't there, I have other parts to bail me out and it's a really nice feeling to have that in my golf game.

“I'm really proud of my body of work. I turned pro in 2007 and my first season on the PGA TOUR was in 2009. I've tried to get better every year and I feel like I'm continuing trying to do that.

"The younger guys coming out are getting better every single year and I need to keep working hard to hang with them. I'm doing a pretty good job of that.

"I feel like I've still got a few years left in the tank."

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - MARCH 17: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland celebrates with the trophy after winning the playoff in the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 17, 2025 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

The win is McIlroy’s second on the PGA TOUR this season after victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February.

Meanwhile, Robert MacIntyre was the only other European to finish inside the top-10, as rounds of 69-70-72-69 saw the 2023 Ryder Cup winner finish in solo ninth.

The Scot climbs to 12th in the European rankings on 440.64 points.

McIlroy currently occupies top spot in qualifying on 1,962.75 points, with Hatton (922.84 points), Rasmus Højgaard (813.43 points), Shane Lowry (736.68 points) Ludvig Åberg (650.13 points) and Thomas Detry (564.67 points) rounding out the automatic qualifiers.

The qualification process will end at the DP World Tour’s Betfred British Masters hosted by Sir Nick Faldo, which concludes on Sunday August 24, 2025.