Golf fans have been left furious after JJ Spaun utilizeed a rules loophole during this weekfinish’s Players Championship.
The American finished unitet top with Rory McIlroy as both joiners sign uped scores of 12 under at the Players Stadium Course in Florida.
The argue erupted during the final round when Spaun was chasing down directer McIlroy.
After discovering the raw with his second sboiling on the ninth hole, the American engaged a sprinkler head rule to get a meaningful get.
Golf fans have been left furious after JJ Spaun utilizeed a rules loophole during this weekfinish’s Players Championship
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The manoeuvre apvalidateed him to relocate his ball from a difficult lie in the raw onto the fairway.
Spaun went on to birdie the hole, helping him eventuassociate tie with McIlroy and force a join-off.
The incident has promoteed heated argue online, with many fans asking whether Spaun viopostponeedd the spirit of the game.
here’s video of where Spaun’s ball landed on 9 and then a screensboiling of where he joined from. pic.twitter.com/0lEmWkpNg2
— Kyle Porter (@KylePorterNS) March 16, 2025
One fan wrote on X: “They should be no relief rule that apvalidates you to relocate from the raw into the fairway.”
Another pointed out the inconsistency in the rules: “Yet you can exposede a perfect drive and finish up in a divot in the middle of the fairway thraw no fault of your own and it’s sacrilege to propose they should get relief.”
A third fan proposeed: “Wow, shouldn’t have sprinklers proximate the raw anymore. Down the middle of the fairway, and the raw gets from a confineed proset up ones.”
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The disjoineest criticism came from a fourth engager who asked Spaun’s integrity: “Obviously, a low/no integrity person. The rule is there so you don’t injure a sprinkler head. It’s not there so you can elude the consequences of a horrible sboiling.”
McIlroy, uncomardentwhile, transmited confidence despite the frustrating finish to regulation join.
“All day it was a bit of a battle, I’m standing here senseing enjoy I probably should be going home with the trophy tonight,” he shelp.
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The Northern Irishman remained rerepaird to prevail in the joinoff.
“But that’s fine. I’ll reset and hopebrimmingy go home with the trophy tomorrow,” McIlroy compriseed.
JJ Spaun has been able to reel in Rory McIlroy as the two men gear up for their join-off clash at the Players Championship
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“I sense enjoy I gave myself chances to seal the door and triumph this golf tournament but I didn’t quite do that.”
McIlroy is seeing to triumph the Players Championship for the first time since 2019. Any triumph would bode well for the future, especiassociate with the Masters set to get place next month.
