On Sunday, Rory McIlroy had to come from behind to get himself into a playoff at The Players Championship. On Monday, he won the playoff with relative ease over J.J. Spaun to win golf's so-called fifth major.
McIlroy played himself into the playoff, firing a 4-under 68 on Sunday to come from four shots down. Spaun, the third-round leader, hung on with one of golf's most popular and accomplished players in his rearview mirror.
The two entered Monday's three-hole playoff with two completely different narratives:
• McIlroy, ranked No. 2 in the world, trying to make up ground on world No.