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NBC Sports
17-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
RORY MCILROY WINS THE 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON GOLF CHANNEL AND PEACOCK
'A perfect start to St. Patrick's day. It's only March, but it feels like Rory's year.' – Rich Lerner on Live From THE PLAYERS 'Rory McIlroy doesn't have to win with his 'A' game anymore. This was his 'B' game.' – Paul McGinley on Live From 'Nightmare on 17. The first ball in the water on this course all week for J.J. Spaun.' – Terry Gannon 'He probably slept on it a little different than Rory who had won 27 times.' – Kevin Kisner on J.J. Spaun 'This is going to be one of the hardest shots that any player has played all week long... they're going to have to take a lot more club and flight it down. The risk is flying it over the green.' - Brad Faxon prior to the 17th hole STAMFORD, Conn. – March 17, 2025 – Rory McIlroy won the 2025 PLAYERS Championship on GOLF Channel and Peacock on Monday morning, defeating J.J. Spaun in a three-hole aggregate playoff on holes 16, 17, and 18 at The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., to earn the second PLAYERS Championship of his career. Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS followed with post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. Dan Hicks and Terry Gannon handled play-by-play duties, while Kevin Kisner and Brad Faxon served as analysts. Jim 'Bones' Mackay followed Spaun while Smylie Kaufman followed McIlroy. Cara Banks handled the winner's interview with McIlroy. Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee, Paul McGinley, Johnson Wagner, and Todd Lewis, anchored Live From THE PLAYERS post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. Following are notes and quotes from this morning's playoff. ON RORY MCILROY (CHAMPION) Hicks: 'Rory McIlroy is setting the stage for what could be a monster 2025 season.' Lerner on Live From: 'A perfect start to St. Patrick's day. It's only March, but it feels like Rory's year.' McGinley on Live From: 'The fact that Rory had the honor I think that was significant. I've hit shots behind Rory McIlroy and trying to follow him is not easy. I think that was an McIlroy doesn't have to win with his 'A' game anymore. This was his 'B' game.' Faxon: 'You look at the greatest players in the world, like Jack and Tiger, as they got older, they said they were better and smarter players. When Rory was younger, he won it by driving the ball so much better than everyone else. He had a poor driving day in round one, he had a poor putting round on Saturday – Rory can now do it in many different ways.' Kisner: 'I love what Rory talked about with those iron shots. Even when I played with Rory, I always thought he struggled to take a lot of yardage off of his irons, and those two he hit on the 17th and 18th were absolute seeds, taking 20 and 30 yards off of iron shots and flighting them down. He had major control and was playing golf the way it should be played in that amount of wind.' Faxon on McIlroy's tee shot and bogey on 17th hole: 'That was an outstanding shot. Exactly what he had to do. All week long on the range, Rory was practicing those three-quarter did what he needed to do. He hit first and he had to put it on the green, so mission accomplished.' ON J.J. SPAUN (RUNNER-UP) Hicks: 'Even though this is a bitterly disappointing playoff for J.J. Spaun, what he can get out of this week is immeasurable, when he hadn't even had a top-20 in a big event – a major or a PLAYERS.' Kisner: 'I think J.J. would have benefitted the most by playing this playoff last night. In that situation, you want to keep going when you have the momentum and the adrenaline on your side. He probably slept on it a little differently than Rory who had won 27 times.' Spaun to Kaufman following the playoff on his tee shot on the 17th hole: 'I was committed to the club and committed to the shot shape that I was trying to hit. We were getting numbers on the range with Trackman and literally the same wind direction it was flying 128 yards. It was the perfect club and I guess I just hit it too good and it went right through the wind. I almost was telling it in my head to get up because it looked like it was floating...I hit a great shot and did what I needed to do, it just didn't work out.' Faxon on Spaun hitting into the water on the 17th hole: 'He's expecting the wind to pull that ball back so much.' Kisner: 'That was a beautiful flight on that ball. I think he thought he flagged it.' Gannon: 'The first ball in the water on this course all week for J.J. Spaun.' Faxon: 'It never looked like J.J. Spaun was comfortable at any moment (on the 17th tee). Rory brought that 9-iron out...' Gannon: 'Do you think that confused him?' Faxon: 'Without a doubt. You saw him looking in his bag, they had 8-iron and 9-iron out. Spaun doesn't hit his 9-iron as far as Rory and he flushed it over the back of the green.' Mackay: 'One word we haven't talked too much about is adrenaline. I think on the 17th at this amazing, iconic golf course, this is one of those holes that you get to like one or two others around the world that you hit a half club further because its No. 17 at THE PLAYERS.' Gannon: 'Nightmare on 17.' ON CONDITIONS AT TPC SAWGRASS FOR MONDAY MORNING'S PLAYOFF Kaufman: 'This is easily the hardest this wind has blown the entire week.' Faxon: 'These players were trying to find an angle on the range to simulate the distance and the wind they would have on 17. This is going to be one of the hardest shots that any player here at the PLAYERS Championship has played all week long... they're going to have to take a lot more club and flight it down. The risk is flying it over the green.' --NBC SPORTS--
NBC Sports
17-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
NOTES AND QUOTES - 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON NBC, GOLF CHANNEL, AND PEACOCK (FINAL ROUND)
*PROGRAMMING ALERT* - Rory McIlroy Faces J.J. Spaun in 2025 PLAYERS Championship Playoff Monday at 9 a.m. ET Live on GOLF Channel and Peacock 'We've got a playoff between J.J. Spaun and Rory McIlroy which epitomizes it. A guy looking for win number two and the Hall of Famer to be Rory McIlroy.' – Dan Hicks on what makes THE PLAYERS special 'You really have to tip your cap to Spaun…It's really hard to find the hidden harmonies in that chaos.' – Brandel Chamblee on Spaun during today's weather-delayed round 'I can understand why he's disappointed. That was there to be won. He did the hard work, he got himself in position, and then flatlined.' – Paul McGinley on McIlroy STAMFORD, Conn. – March 16, 2025 – NBC Sports presented final round coverage of THE PLAYERS Championship from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on NBC, GOLF Channel, and Peacock. Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS followed with post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. Rory McIlroy will face J.J. Spaun in a playoff to decide the 2025 PLAYERS Champion Monday morning at 9 a.m. ET live on GOLF Channel and Peacock. Click here for NBC Sports' coverage details. Dan Hicks and Terry Gannon handled play-by-play duties, while Kevin Kisner and Brad Faxon served as analysts. Jim 'Bones' Mackay, Smylie Kaufman, John Wood, and Curt Byrum served as on-course reporters, while Cara Banks handled reports and interviews. Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee, Paul McGinley, Johnson Wagner, and Todd Lewis, anchored Live From THE PLAYERS post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. Following are notes and quotes from today's coverage. The PLAYERS Championship – Final Results ON TOMORROW MORNING'S PLAYOFF Hicks on what makes THE PLAYERS so special: 'We've got a playoff between J.J. Spaun and Rory McIlroy which epitomizes it. A guy looking for win number two and the hall of famer to be Rory McIlroy.' Kisner on the player's mindset going into tomorrow's playoff: 'All you're trying to do is focus on that first tee shot on hole 16 and hitting the fairway so that you know it's a birdie opportunity, and then it's game on when you get to 17 tee.' ON CONDITIONS AT TPC SAWGRASS AND WEATHER DELAY Kisner on handling the four-hour weather delay today: 'You just don't have time to do your normal prep. Most guys get to the golf course two hours, two and a half hours before their tee time. This time around, they're sitting around the locker room, laying down, napping, watching TV, eating, drinking, and suddenly a guy walks in and says, 'We're going back in 45 minutes.' It changes everything, everybody rushes. I always struggle with I have different feels, you know when you're playing you've got the momentum, adrenaline going. You get certain feels that you're going with in the round and then suddenly it's like starting a whole new day…They're all going to be trying to find new feels.' Faxon on players regaining feel following the delay: 'It definitely takes a shot to trust it. Players are now wearing sweaters that they weren't before we went off. Everything feels a little bit different.' Kisner on how a delay can help a player who was sputtering in the round: 'Hopefully when you got back on the range for this warm-up, you got some better feels, and you get a little more confident. Not sure where J.J. Spaun was practicing 62-yard bunker shots around the practice area, but if you get back on the range and you find a good rhythm and you find some good feels, then you might be really confident coming out of this weather delay.' ON RORY MCILROY (-12, T1) McIlroy to Smylie Kaufman post-round on having a three-shot lead: 'I hit a pretty bad tee shot on 14 and gave myself a good chance for par there and then I had two really good chances on 15 and 16. I felt like it got a little darker on 15 and 16, there was like a little cell that was a few miles away and really struggled to read those two putts. So I had two good chances that slipped by there on both those holes…Ultimately a good two putt on 18. All day it was a bit of a battle. I'm standing here feeling like I probably should be going home with a trophy tonight, but that's fine. I'll reset and hopefully go home with a trophy tomorrow morning…It was nice to two-putt that and at least give myself a chance tomorrow.' McGinley on McIlroy: 'I can understand why he's disappointed. That was there to be won. He did the hard work, he got himself in position, and then flatlined.' Hicks on McIlroy's par putt on 18: 'If you're a fan of Rory, you know about all the history, especially at the U.S. Open last summer. Excruciating misses coming down the stretch.' Hicks on McIlroy walking up the 17th hole with a one-shot lead: 'This is golf pretty much as good as it gets…You've got Rory McIlroy, the most popular player in the game in this kind of setting -- the island green.' Kisner on McIlroy's chances at the start of the final round: 'When you look at the top of that leaderboard, you don't see a ton of I was in that top three, I wouldn't like the way that Rory started today with a birdie.' Faxon on how McIlroy prepared for the final round: 'He was very calm this morning. He watched two Will Ferrell movies last night just to laugh. Who else (in the field) did that?' ON J.J. SPAUN (-12, T1) Spaun to Cara Banks post-round: 'I knew it wasn't going to be easy. I just kind of put a lot of faith in myself and my caddie Mark (Carens)…I think the little break we had with the weather helped me regroup and reset and kind of came out with a different mindset instead of being so nervous.' Spaun to Todd Lewis on keeping his focus: 'I just kind of put my head down and started trying to clutch up. I started telling myself that I have nothing to lose. He's got the lead, so now even more I have nothing to lose. Started trusting myself more, committing to my shots, committing to my swing and fortunately made some birdies coming in.' Chamblee on Spaun: 'You really have to tip your cap to Spaun. Just think for a second. You've got to deal with the changing winds, you've got to deal with the rain, you're dealing with clearly the strongest player in the field starting birdie-eagle. You're in the lead dealing with delays. It's really hard to find the hidden harmonies in that chaos.' McGinley on Spaun: 'You have to give him credit for not just sitting back and taking a big check finishing in second or third and hunting down McIlroy down the stretch.' Kisner on Spaun's missed birdie attempt on 18 to win: 'He had it right in the jaws too, I bet you he was loving watching that roll.' Mackay on Spaun watching McIlroy putt: 'J.J. walked up to me and asked me what Rory was up to in terms of what he was putting for up on the 18th green - turns out it was a par. J.J.'s caddie then walked up to him, put his arm around him, and said 'let's stay in the moment.'' Mackay on Spaun's relief on third shot on 9th hole leading to birdie: 'It was fascinating. He was in a horrible lie and he was standing in a sprinkler, but still nowhere near the fairway. He took relief and within that club (of relief) was another sprinkler. He intentionally dropped it in that sprinkler, got a second club length away from that, and got himself into the fairway. Kisner: 'A lot of misses to the right for J.J. early in the round. He just looks anxious and getting a little quicker than he has been.' ON LUCAS GLOVER (-10, T3) Hicks: 'Talk about stringing together sensational tournament after tournaments, this guy at the age of 45 says there's still a lot winning left in his career. By the way he's played this week, who would doubt him?' Kisner: 'He's just such an elite ball striker, it keeps him around at all types of tournaments, all types of golf courses. He can flat still play with these young guns.' ON BUD CAULEY (-9, T6) Kisner on Cauley's early final round struggles: 'Bud has looked late all day with his arms to me. He has hit every ball a little to the a little bit of that pressure. He just needs to get his composure and get his rhythm back with his arms.' Kisner: 'His putting has left him today. He was putting so well early in the week, but not that well for the season, and he seems to be reverting back to that.' --NBC SPORTS--
NBC Sports
10-03-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC Sports
NBC SPORTS SURROUNDS 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP WITH COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE ACROSS NBC, GOLF CHANNEL AND PEACOCK
Coverage From TPC Sawgrass Begins Tonight at 7 p.m. ET with Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS Alongside Iconic Par-3 17th Hole Roughly 25 Championship and Studio Commentators Include Kevin Kisner as Analyst For Weekend Coverage as Well as Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch Friday's GOLF Channel Coverage Includes Happy Hour with Smylie Kaufman From 17th Hole 'Be The Right, Club, Today!' – Johnson Wagner Re-Enacts Hal Sutton's Memorable 18th Hole Approach Tonight, Sutton Joins Live From Wednesday as Live From Commemorates 25th Anniversary of 2000 PLAYERS Win GOLF Channel and CNBC To Deliver Live Simulsegments Across Both Networks Tuesday/Wednesday Afternoons From Live From Set; Wednesday Features PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan with CNBC's Dominic Chu The GOLF Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav Surrounds THE PLAYERS with Wednesday Preview and Daily Post-Round Episodes STAMFORD, Conn. – March 10, 2025 – NBC Sports will surround the 2025 PLAYERS Championship with comprehensive live championship and studio coverage from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach., Fla., across NBC, GOLF Channel, and Peacock, beginning tonight with Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel. Live championship coverage on GOLF Channel begins at 1 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday. NBC and Peacock will air live weekend coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET on Saturday and 1 p.m. ET on Sunday. NBC Sports' comprehensive coverage of THE PLAYERS will feature roughly 25 championship and studio commentators, including analyst Kevin Kisner who will join Dan Hicks in the booth on the weekend, as well as on-course reporting and analysis from Roger Maltbie and Gary Koch. Friday afternoon's coverage on GOLF Channel will feature the critically-acclaimed 'Happy Hour with Smylie' alongside the 17th hole, as Smylie Kaufman spends time with PGA TOUR stars following their rounds to get their thoughts on the game and showcase their personalities. Justin Thomas and Kisner joined Kaufman last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. The flagship event of the PGA TOUR, The PLAYERS has been played at TPC Sawgrass' Stadium Course each year since 1982. Scottie Scheffler, the World No. 1, is the two-time defending champion and became the first player in PLAYERS' history successfully defend his title last year, overcoming a five-shot deficit to shoot a bogey-free 64 in the final round. GOLF Channel's pre-championship presentation will also include live coverage of The Creator Classic at TPC Sawgrass on Wednesday afternoon, as fan-favorite content creators will square off in a nine-hole competition which will conclude on the 17th hole. NBC Sports will utilize more than 60 cameras for its coverage of The PLAYERS, including: Live tracing drone with enhanced graphic technology tracking players' shots from above tees and greens; Drone camera coverage dedicated to the 16th and 17th holes; A FlyCam set between the 9th and 18th holes to run alongside and provide perspectives of tee shots and approach shots; Bunker Cams at the 16th and 17th hole; A robotic reverse follow camera from behind the 17th tee, pushing along with tee shots as they are struck towards the island green to provide an enhanced perspective on the flight of the ball; Fixed-wing airplane coverage from high atop the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass; X-mo and super-slo-mo replays, as well as NBC Sports NBCeeIt zoom technology to make sure fans don't miss a moment. NBC, GOLF Channel & Peacock Broadcast Team · Play by Play: Dan Hicks / Terry Gannon / Steve Sands · Analyst: Kevin Kisner / Brad Faxon / Curt Byrum / Notah Begay III / Gary Koch / Smylie Kaufman · On-Course: John Wood / Smylie Kaufman / Notah Begay III / Roger Maltbie / Curt Byrum · Interview/Reports: Cara Banks How To Watch – Thursday, March 13 – Sunday, March 16 (all times ET) · TV – NBC, GOLF Channel · Streaming – Peacock, NBC Sports app Notable Players This Week · Scottie Scheffler · Rory McIlroy · Xander Schauffele · Justin Thomas · Jordan Spieth · Rickie Fowler · Wyndham Clark · Jason Day · Keegan Bradley · Tony Finau Studio coverage on GOLF Channel begins tonight at 7 p.m. ET with Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS, followed by full-day coverage on Tuesday and Wednesday which begins at 9 a.m. ET. Rich Lerner anchors primetime Live From coverage each evening alongside analysts Brandel Chamblee and Paul McGinley. Live From will also include on-course segments and interviews with Johnson Wagner, beginning tonight with Wagner re-enacting Hal Sutton's memorable 'Be the right club, today!' approach shot into the 18th green to clinch the 2000 PLAYERS. Sutton will also join Live From on Wednesday to discuss the 25th anniversary of his memorable victory. Live From THE PLAYERS Broadcast Team Host: Rich Lerner / Damon Hack / Anna Jackson Analyst: Brandel Chamblee / Paul McGinley / Johnson Wagner / Mark Rolfing / Notah Begay III / Brad Faxon / Arron Oberholser / John Wood / Smylie Kaufman Reporter: Todd Lewis / Eamon Lynch / Jaime Diaz / Rex Hoggard / Ryan Lavner / Steve Burkowski / George Savaricas / Kira K. Dixon / Jay Croucher GOLF CHANNEL AND CNBC TO DELIVER LIVE SIMULSEGMENTS ACROSS BOTH NETWORKS ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY AFTERNOONS FROM LIVE FROM SET GOLF Channel and CNBC will air a pair of simulsegments on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons at 2:45 p.m. ET from GOLF Channel's Live From THE PLAYERS set alongside the 17th hole. Both segments will feature CNBC's Dominic Chu and Wednesday's segment will feature a live interview with PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan. The simulsegments will air within CNBC's Power Lunch and GOLF Channel's Live From coverage. THE GOLF CHANNEL PODCAST WITH REX AND LAV SURROUNDS THE PLAYERS WITH WEDNESDAY PREVIEW AND DAILY POST-ROUND EPISODES The popular GOLF Channel Podcast with Rex and Lav – hosted by senior writers Rex Hoggard and Ryan Lavner – will surround the 2025 PLAYERS with comprehensive coverage, beginning with a full preview episode which will post on Wednesday. Additionally, Rex and Lav will record daily post-round episodes immediately following play to recap the day, culminating with a full Sunday championship episode which will also air on GOLF Channel on Monday, March 17, at 9 a.m. ET. All GOLF Channel coverage also streams on and the NBC Sports app via authentication, giving consumers additional value to their subscription service, and making high-quality content available to MVPD customers both in and out of the home and on multiple platforms. --NBC SPORTS--
