Michael Kim gives his verdict on J.J. Spaun taking a controversial drop in the final round at The Players Championship

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J.J. Spaun will go head to head with Rory McIlroy in a playoff at The Players after keeping his cool on the final hole to finish level with the Northern Irishman.

Spaun could do little to stop the charge from McIlroy as his lead quickly evaporated but he held his nerve and produced some good golf of his own to keep pace and ensure things go to a three hole playoff.

However, while Spaun’s golf was excellent, there is a potential asterisk against his potential win.

• READ MORE: J.J. Spaun says what he really thinks of Rory McIlroy after playing a round with him at The Players Championship

Spaun was slammed by golf fans for taking a more than dubious drop during his final round. Spaun used the rules of the game to drop his ball from a sprinkler head onto another, before being allowed to then drop on the fairway and make a crucial par.

But while the actions of Spaun caused controversy, fellow PGA Tour player Michael Kim has suggested otherwise.

Michael Kim reacts to J.J. Spaun’s drop at The Players

While many fans seemed to call out the ruling and suggest Spaun had been a bit devious in taking advantage of those rules, Michael Kim has suggested he did nothing wrong.

Answering questions from golf fans on social media during the rain delay, Kim was asked for his verdict on the Spaun drop issue.

And according to Kim, Spaun did nothing wrong and ultimately, he did something Kim would have done as well.

Clearly, with golf a game of fine margins and money and ranking points involved, players need to be clever and know rules like this to use.

However, should Spaun win, then there’ll be more than a few questions asked about the validity of such a rule in such a big tournament.

• READ MORE: Scottie Scheffler rates his own golf game and says how close he is to his best after disappointing finish at The Players Championship

Michael Kim defends his fellow PGA Tour players

Michael Kim is one of golf’s good guys it seems and he’s had a great start to 2025 despite missing the cut at TPC Sawgrass this week.

Indeed, after defending Spaun here, Kim seems to be making a habit of sticking up for his fellow pros.

Kim defended Scottie Scheffler yesterday as well, after the world number one was criticised for complaining about certain breaks and issues in his round.

The reality for Kim, Spaun and others is that if there’s a ruling to be taken advantage of, then they’ll do it.

Indeed, some will argue Spaun has been clever and as Kim mentions, it seems every player is aware of such things anyway.