PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. >> Turns out Rory McIlroy needed only three good swings to win The Players Championship on Monday in a playoff over J.J. Spaun.

McIlroy blasted his opening tee shot and hit a pitching wedge to the par-5 16th to set up birdie, and then he found the island green at the par-3 17th with a 9-iron into a cold, crackling wind that effectively gave him a second title at golf’s richest event at TPC Sawgrass.

Spaun posed over his 8-iron until he heard the groans of the spectators lined up behind the 17th green. His ball cut through the wind and sailed clear over the green into the water, leading to triple bogey that ended his hopes.

McIlroy became the eighth multiple winner of The Players Championship, having also won in 2019. And it was the first time in his career that he won twice heading into the Masters. He won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am last month.

NFL

Chase, Higgins reach extensions with Bengals >> The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to four-year extensions with receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, assuring that Joe Burrow will have his top two targets with him for some time.

A person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press that Chase will become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history, earning $161 million, including $112 million guaranteed. That surpasses the $40 million per year average by Cleveland pass rusher Myles Garrett.

Higgins will get $115 million. The Bengals placed the franchise tag on Higgins but were hopeful of getting a new deal done.

Texans’ Stingley will be highest-paid cornerback in NFL history >> Derek Stingley Jr. has agreed to a three-year, $90 million contract extension with the Houston Texans that will make him the highest-paid cornerback in NFL history.

It makes his average yearly salary more than that of Carolina’s Jaycee Horn, who set the record for cornerback contracts last week when he agreed to a four-year, $100 million extension.

Stingley, the third overall pick in the 2022 draft, is coming off a season when he was named to his first AP All-Pro team after ranking second in the NFL with 18 passes defended and tying a career high with five interceptions.

Men’s basketball

Duke remains No. 1 >> Duke remained atop The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll a day after the committee that selects the 68-team field for the NCAA Tournament went with Auburn as the No. 1 overall seed.

The Blue Devils (31-3) earned 49 of 59 first-place votes in the latest poll after sweeping the Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season and tourney titles.

NBA

George out rest of season >> Paul George will miss the rest of the season to recover from his injuries, ending a difficult first year in Philadelphia for the nine-time All-Star.

The 76ers announced that George had received injections in his left adductor muscle and left knee, following consultations with specialists.

Philadelphia carried a 23-44 record into Monday night’s game at Houston. Its last game of the regular season is on April 13.

MLB

Twins’ Lewis will miss start of season >> Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis will miss the start of the season due to a strained left hamstring.

An MRI revealed a moderate sprain after Lewis hurt himself running out a grounder in the Twins’ Grapefruit League game Sunday against the Boston Red Sox.

Lewis, 25, has a history of injuries.

Soccer

Messi out >> Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers with Uruguay and Brazil over the next eight days due to an apparent muscle injury.

The 37-year-old Messi was not included in the 25-man squad announced by coach Lionel Scaloni.

Argentine media reported Messi suffered a sore left thigh on Sunday during Inter Miami’s 2-1 victory over Atlanta United in Major League Soccer.