Trending Now - Scheffler's Tactics Stand Out as Mcilroy Eyes Sawgrass Title

WHO:

Rory McIlroy, defending champion of The Players Championship

Brooks Koepka, five-time major champion

Scottie Scheffler, world No. 1 golfer

Collin Morikawa, two-time major winner

Ludvig Åberg, professional golfer

Justin Rose, professional golfer

Rickie Fowler, past winner of The Players Championship

Si Woo Kim, past winner of The Players Championship

Jake Knapp, ranked 42nd in the world

Wyndham Clark, professional golfer

Adam Schenk, professional golfer

Xander Schauffele, two-time runner-up in The Players Championship

Tommy Fleetwood, reigning Tour Championship winner

Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO

Tiger Woods, leading the Future Competition Committee

Scottie Scheffler, world No. 1 golfer

Rory McIlroy, defending champion of The Players Championship

Brooks Koepka, five-time major champion

Collin Morikawa, two-time major winner

Ludvig Åberg, professional golfer

Justin Rose, professional golfer

Rickie Fowler, past winner of The Players Championship

Si Woo Kim, past winner of The Players Championship

Jake Knapp, ranked 42nd in the world

Wyndham Clark, professional golfer

Adam Schenk, professional golfer

Brian Rolapp, PGA Tour CEO

Tiger Woods, leading the Future Competition Committee

Scottie Scheffler, world No. 1 golfer

Rory McIlroy, defending champion of The Players Championship

Collin Morikawa, two-time major winner

Tommy Fleetwood, reigning Tour Championship winner

Xander Schauffele, two-time runner-up in The Players Championship

Rickie Fowler, past winner of The Players Championship

Si Woo Kim, past winner of The Players Championship

Jake Knapp, ranked 42nd in the world

Wyndham Clark, professional golfer

Adam Schenk, professional golfer

Brooks Koepka, five-time major champion

Scottie Scheffler, world No. 1 and defending champion

Rory McIlroy, two-time Players Championship winner

Justin Rose, professional golfer

Adam Schenk, professional golfer

Wyndham Clark, professional golfer

Brooks Koepka, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Xander Schauffele, Rickie Fowler, Si Woo Kim, Jake Knapp, Ludvig Åberg, Justin Rose, Wyndham Clark, Adam Schenk

PGA Tour, TPC Sawgrass

WHAT:

McIlroy stated, "It's better than it was," regarding his back injury, and mentioned he is taking it "hour by hour."

McIlroy hit balls on the range before the Players Championship and felt "OK" after hitting up to a six-iron.

Koepka said, "That 17th hole has gotten me over the years," reflecting on his struggles at TPC Sawgrass.

Koepka recorded a 6-under 65 in the final round at the Cognizant Classic on March 1st, 2026.

Scheffler is +425 to win at TPC Sawgrass in 2026, with Rory McIlroy at 15-1.

Scheffler has a scoring average of 67.0 in the final three rounds and 70.4 in the first round in 2026.

Koepka's last tournament before The Players Championship was the Cognizant Classic on March 1st, 2026.

Koepka missed the cut in the WM Phoenix Open after scoring 76-69.

Koepka tied for 56th at 4 under in the Farmers Insurance Open on January 29th, 2026.

Koepka has hit the island green on the 17th hole only 55% of the time in his career at TPC Sawgrass.

Koepka stated, "I think the first week was just trying to get that out of the way," regarding his performance in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Scheffler has struggled with his iron play, ranking 88th in strokes gained: approach this season.

The rough at TPC Sawgrass is confirmed to be half an inch longer by Justin Rose.

The course setup at TPC Sawgrass is being adjusted to be more challenging, with thicker rough and firmer greens.

Koepka's performance is being closely watched as he returns to compete with top players.

Koepka has never finished better than T-11 in his previous six starts at The Players Championship.

Koepka has recorded two bogeys, three doubles, two triples, and two quadruple-bogey 7s on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.

Koepka has never finished in the top 10 at The Players Championship in seven starts.

Koepka missed the cut in his last start at The Players Championship in 2022, carding 72-81.

Koepka stated, "I don't think about it. It doesn't haunt me," regarding his struggles on the 17th hole.

Koepka hit the island green on the 17th during a practice round on March 9th, 2026.

Scheffler has a scoring average of 67.0 in the final three rounds and 70.4 in the first round in 2026.

Xander Schauffele tied for 24th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 2 under.

Si Woo Kim has finished in the top 15 in five out of seven starts in 2026.

Jake Knapp finished in the top 11 in each of his first five starts in 2026.

Ludvig Åberg finished T-3 at Bay Hill and T-20 at Riviera.

Scheffler is +425 to win at TPC Sawgrass in 2026, with Rory McIlroy at 15-1.

Scheffler's scoring average in the final three rounds is 67.0, while his first round average is 70.4 in 2026.

Koepka stated, "I think the first week was just trying to get that out of the way," regarding his performance in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Koepka's final round score at the Cognizant Classic was 6-under 65.

Koepka has recorded two bogeys, three doubles, two triples, and two quadruple-bogey 7s on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.

Koepka has never finished better than T-11 in his previous six starts at The Players Championship.

Koepka is 20-over par on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in 20 rounds.

Scheffler has struggled with his iron play, ranking 88th in strokes gained: approach this season.

Koepka's performance is being closely watched as he returns to compete with top players.

The rough at TPC Sawgrass is confirmed to be half an inch longer by Justin Rose.

The course setup at TPC Sawgrass is being adjusted to be more challenging, with thicker rough and firmer greens.

Rolapp envisions a future PGA Tour with two tracks of tournaments that may include promotion and relegation based on meritocracy.

The 2026 PGA Tour schedule includes 45 events, counting the four majors, Players Championship, eight signature events, FedEx Cup playoffs, and the FedEx Cup Fall.

Rolapp stated that the PGA Tour wants to double the number of signature events in future seasons.

The Future Competition Committee aims to move away from smaller fields and no-cut signature events.

Rolapp mentioned that the PGA Tour season would potentially begin in late January and end in early September.

Rolapp indicated that future seasons might start with a marquee tournament at an iconic West Coast golf course.

Scheffler has struggled with his iron play, ranking 88th in strokes gained: approach this season.

Koepka stated, "I think the first week was just trying to get that out of the way," regarding his performance in the Farmers Insurance Open.

Koepka tied for 56th at 4 under in the Farmers Insurance Open on January 29th, 2026.

Koepka missed the cut at the WM Phoenix Open after scoring 76-69.

Koepka's final round score at the Cognizant Classic was 6-under 65.

Koepka has hit the island green on the 17th hole only 55% of the time in his career at TPC Sawgrass.

Koepka tied for 9th at the Cognizant Classic on March 1st, 2026.

Koepka's scoring average in the final three rounds is 67.0, while his first round average is 70.4 in 2026.

Koepka has never finished better than T-11 in his previous six starts at The Players Championship.

Koepka has recorded two bogeys, three doubles, two triples, and two quadruple-bogey 7s on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.

Koepka hit the island green on the 17th during a practice round on March 9th, 2026.

The Players Championship is taking place in 2026.

Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion, having won back-to-back titles in 2023 and 2024.

Scheffler has a scoring average of 67.0 in the final three rounds and 70.4 in the first round in 2026.

Brooks Koepka has never finished in the top 10 at The Players Championship in seven starts.

Koepka is 20-over par on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass in 20 rounds.

Xander Schauffele tied for 24th at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at 2 under.

Si Woo Kim has finished in the top 15 in five out of seven starts in 2026.

Jake Knapp finished in the top 11 in each of his first five starts in 2026.

The rough at TPC Sawgrass is confirmed to be half an inch longer by Justin Rose.

Ludvig Åberg finished T-3 at Bay Hill and T-20 at Riviera.

WHERE:

PGA Tour headquarters, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Palm Beach Gardens, Florida

WHEN:

McIlroy withdrew from the Arnold Palmer Invitational after aggravating his back on March 5th, 2026.

Koepka's last tournament before The Players Championship was the Cognizant Classic on March 1st, 2026.

Koepka tied for 56th at 4 under in the Farmers Insurance Open on January 29th, 2026.

Koepka hit the island green on the 17th during a practice round on March 9th, 2026.

The Players Championship is occurring in March 2026.

Koepka last played The Players Championship in 2022.

The Players Championship has been held since 2015, when Rickie Fowler won.

Koepka's last tournament before The Players Championship was the Cognizant Classic on March 1st, 2026.

Changes to the PGA Tour could be implemented before the 2027 season, with some waiting until 2028.

The Players Championship is occurring in March 2026.

Koepka last played The Players Championship in 2022.

The Players Championship has been held since 2015, when Rickie Fowler won.

WHY:

McIlroy stated, "It's purely a muscular sort of discomfort and fatigue," regarding his back injury.

Koepka mentioned, "I mean, you would like to be there last week, but I understand those are the consequences of my decisions," reflecting on his absence from the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Rolapp emphasized the need for a competitive model built on meritocracy to elevate top performers in the PGA Tour.

Koepka mentioned, "I mean, you would like to be there last week, but I understand those are the consequences of my decisions," reflecting on his absence from the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Rolapp emphasized the need for a competitive model built on meritocracy to elevate top performers in the PGA Tour.

Koepka mentioned, "I mean, you would like to be there last week, but I understand those are the consequences of my decisions," reflecting on his absence from the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Koepka stated, "I mean, you would like to be there last week, but I understand those are the consequences of my decisions."

The PGA Tour is attempting to make The Players Championship more major-like.

Koepka's performance is being closely watched as he returns to compete with top players.

HOW:

The proposed changes include a simpler points system and a competitive structure that allows fans to easily understand the stakes of each tournament.

Koepka switched from a blade putter to a Spider model to improve his putting consistency, stating, "the face rotation on the Spider is a little less than it was with the blade."

Koepka switched from a blade putter to a Spider model to improve his putting consistency.

The course setup at TPC Sawgrass is being adjusted to be more challenging, with thicker rough and firmer greens.

(UPDATED March 12, 2026 05:20 UTC)

In the lead-up to The Players Championship, Rory McIlroy is feeling optimistic about his back injury, stating it's "better than it was" and that he's taking it "hour by hour," while Brooks Koepka reflects on his struggles at TPC Sawgrass, admitting that the 17th hole has been a challenge for him throughout his career. Koepka, who last competed at the Cognizant Classic on March 1, recorded a 6-under 65 in that final round, but has never finished better than T-11 in his previous six starts at The Players Championship. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is looking to improve his iron play as the course setup at TPC Sawgrass is being adjusted to be more challenging, with thicker rough and firmer greens.

(UPDATED March 11, 2026 23:04 UTC)

In a significant announcement, PGA Tour CEO Brian Rolapp highlighted the need for a competitive model based on meritocracy to elevate top performers, as the Players Championship kicks off this March. World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler is currently favored to win at TPC Sawgrass with odds of +425, while Rory McIlroy follows at 15-1, and Brooks Koepka's past struggles on the challenging 17th hole have drawn attention as he returns to the tournament after a break. The course setup is being adjusted to increase difficulty, with thicker rough and firmer greens, as players prepare to compete for the prestigious title.

(UPDATED March 11, 2026 21:04 UTC)

At a press conference held at the PGA Tour headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, CEO Brian Rolapp outlined an ambitious vision for the future of the PGA Tour, which may include a two-track tournament system featuring promotion and relegation based on merit. The 2026 schedule will consist of 45 events, including the four majors and plans to double the number of signature events in the coming seasons, with a potential start in late January and a marquee tournament at an iconic West Coast course. Rolapp emphasized that these changes, aimed at creating a more competitive model, could be implemented before the 2027 season, with some adjustments possibly waiting until 2028.

(UPDATED March 11, 2026 17:16 UTC)

In golf news, the spotlight is on some of the sport's biggest names as they prepare for The Players Championship, including world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, defending champion Rory McIlroy, and two-time major winner Collin Morikawa. Meanwhile, Brooks Koepka is reflecting on his recent performances, noting his struggles with consistency and a switch to a Spider putter in hopes of improving his game. Koepka also acknowledged the consequences of his decisions, which led to his absence from the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.

(UPDATED March 11, 2026 09:08 UTC)

In a competitive field at The Players Championship, Brooks Koepka, a five-time major champion, is looking to improve his performance after tying for ninth at the Cognizant Classic earlier this month. Despite struggling in past tournaments at TPC Sawgrass, where he has recorded multiple bogeys and even quadruple-bogey 7s on the 17th hole, Koepka has made adjustments to his game, including switching to a Spider putter for better consistency. Reflecting on his recent challenges, Koepka acknowledged, "I mean, you would like to be there last week, but I understand those are the consequences of my decisions."

(UPDATED March 11, 2026 07:21 UTC)

The Players Championship is underway at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with Scottie Scheffler defending his title after winning back-to-back championships in 2023 and 2024. Notably, Brooks Koepka, who has struggled at this event in the past, is being closely watched as he returns to compete against top players, while the course has been set up to be more challenging with thicker rough and firmer greens. Other competitors like Si Woo Kim and Jake Knapp are also making headlines, with Kim finishing in the top 15 in five out of seven starts this year and Knapp consistently placing in the top 11 in his first five outings.