Labelled golf’s unofficial ‘fifth major’, this weekend’s Players Championships at the famous TPC Sawgrass always attracts a quality field.
Despite the absence of LIV Golf players, this year is no different, and with a purse up for grabs of $25 million (USD), there is plenty at stake for the 144-man field.
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THE COURSE
As it has for the past 32 years, TPC Sawgrass in Jacksonville, Florida will host the Players Championship.
A challenging course with plenty of water hazards, narrow fairways and deep bunkers, TPC Sawgrass
The clear highlight of the course and arguably one of the most famous holes in world golf is the 17th tee.
Known as the Island Green, the 125m par three is surrounded by water, meaning golfers will either hit the green, a small bunker to the right or in the water.
According to Golf.com, roughly 100,000 balls are retrieved from the surrounding water every year.
WHEN IS IT?
The four-day tournament will get underway late Thursday evening when the first groups tee off at 10:40pm (AEST).
AUSSIES IN THE FIELD
Five will fly the flag for Australia in the 2024 Players Championship.
It is the 20th anniversary of Adam Scott’s famous win at TPC Sawgrass in 2004. He and Jason Day (2016) are the two only Aussies in the field who are past winners.
Cam Smith won the event in 2022 but as he is contracted by LIV Golf, he will only be seen on the PGA Tour in the four official majors (Masters, US Open, British Open and PGA Championship).
Min Woo Lee will be chasing the biggest win of his professional career, as will Cam Davis.
Wily veteran and world no. 220 Aaron Baddeley has qualified for the event as well.
NOTABLE ROUND 1 TEE TIMES
1st tee
4:07 AM
Cam Davis
Sam Ryder
Stephan Jaeger
4:29 AM
Hideki Matsuyama
Matt Fitzpatrick
Max Homa
4:40 AM
Scottie Scheffler
Rickie Fowler
Justin Thomas
4:51 AM
Wyndham Clark
Collin Morikawa
Brian Harman
5:02 AM
Tony Finau
Will Zalatoris
Shane Lowry
10th tee
11:13 PM
Jason Day
Si Woo Kim
Matt Kuchar
11:24 PM
Sam Burns
Xander Schauffele
Tommy Fleetwood
11:35 PM
Viktor Hovland
Rory McIlroy
Jordan Spieth
11:46 PM
Ludvig Åberg
Patrick Cantlay
Adam Scott
5:24 AM
Aaron Baddeley
Ben Griffin
Davis Thompson
PREVIOUS WINNERS
2023 – Scottie Scheffler (won by -5)
2022 – Cam Smith (won by -1)
2021 – Justin Thomas (won by -1)
2020 – Cancelled due to COVID
2019 – Rory McIlroy (won by -1)
2018 – Webb Simpson (won by -4)
2017 – Kim Si-woo (-3)
2016 – Jason Day (-4)
2015 – Rickie Fowler (playoff)
2014 – Martin Kaymer (-1)
ODDS (via TAB)
The in-form Scottie Scheffler is the raging favourite ($6) on the back of his five stroke win in the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.
A change of putter seemed to work wonders for the American, as it had been the only part of his game that had been letting him down.
Rory McIlroy is on the next line of betting at $13, followed by Justin Thomas ($19).
The shortest Aussies in the market are Jason Day and Min Woo Lee at $41.
Scottie Scheffler – $6
Rory McIlroy – $13
Justin Thomas – $19
Viktor Hovland – $21
Xander Schauffele – $21
Patrick Cantlay – $21
Max Homa – $21
Will Zalatoris – $23
Jordan Spieth – $23
Jason Day – $41
Min Woo Lee – $41
Adam Scott – $61
Cam Davis – $81
Aaron Baddeley – $501
Source Agencies
