All articles tagged with #players championship
TPC Sawgrass isn’t golf’s fifth major but it is the tour’s ultimate test, blending entertainment with brutal competition. Cameron Young’s one-shot win highlighted Sawgrass’s punishing design and the island-green drama, underscoring The Players Championship’s distinct identity and its role as premier prep ahead of majors, without needing a major-label hype.
Cam Young closed with a late surge—birdie at 17 and a 375-yard drive on 18—to overtake Ludvig Åberg, whose three-shot lead evaporated amid nerves and back-nine bogeys after a quick miscue on 11 and a water-filled 12th; Åberg finished four behind as Young claimed the Players Championship.
Cameron Young edged Matt Fitzpatrick by one stroke to win the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, finishing 13-under after a late surge as Fitzpatrick failed to convert an eight-foot birdie on the final hole to force a playoff; Xander Schauffele finished third at 11-under and Robert MacIntyre fourth, while Sudarshan Yellamaraju surged to a debut top-five finish with a Sunday 66-68.
Two people were shot and killed in a Walgreens parking lot less than a mile from the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass; investigators say the gunman briefly crossed onto PGA Tour property, and event gates were delayed as authorities responded.
Ludvig Aberg stretched his lead to three shots heading into the final round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass after a 71 in round three to reach 13 under; Michael Thorbjornsen vaulted to solo second at 10 under with a 67, while Cameron Young sat nine under and Xander Schauffele slipped to 74 as others faltered. Aberg also rang up an eagle on the 11th and endured a late bogey with a three-putt on the 18th, leaving him in prime position to win his first PGA Tour title.
A fatal shooting in the Walgreens parking lot near TPC Sawgrass led to a delay in opening the Players Championship gates for the third round. Police captured Christian Barrios after a pursuit that involved a stolen BMW; two people were killed and transported to the hospital. The incident caused operational delays, with gates opening at 9am and hospitality areas at 11am, while the third round began as scheduled at 8:15am. Barrios reportedly knew the victims and has a lengthy criminal history.
Opinion columnist Phil Mushnick argues NBC's promotion of The Players Championship as golf's 'fifth major' is a transparent marketing ploy, not a legitimate major, framing the branding as a broadcast-driven con rather than a true sporting milestone.
Ludvig Åberg holds a multi‑stroke lead midway through Round 3 at TPC Sawgrass as Moving Day intensifies, with Michael Thorbjornsen and Jacob Bridgeman just behind at 10-under. Xander Schauffele is closing in a shot back, while Brooks Koepka makes a late surge to 6-under and others like Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler stay in the mix; Justin Thomas suffers a triple-bogey on No. 6 to drop back, keeping the leaderboard wide open as the final groups push to finish.
A suspect in a fatal shooting triggered a manhunt that forced security delays and postponed opening gates for The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, interrupting play during the tournament’s second round.
The Players Championship delayed opening to the public on Saturday due to a nearby Walgreens shooting; authorities tracked the suspect onto TPC Sawgrass and captured him in Nassau County, while third-round tee times remained unchanged.
Xander Schauffele fired a 65 to grab a one-shot lead at 10 under during round two of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass, while Rory McIlroy—rusty after a back injury and fighting for a cut—signed for 71 to sit at one over; Cameron Young is two behind on nine under, Corey Conners eight under, and Jordan Spieth three under after a 68 as the field heads into the weekend.
A preview of the 2026 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass outlining Collin Morikawa as the top outright (+2500) with a large betting card including longshots (Cameron Young, Matt Fitzpatrick, Min Woo Lee, Jake Knapp, Sepp Straka, Daniel Berger), first-round leader bets (Cameron Young, Justin Rose, Aaron Rai, Wyndham Clark, Tom Hoge), a single full-tournament matchup (Jason Day over Justin Thomas), two top-20 bets (Sepp Straka, Aaron Rai), and a Collin Morikawa one‑and‑done pick, all framed around Sawgrass’ length and precision-demanding layout.
Rory McIlroy says his bid to defend the Players Championship at Sawgrass hinges on a last-minute decision as his back improves after a Bay Hill injury; he’s been hitting range work, stresses the issue is muscular rather than structural, and will decide day-by-day whether to tee off while eyeing the Masters soon after.
Scottie Scheffler says his dominance comes from a relentless shot-by-shot focus, playing against the best version of himself and prioritizing how he feels and executes each swing over past results or long-term goals—as he seeks his third Players Championship title in four years, his approach is about staying present and controlling the moment.
SportsLine's projection model simulated The Players Championship 2026 10,000 times and yielded a surprising leaderboard: Xander Schauffele, despite being among the favorites, barely cracks the top 10 and is a fade; Ludvig Åberg emerges as a standout +2500 longshot, with four other +3000+ contenders also highlighted for big payoffs. Scheffler is listed as the +440 favorite and McIlroy +1300; the piece touts the model's track record of nailing 16 majors and urges readers to join to see the full set of picks.