Category: Top Tours

Categories
PGA Tour

Video: From near ace to double bogey at the 2024 Players Championship

Sam Ryder at th 2024 Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Sam Ryder at th 2024 Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)

That’s golf: just millimeters away from one of the greatest moments of your golf career to a costly double bogey in just a few minutes. When Sam Ryder teed off on the famous signature hole, the 17th, in round 1 of the 2024 Players Championship, thousands of fans cheered him on.

Live Blog of the Players Championship 2024

Hole 17 – the highlight of the Players Championship 2024

Hole 17 of the TPC Sawgrass – the dreaded island green of the course, which has been the undoing of many a player. While Ryan Fox was able to celebrate an ace on this special hole on Thursday, things turned out differently for Sam Ryder. His ball headed straight for the flag after hitting the green and missed it by a hair’s breadth. The back spin that Ryder had put on the ball then drove the ball off the green, over the narrow edge of the rough and into the water. In the end, Ryder recorded an annoying 5 on the par-3. He found a conciliatory finish with a birdie on the 18th and is tied 37th after round 1.

Categories
PGA Tour

Rory McIlroy after controversial drop at Players: “I was adamant”

Rory McIlroy was pleased after his first round at the PGA Tours Players Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Rory McIlroy was pleased after his first round at the PGA Tours Players Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Rory McIlroy put in a strong performance on the first day of the Players Championship. But the number one topic of conversation was his controversial drop. In the PGA Tour press conference, he spoke about how everyone just wants to do the right thing and which statistic he is particularly happy with. Read the full press conference with Rory McIlroy here.

Show THE PLAYERS Championship Leaderboard

Rory McIlroys press conference after round one of The Players

Question: Not a total golf question, but I know you’re a big sports fan. Caleb Williams, who’s never seen a golf tournament in his life, became a golf fan through his coach at Southern Cal, so he specifically wanted to follow you and Spieth. You guys are fans of other things; what’s it like to have a guy who’s never played golf before, probably be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, and he wanted to follow your group?

Rory McIlroy: Thank you for telling me what sport he played. (Laughter).

Yeah, it’s really cool. I think golf is hopefully becoming more popular and more mainstream and sort of making it out of its little niche area that it has. Yeah, it is, it’s very cool to have people out there following that take an interest in what we’re doing out there, especially other athletes.

One of my favorite things to do is to go and watch other sporting events and sort of talk to other athletes, how they approach their sport and how they try to master their craft. It’s always nice to hear when other athletes take an interest in us, as well.

Question: That scene on the 7th, was that necessary in your eyes, or was it all needless?

Rory McIlroy: I think Jordan was just trying to make sure that I was doing the right thing. I mean, I was pretty sure that my ball had crossed where I was sort of dropping it. It’s so hard, right, because there was no TV evidence. I was adamant. But I think, again, he was just trying to make sure that I was going to do the right thing.

If anything, I was being conservative with it. I think at the end of the day we’re all trying to protect ourselves, protect the field, as well. I wouldn’t say it was needless. I think he was just trying to make sure that what happened was the right thing.

Question: You talked yesterday about being kind of stuck in between two swings. It seemed like for most of the day it was much, much better, obviously with the two exceptions. How much more comfortable was it today, and what did you find?

Rory McIlroy: Yeah, I’m not sure how the strokes gained approach stats look like, but it’s probably been one of my best days in a while, which is really nice.

Yeah, the feeling is good with the irons, and the feeling with the driver and the 3-wood is just a little bit different, but as long as I remind myself on the tee box that okay, this is a wood, and I get on the fairway, and this is an iron, and I’ve got two different feels and two different thoughts, then it’s okay.

Yeah, much, much improved on the approach play today, which was nice to see.

Question: (Question about the tee shot on 7).

Rory McIlroy: Yeah, they were just a bit guidey, a bit uncommitted, more so than anything else.

Question: You called Sunday a wake-up call. What did it wake you up to?

Rory McIlroy: Just I needed to clean up the technique a little bit, needed to clean up some things. Honestly, just needed to put the time in. I think when you play — I’ve wanted to play a lot to start this year, and I have, but when you play a lot, you don’t maybe get the time to practice all that much. At the same time, say I had a decent day on Sunday at Bay Hill and shot 70, for sure I would have taken Monday off here. But because of not shooting a decent score, I grinded on the range and figured something out and put the time in, and it’s sort of already reaping benefits, so that’s nice.

Question: I know it’s golf, but is it awkward when you have that sort of conversation on the 7th?

Rory McIlroy: I mean, I guess I started to doubt myself a little bit. I was like, okay, did I actually see what I thought I saw.

But I mean, as long as — I was comfortable, and I was just making sure that Jordan and Viktor were comfortable, too.

Question: Seems a bit tough that they’ve got all these cameras all over the course and they’ve got a blind spot there.

Rory McIlroy: Yeah, it is a bit of a blind spot. I think the best view was from the tee, which was the view that we had.

Question: You saw it bounce?

Rory McIlroy: I did, yeah. It was just a matter of whether it was above the line or below, and I thought I saw it pitch above the line.

Question: (Question about where the ball landed.)

Rory McIlroy: Yeah. I mean, yeah, I think so.

Question: 18 was a similar situation.

Rory McIlroy: 18 was a pretty similar situation. Again, adamant it crossed, it’s just a matter of where it crosses. I think this golf course more than any other, it sort of produces those situations a little bit.

Again, like I feel like I’m one of the most conscientious golfers out here, so if I feel like I’ve done something wrong, it’ll play on my conscience for the rest of the tournament. I’m a big believer in karma, and if you do something wrong, I feel like it’s going to come around and bite you at some point.

I obviously don’t try to do anything wrong out there, and play by the rules and do the right thing. I feel like I obviously did that those two drops.

Question: Two in the water and shoot 65, you couldn’t have asked for much more, I would think?

Rory McIlroy: It would be nice to shoot 62 and not have two in the water, I guess. (Laughter).

Question: The last few years you’ve had a tough start here which got you behind the 8-ball. How nice was it to get off to a hot start and attack a round?

Rory McIlroy: Yeah, I think it goes back to I didn’t have many expectations going out there today because I was like, okay, feels good on the range and feels good in practice, but let’s see how it is when you’ve got a card in your hand.

There’s something to be said for that, just sort of lessening the expectations a little bit and going out there and seeing what happens. But yeah, it was obviously a great start.

Question: Is it hard to reset when there’s been a long delay like that and get back into the rhythm?

Rory McIlroy: Yeah, a little bit. It was disappointing not to get that up-and-down on 7, but that’s probably why I give it a little mini-fist pump on 9 to feel like I got one of those shots back.

Yeah, you have to reset and you have to try to get back into the zone that you were in for the 15 previous holes.

Question: When you say you were maybe doubting what you saw with your own eyes in terms of determining where you needed to drop, how do you balance that between the input you’re getting from your playing partners versus what you saw with your own eyes?

Rory McIlroy: Yeah, exactly. I was adamant that I saw it bounce above the red line, but then when someone comes in and says, well, someone thought that it didn’t. Then you’re like — it just puts some doubt in your mind. Again, it’s up to you to be comfortable enough with your decision that you did see what you saw, I guess.

Question: Viktor and Jordan didn’t speak to the media, but from your perspective, did you feel like everybody was comfortable after the round with the decisions made on the course on 18 and 7?

Rory McIlroy: I think so, yeah. I’m comfortable. I think that’s the most important thing.
Trancript by ASAP Sports

Categories
PGA Tour Uncategorized

Players Championship 2024: Canadian loses his nerve, his wife reacts hilariously

Adam Hadwin loses his nerve in the first round of the Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)
Adam Hadwin loses his nerve in the first round of the Players Championship. (Photo: Getty)

It could have been a round that motivated Canadian Adam Hadwin to do more. After seven holes, he was already three over par in the first round of the Players Championship, but he fought his way back to even par on the 16th. Two holes remained to bring his score into the red. It turned out differently…

Show THE PLAYERS Championship Leaderboard

Players Championship 2024: First the ball, then the club

First he sank a ball in the water on the 17th, where the first hole-in-one had already been made on Thursday afternoon, and had to accept a double bogey. But that was not enough. On the last hole at the TPC Sawgrass, his drive was already flirting with the water, but just managed to stay dry. His shot into the green then fell victim to the right-left slope of the fairway in front of the green and rolled into the water. Too much for the one-time PGA Tour winner. His club had to take the hit and flew into the lake immediately afterwards. At least he got away with a bogey on the 18th, but that put him back at three over par, as he had been after seven holes.

Hadwin’s wife Jessica, known for her humorous take on her husband’s golfing misdemeanours, could find nothing wrong with the 36-year-old’s breach of etiquette: “I have seen the moment in question. If I’m going simply on the aesthetic of the toss….10/10” shw wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Categories
PGA Tour

Players Championship 2024: Hovland and Spieth Question Rory McIlory’s Drop

Discussions about Rory McIlroy's drop at the Players Championship 2024. (Photo: Twitter.com/@KyleporterCBS)
Discussions about Rory McIlroy's drop at the Players Championship 2024. (Photo: Twitter.com/@KyleporterCBS)

Rory McIlroy hit his ball into the water twice in the first round of the Players Championship 2024. On hole 7, this resulted in a discussion with his flight partners Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland. The discussion centred on the question of whether the ball crossed the red line after crossing the penalty area or whether it bounced and rolled into the water before crossing the line. Another part of the discussion centred on where the ball may have crossed the line.

Players Championship 2024: Discussions about Rory McIlroy’s drop

The PGA Tour captured the entire discussion on video:

Rory McIlroy was pretty sure of his drop on the hole side of the penalty area when Viktor Hovland and Jordan Spieth questioned whether the ball had really crossed the red line. If it hadn’t, McIlroy would have had to hit again from the tee. According to Spieth, the TV crew were of the opinion that the ball had “one hundred per cent” not crossed the line. However, he himself had not seen where the ball had landed. Hovland couldn’t say for sure either and called the situation “very speculative”. McIlroy, meanwhile, emphasised that he was convinced the ball had crossed the line, he just wasn’t sure exactly where.

A rules official was called in to help and the camera footage was consulted. However, it was concluded that the television images did not provide clear evidence and the decision would therefore have to be made based on the players’ judgement. It was agreed that the ball had landed on land.

McIlroy, to be on the safe side, chose a spot to drop that was on the line a few metres back from where he estimated the ball had crossed the red line. The rules official made sure that Spieth and Hovland were not against the location of the drop, which they both confirmed, even if they still didn’t seem entirely convinced that the ball had actually crossed the line. Golf journalist Dan Rapaport, who accompanied the group, described the atmosphere as “very strange”.

McIlroy took the shot and ended up making double bogey on that hole.

Players Championship 2024: Live Blog

Rory McIlroy: “I started to doubt myself a little bit”

After the round, McIlroy said the following about the situation to the media:
“I think Jordan was just trying to make sure that I was doing the right thing. I mean, I was pretty sure that my ball had crossed where I was sort of dropping it. It’s so hard, right, because there was no TV evidence. I was adamant. But I think, again, he was just trying to make sure that I was going to do the right thing.”

“If anything, I was being conservative with it. I think at the end of the day we’re all trying to protect ourselves, protect the field, as well. I wouldn’t say it was needless. I think he was just trying to make sure that what happened was the right thing.”

“I guess I started to doubt myself a little bit. I was like, okay, did I actually see what I thought I saw. But I mean, as long as — I was comfortable, and I was just making sure that Jordan and Viktor were comfortable, too.”

“It is a bit of a blind spot. I think the best view was from the tee, which was the view that we had.”

“I was adamant that I saw it bounce above the red line, but then when someone comes in and says, well, someone thought that it didn’t. Then you’re like — it just puts some doubt in your mind. Again, it’s up to you to be comfortable enough with your decision that you did see what you saw, I guess.”

“It was disappointing not to get that up-and-down on 7, but that’s probably why I give it a little mini-fist pump on 9 to feel like I got one of those shots back. You have to reset and you have to try to get back into the zone that you were in for the 15 previous holes.”

Categories
PGA Tour

Players Championship: Early Hole in One on 17

Ryan Fox with a Hole in One at the Players Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Ryan Fox with a Hole in One at the Players Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)

Ryan Fox makes the first hole-in-one of the 2024 Players Championship on hole 17. The famous island green is actually known for being particularly challenging and only a few holes-in-one have been made here in the history of the Players Championship. The record was set last year with three aces over the course of the tournament week.

And before most players have even completed half of the round, the first hole-in-one of 2024 has already been made. Mild weather conditions with little wind and an easy flag position made Ryan Fox’s task a little easier.

Player Championship Live Blog

Hole in One at the Players Championship 2024

Categories
PGA Tour

Jay Monahan on the state of the PGA Tour: The focus should be on the fan

Jay Monahan talks about the current state of the PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty)
Jay Monahan talks about the current state of the PGA Tour. (Photo: Getty)

Commissioner Jay Monahan used the 50th Players Championship, the flagship tournament of the PGA Tour, to provide an overview of the current state of the Tour. The ongoing negotiations with the PIF as well as the partnership with the Strategic Sports Group announced at the beginning of the year took centre stage. The overarching message, however, was that fans should be taken into account in all decisions.

Negotiations with PIF are “accelerating”

Monahan was unable to go into detail about the negotiations with the PIF, but stated that the negotiations are progressing and that he continues to believe that a deal will be the best outcome.

“I do know everyone is curious about the status of our negotiations with the PIF. As I’ve said on a number of occasions, you can’t negotiate a deal like this in public, so I will be brief. I recently met with the governor of the PIF, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and our negotiations are accelerating as we spend time together. While we have several key issues that we still need to work through, we have a shared vision to quiet the noise and unlock golf’s worldwide potential.”

The deal with SSG is by no means an obstacle; on the contrary, it has improved the chances of a successful negotiation, as the expertise behind it is also attractive for the PIF.

“There are a finite number of athletes, and this is a point in time, a unique point in time where unification ultimately puts the sport in the best possible position to take advantage of this growth on a go-forward basis.”

What the fans want

The cooperation with the Strategic Sports Group is also intended to guarantee future growth, but it is imperative that the cooperation between SSG, players and the PGA Tour focuses on the fan.

“Our business thrives when together we’re all laser focused on delivering for our fans. If we fail on that front, we fail on every front. Three weeks ago we had our first Policy Board meeting since SSG became an investor. The substance of that meeting focused primarily on how we can place our current and future fans at the center of our decision making.

We’ve done extensive research with our fans, and what they’re telling us today is simple: They love golf, and they’re loyal to the PGA TOUR. They’re tired of hearing about conflict, money and who is getting what. They want to watch the world’s best golfers compete in tournaments with history, meaning, and legacies on the line at venues they recognize and love. They also want to know how we’re planning to make the sport more entertaining and easier for them to watch and follow.”

Together with the SSG, they want to focus on these fan priorities. That’s why Monahan addressed the fans directly in his press conference:

“We remain committed to this mission-driven formula, and as I close, I want to speak directly to our fans, our most important constituent, and ones that maybe haven’t felt their voices heard lately. All of this talk about investment and growth, I want you to know that we’re focusing that energy on bringing forth the most competitive and entertaining TOUR possible for you. It’s my commitment and it’s our players’ commitment.”

The PGA Tour ethos: Pure competition

Despite concerns that the PGA Tour has been weakened too much by the departing stars, with the unknown faces at the top of the game as supposed proof, Jay Monahan defends the Tour’s current course, especially with regard to the Signature Events and their effect. The Signature Events are a product of the PGA Tour’s balancing act of creating better earning opportunities for the PGA Tour’s top players while bringing them together more often in one place in the interests of both sponsors and fans, but it is still too early in the season to really judge the newly introduced model.

“Early returns for 2024 show that field strength, player participation, and access for full-field and signature events are strong and delivering on our expectations based on the modeled projections. Year-to-date data includes the following: We’ve had 49 unique players outside the top 50 who have competed in signature events with help of the AON Swing 5 and AON Next 10.”

“We are currently tracking at a 60 percent retention rate among the top 50. Using data comparing participation from the top 50 and top 125 in the FedExCup standings in 2023, or versus 2023, the strength of field at full-field events has improved by nearly 30 percent. Better yet, the reimagined schedule is delivering the essence of the PGA TOUR’s ethos: Pure competition which shows just how hard winning is.”

“Three rookies who took distinctly different paths to the PGA TOUR have already entered the winner’s circle in 2024. Nick Dunlap, the first amateur to win on the PGA TOUR since 1992; Mathew Pavon, a new arrival via the DP World Tour top 10, who sits third in the FedExCup standings; and Korn Ferry Tour graduate Jake Knapp. We’ve also witnessed the game’s elite excelling on the biggest stages: Hideki Matsuyama’s Sunday 62 at the Genesis Invitational, to become the most accomplished Asian-born player in PGA TOUR history; Wyndham Clark winning his second Signature Event at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the strength of a course record 60 at Pebble Beach; and last week, World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler pulled away from a stacked leaderboard with a master class performance at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard to take over the lead in the FedExCup standings.”

“While it’s still early in the season, there are also a number of stars and fan favorites who haven’t hoisted a trophy yet in 2024. They know it, and in talking to them, they’re looking to put an end to that narrative as early as this week.”

Between legacy and new talent

The PGA Tour is in such a good position precisely because it offers the opportunity to “consistantly regenerate talent and create stars.”

“Jason Gore talks about the fact that a star on the PGA TOUR can be born in three weeks, and that’s what we do, and that’s the strength of our product, and that’s the durability of our products.”

Ultimately, it is not just the players, but the history and tradition of the tour and the individual tournaments that make the tour so strong.

“When you have tournaments that have been in place for decades with history, legacy, tradition, great list of champions, familiarity with your fans, on a global basis, there’s a recognition that winning out here is an incredible accomplishment. That emotion that you see on Sunday after a player wins, that emotion that you see from fans, you know, as players are coming down the stretch and they’re seeing our athletes and their exceptionalism, to me that is something that the PGA TOUR has and always will uniquely provide.”

“

But you can never discount, and in fact, it’s a great strength to have that established history and legacy at each one of these tournaments, including this great tournament this week that’s 50 years since its debut, and you look at that list of champions, and the person, the player that drives away here Sunday night winning this championship will have their career and their life changed in very meaningful ways. That’s what we do; we change players’ lives and we change people’s lives, and no organization does that better than the PGA TOUR.”

Categories
PGA Tour

Viktor Hovland: “I don’t want to spend my free time thinking about the PGA Tour”

Viktor Hovland doesn't trouble with thinking to much about the PGA Tour's future. (Image: Getty)
Viktor Hovland doesn't trouble with thinking to much about the PGA Tour's future. (Image: Getty)

In the week before the Players Championship, Jay Monahan and Rory McIlroy spoke up to the future of the PGA Tour. More fan engagement, ongoing chats with the PIF and the new alliance with the SSG were in discussion. For Viktor Hovland all these topics are important, but the Norwegian doesn’t keep up with all the new twists and turns happening on the PGA Tour right now.

Viktor Hovland on Jay Monahan: “I want a person to take ownership of their mistakes”

“The thing is, like, I play golf for a living. I don’t know exactly what should have been done because at the end of the day I don’t have all the information”, Hovland said when being asked about Jay Monahans and Rory Mclroys latest statement regarding the PGA Tour’s future.

“As a leader of an organization, I will want a person like that to take some ownership and say, hey, we made a couple of mistakes, but this is how we’re going to rectify it, instead of kind of sweeping it under the rug, which I felt like has been done to a certain degree”, he goes on.

Click here for the live blog of the Players Championship 2024

With the talk shifting to the possible futures of the PGA Tour and the new PGA Tour Enterprises Hovland doesn’t give mich tought into these developments. “These Signature Events, for example, they have been great for the players that are in the tournaments. I don’t know if that’s necessarily what the fans want to watch.”

On the contrary Hovland agrees to a comment from tour colleague Lucas Glover. “I’ve read Lucas Glover’s comments last week where he said having the smaller field sizes are not making it more competitive. Yes, you’re getting the best players to play, the top guys to show up, but the fields are more competitive when you have bigger field sizes. I think that’s just the fact. There’s a reason why we’re playing THE PLAYERS Championship with 144 guys.”

Hovland agrees with McIlroy in one point. “I don’t think it’s a great outlook if we keep being divided (with LIV Golf) for 10, 15 years, whatever, however long it’s going to take. There has to be some kind of decision being made in the future.” Hovland leaves open what this future might look like.

Should Hovland be more invested in this topic?

The overall impression of Viktor Hovland in terms of the PGA Tour’s development is a leaned back attitude. “Probably there’s definitely a responsibility on my side. I could have definitely gone out of my way to put more time and effort into figuring out what kind of trajectory we’re on and put myself into that debate a bit more.” But with Players like Jordan Spieth, Tiger Woods and other well known names in the Players Advisory Counsil Hovland doesn’t feel the need to stay up to date at all times. “Although, I do trust the players on the PAC to represent the players in the best way possible and I have been in communication with some of those guys to fill me in. But at the same time, I’m just not that interested in spending my free time in trying to figure out every single nuance in the situation. So, I’m trying to stay outside a little bit and play my game, because, yeah, I trust the guys on the board to kind of do their thing.”

Categories
PGA Tour

Players Championship: Rory McIlroy tired of uncertainty

Rory McIlroy talks about his next Major title. (Image: Getty)
Rory McIlroy talks about his next Major title. (Image: Getty)

After Jay Monahan’s press conference regarding the future of the PGA Tour, Rory McIlroy agrees with his decision to stay in the lead of the Tour and the new PGA Tour Enterprises. In McIlroys Wednesday press conference, prior to the Players Championship, he emphasises the importance of bringing the game back together and move on. McIlroy oppend up about his difficulties winning another Major and if he thinks he can capture his next Major-Title this year.

Click here for the live blog of the Players Championship 2024

Can Rory McIlroy win another Major?

Here’s his opinion on how the pressure added up over the last ten years without a Major title: “It does, but then at the same time, I look at my record in the majors over the last couple of years, and I’ve definitely started to perform much more consistently in them.”

“Look, I’m under no illusion that the clock is ticking and it has been 10 years since I’ve won one of them, and I’ve had chances, and those just haven’t went my way. I just need to keep putting myself in those positions, and sooner or later it’s going to happen.”

Rory McIlroy defends Jay Monahan

“You look at what Jay has done since he took over,” McIlroy said in the Wednesday press conference in TPC Sawgrass. “The media rights deal, navigating us through COVID, the strategic alliance with the DP World Tour. I would say creating PGA Tour Enterprises, we were just able to accept a billion and a half dollars in the business, people can nit-pick and say he didn’t do this right or didn’t do that right, but if you actually step back and look at the bigger picture, I think the PGA Tour is in a far stronger position than when Jay took over.”

Monahan spoke about the new alliance with the SSG (Strategic Sports Group) and the new funds coming with the newly created PGA Tour Enterprises. Tough informations regarding the PIF are highly requested Monahan did hold back and just stated, that meetings were “accelerating”.

Rory McIlroy: “We need to get this thing over and done”

Like many fans and players, Rory McIlroy urges the policy board and PGA Tour Enterprises to come to a conclusion and to “get this thing over and done”, falling right in line with his latest statements about the LIV Golf Tour and Liv players getting involved in the Ryder Cup and a potential World Tour.

“I feel grateful that I was on the PGA Tour board at the point in time when I was. I feel like it will stand to me down the line if I ever want to get deeper into the business side of things, whether that’s in golf or in other domains. It’s different now, though. You’ve got two boards on Tour. One is really a business board, and sort of that priority is growing the growth of the business of the PGA Tour, and then the policy board, which I was on, was about making rules and slow play and whatever else.”

“The business board to me would be something — if an opportunity came along in the future and I felt like it was the right time, would maybe be something that I would like to get involved in again.”

“We need to improve fan experience”

Like Jay Monahan, Rory McIlroy talked about enhancing the fan experience. “Yeah, so to me, like this is the problem with a members’ organization. Things are created for the members. Then once those things are created, you’ve got to go sell those things to fans, sponsors, media.” 

“To me, that seems a little backwards. I think what needs to happen is you need to create things for the fans, for the sponsors, for the media, and then you have to go sell that to the players, tell them to get on board with that, because if they get on board and we’re all part of the business now, if the business does better, we do better. That seems pretty simple to me.”

Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Tour: Who wins the Players Championship 2024?

Players Championship 2024: Who will win at TPC Sawgrass? (Images: Getty)
Players Championship 2024: Who will win at TPC Sawgrass? (Images: Getty)

Every year, golf fans eagerly anticipate the Players Championship of the PGA Tour with great expectations. Over the weekend, players compete at The Players Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida for a total prize money of $25 million. In anticipation of the tournament, several questions arise: Can Scottie Scheffler defend his title? Which other players have good chances of success? Let’s take a look at the players who are considered the biggest favorites.

Players Championship 2024: Scottie Scheffler is the clear favorite

Scottie Scheffler is certainly the name that comes to mind when it comes to winning the PGA Tour’s flagship tournament. The world number one is in good form and is performing consistently well, as is to be expected given his top position in the World Golf Ranking, which he has held since May last year. Last weekend, he fuelled his confidence with a comfortable victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, five strokes ahead of second-placed Wyndham Clark. Scheffler also won last year’s Players Championship 2023 by five strokes, so not only is he in excellent form, but he certainly has fond memories of last year’s event.

Always a contender: Rory McIlroy

Rory McIlroy, who incidentally helped Scottie Scheffler to victory last weekend with a tip to change putters, is always good for a win at major tournaments. While the Northern Irishman achieved three top 25 finishes in four events on the PGA Tour in 2024, he has already claimed a victory at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic on the DP World Tour and narrowly missed out on a second success at the Dubai Invitational. Although McIlroy missed the cut at last year’s Players Championship, the world number two is certainly capable of triumphing this year.

In good form: Wyndham Clark

A victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and a second-place fA victory at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and a second place last weekend shows that Wyndham Clark is currently in good form. The world number five is definitely a hot candidate for the title. However, he would have to improve on last year’s performance, where he finished tied 27th at the Players Championship.

Under the radar: Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland

Japanese Hideki Matsuyama and Norwegian Viktor Hovland can be considered more of a “dark horse” category. The situations of the two could hardly be more different. Matsuyama is currently in good form and has already secured a victory in 2024 at the Genesis Invitational. On the other hand, Hovland has not yet found his form from 2023 this year. His best finish is a tied 19th place at the Genesis Invitational. However, their strong performances from last year should give both players confidence. Viktor Hovland finished third at the Players Championship 2023, while Matsuyama finished fifth. Especially for Hovland, the upcoming weekend would be a good time to regain his old form.

European hopes: Ludvig Aberg and Matthieu Pavon

Frenchman Matthieu Pavon impressed at the Farmers Insurance Open with his first tournament win on the PGA Tour after securing a tour card via the DP World Tour and travelling on the PGA Tour as a rookie. Ludvig Aberg is also playing his first full season after a rocket start to his professional career in 2023 and has already recorded two top-10 finishes in 2024. Both players are young talents who did not play in the Players Championship last year and will have the opportunity to prove themselves on the PGA Tour’s biggest stage this week.

Categories
PGA Tour

PGA Tour Tee Times: Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark At The Players Championship

Tee Times for the GA Tour's Players Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)
Tee Times for the GA Tour's Players Championship 2024. (Photo: Getty)

The Players Championship, known as one of the most prestigious events on the PGA Tour, takes place at the renowned TPC Sawgrass (The Players Stadium Course) in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, USA. Last year, Scottie Scheffler emerged victorious, securing the title for this popular tournament, with a prize pool of $25,000,000.

See all Tee Times here

PGA Tour Tee Times: Spotlight on U.S. players

As the first flight of the day, Ryan Moore, Chesson Hadley and Zac Blair, all hailing from the USA, will launch into the first round at 07:40 and continue into the second round on Friday at 12:45 local time. Simultaneously Troy Merritt, Taylor Montgomery and Canadian Taylor Pendrith will tee off from Tee 10 on the first and Tee 1 on the second day.

Among the notable American players teeing off is Xander Schauffele, who is scheduled for a tee time at 8:24 am in the first round and 1:29 pm on day 2. His flight partners will be Sam Burns and England’s Tommy Fleetwood. Returning champion Scottie Scheffler will start his round at 1:40 pm alongside Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas. Their second round begins at 8:35 am, starting from Tee 10.

Other renowned American players Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa and Brian Harman will start off round 1 at 1:51 pm. On the second day their flight is scheduled for 8:46 am.

This text was created with AI.