The Players Championship 2024 Preview

Originally named the Tournament Players Championship, The Players Championship began in 1974. Over the years, The tournament has boasted one of the highest prize purses in golf, reaching a peak of $25 million in 2023, up from $12.5 million in 2019. While typically featuring the top 50 players in the world rankings, it differs from major championships as it is owned by the PGA Tour and is not an official event on other tours.

Despite its non-major status, the tournament has been heavily promoted by the tour, earning the moniker of the “fifth major.” It holds significant prestige due to its top-tier player lineup, substantial prize money, and iconic host course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course, where the event has been held since 1982, is renowned, notably for its challenging par-3 No. 17, famously known as the “Island Green.”

Course Details

Situated in the picturesque locale of Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, The Players Championship unfolds its prestigious rounds at the TPC Sawgrass. This architectural marvel, The Players Stadium Course, sprouted from the visionary mind of former PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane R. Beman in 1980, marking a watershed moment in golfing history. Collaborating with the esteemed golf course architect Pete Dye, Beman sculpted an arena that revolutionized the spectator experience, introducing the concept of a true Stadium Course where every vantage point offers a glimpse of the action without bias towards any playing style.

Nestled within the Sawgrass complex, the TPC Sawgrass boasts not one, but two distinct courses: the revered Stadium Course and the challenging Valley Course. Crafted by the illustrious duo of Pete and Alice Dye, the Stadium Course is renowned worldwide for its unforgiving terrain and strategic layout. Embracing the ethos of a sporting colosseum, the course’s innovative design incorporates grassy amphitheaters, providing spectators with unparalleled views akin to traditional stadium seating. 

At the heart of its acclaim lies the infamous 17th hole, aptly nicknamed the “Island Green,” a daunting par-3 stretch that tests the mettle of even the most seasoned golfers. With a capacity to host 36,000 spectators, the TPC Sawgrass stands as a testament to the fusion of architectural brilliance and sporting excellence.

Field 

The field consists of 144 players consisting of the following criteria:

1. Winners of PGA Tour events since last Players
2. Top 125 from previous season’s FedEx Cup points list
3. Top 125 (medical)
4. Major champions from the past five years
5. Players Championship winners from the past five years
6. The Tour Championship winners from the past three years
7. World Golf Championship winners from the past three years
8. Memorial Tournament, Arnold Palmer Invitational and Genesis Invitational winners from the past three years
9. Top 50 from the Official World Golf Ranking
10. Senior Players Championship champion from prior year
11. Korn Ferry Tour money leader from prior season
12. Money leader during the Korn Ferry Tour Finals, if not the regular-season money leader
13. Top 10 current year FedEx Cup points leaders
14. Remaining positions and alternates filled from the current season FedEx Cup standings 

Schedule and Tee Times (all times in ET)

Round 1: First tee, Round 2: 10th tee

7:40 a.m., 12:45 p.m.: Ryan Moore, Chesson Hadley, Zac Blair
7:51 a.m., 12:56 p.m.: Brandon Wu, Ben Taylor, Carson Young
8:02 a.m., 1:07 p.m.: Alex Noren, Thomas Detry, Joseph Bramlett
8:13 a.m., 1:18 p.m.: Camilo Villegas, Lee Hodges, Tom Hoge
8:24 a.m., 1:29 p.m.: Kurt Kitayama, Chad Ramey, Adam Schenk
8:35 a.m., 1:40 p.m.: Vincent Norrman, Sepp Straka, Chez Reavie
8:46 a.m., 1:51 p.m.: Brice Garnett, Russell Henley, Steve Stricker
8:57 a.m., 2:02 p.m.: Emiliano Grillo, Taylor Moore, Scott Stallings
9:08 a.m., 2:13 p.m.: Billy Horschel, Sungjae Im, Webb Simpson
9:19 a.m., 2:24 p.m.: Keegan Bradley, K.H. Lee, Adam Hadwin
9:30 a.m., 2:35 p.m.: David Lipsky, Justin Lower, Tyson Alexander
9:41 a.m., 2:46 p.m.: Robert MacIntyre, Ben Silverman, Ryo Hisatsune

Round 1: 10th tee, Round 2: First tee

7:40 a.m., 12:45 p.m.: Troy Merritt, Taylor Pendrith, Taylor Montgomery
7:51 a.m., 12:56 p.m.: Michael Kim, Aaron Rai, Carl Yuan
8:02 a.m., 1:07 p.m.: Joel Dahmen, Christiaan Bezuidenhout, Min Woo Lee
8:13 a.m., 1:18 p.m.: Jason Day, Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar
8:24 a.m., 1:29 p.m.: Sam Burns, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood
8:35 a.m., 1:40 p.m.: Viktor Hovland, Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth
8:46 a.m., 1:51 p.m.: Ludvig Åberg, Patrick Cantlay, Adam Scott
8:57 a.m., 2:02 p.m.: Nick Taylor, Tom Kim, Justin Rose
9:08 a.m., 2:13 p.m.: Erik van Rooyen, Lucas Glover, Brendon Todd
9:19 a.m., 2:24 p.m.: C.T. Pan, Kevin Streelman, Ryan Fox
9:30 a.m., 2:35 p.m.: Martin Laird, Justin Suh, Greyson Sigg
9:41 a.m., 2:46 p.m.: Nate Lashley, Robby Shelton, Ben Kohles

Round 1: First tee, Round 2: 10th tee

12:45 p.m., 7:40 a.m.: Doug Ghim, Hayden Buckley, Kevin Yu
12:56 p.m., 7:51 a.m.: Peter Malnati, Beau Hossler, Alex Smalley
1:07 p.m., 8:02 a.m.: Cam Davis, Sam Ryder, Stephan Jaeger
1:18 p.m., 8:13 a.m.: Jake Knapp, Matthieu Pavon, Nick Dunlap
1:29 p.m., 8:24 a.m.: Hideki Matsuyama, Matt Fitzpatrick, Max Homa
1:40 p.m., 8:35 a.m.: Scottie Scheffler, Rickie Fowler, Justin Thomas
1:51 p.m., 8:46 a.m.: Wyndham Clark, Collin Morikawa, Brian Harman
2:02 p.m., 8:57 a.m.: Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris, Shane Lowry
2:13 p.m., 9:08 a.m.: Austin Eckroat, Sahith Theegala, Akshay Bhatia
2:24 p.m., 9:19 a.m.: Garrick Higgo, S.H. Kim, Andrew Novak
2:35 p.m., 9:30 a.m.: Ben Martin, Eric Cole, Harry Hall
2:46 p.m., 9:41 a.m.: Charley Hoffman, Sam Stevens, Sami Valimaki

Round 1: 10th tee, Round 2: First tee

12:45 p.m., 7:40 a.m.: Byeong Hun An, Patrick Rodgers, Matti Schmid
12:56 p.m., 7:51 a.m.: Denny McCarthy, Matt NeSmith, Nicolai Højgaard
1:07 p.m., 8:02 a.m.: Keith Mitchell, Mark Hubbard, Dylan Wu
1:18 p.m., 8:13 a.m.: Grayson Murray, Seamus Power, Francesco Molinari
1:29 p.m., 8:24 a.m.: Nick Hardy, Matt Wallace, Adam Svensson
1:40 p.m., 8:35 a.m. Nico Echavarria, J.T. Poston, Harris English
1:51 p.m., 8:46 a.m.: Davis Riley, Corey Conners, J.J. Spaun
2:02 p.m., 8:57 a.m.: Luke List, Gary Woodland, Cameron Young
2:13 p.m., 9:08 a.m.: Chris Kirk, Mackenzie Hughes, Andrew Putnam
2:24 p.m., 9:19 a.m.: Aaron Baddeley, Ben Griffin, Davis Thompson
2:35 p.m., 9:30 a.m.: Tyler Duncan, Maverick McNealy, Callum Tarren
2:46 p.m., 9:41 a.m.: Chan Kim, David Skinns, Jimmy Stanger

Telecast and Live Streaming  Details

In the United States, coverage of the 2024 Players Championship will be broadcast live across CBS and NBC, on pay-to-air channels ESPN and the Golf Channel, and streamed on ESPN+.

Offering coverage from all ESPN channels, including ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPN3, ESPN+ allows customers access to a wide variety of sporting content from just $10.99 per month and covers the majority of 2024 PGA Tour events, save for the major championships and a handful of additional tournaments across the season. 

FAQs 

Q: When and where is the Players Championship going to be held?

A: The Players Championship will be held from the 12th to the 17th of March at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. 

Q: Do you need a ticket for each day?

A: Yes, there are separate tickets for each tournament day, from Tuesday, March 12th to Sunday, March 17th.

Q: What’s the prize money for the 2024 Players Championship?

A: The Players Championship has a $25 million purse and a $4.5 million first-place prize.

Q: Who’s the defending champion of the Players Championship?

A: Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion of the Players Championship.