Previewing THE PLAYERS Championship 2026: Golf’s “Fifth Major” Returns to TPC Sawgrass

The PGA Tour’s biggest non-major event returns this week as THE PLAYERS Championship tees off Thursday, March 12 through Sunday, March 15 at the legendary TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Often called the “fifth major”, the tournament brings together one of the strongest fields in golf and one of the most iconic courses on the planet.

This year’s event carries a $25 million purse, with the winner taking home roughly $4.5 million, making it one of the most lucrative tournaments on the entire PGA Tour schedule.

Between the elite field, the chaos of TPC Sawgrass, and the pressure of one of the sport’s most famous finishing holes, this week always delivers drama.

The Course: TPC Sawgrass Is Built to Punish Mistakes

The tournament is played at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, a Par 72 measuring 7,352 yards, designed by legendary architect Pete Dye.

Sawgrass is famous for being a risk-reward course where almost every hole can flip momentum.

Key course facts:

• Water comes into play on 17 of the 18 holes

• Requires precision and course management, not just power

• Demands elite iron play and putting

And of course, there’s the most famous hole in golf:

The 17th Hole – The Island Green

The par-3 17th hole might be the most nerve-wracking shot in golf. One slight mishit and the ball is headed straight into the water.

Historically, dozens of balls find the water there every year, especially on Sunday when nerves are at their highest.

It’s one of the reasons the tournament almost always produces wild finishes.

The Field: One of the Strongest in Golf

The Players Championship typically features nearly the entire world’s elite golfers, with 47 of the top 50 players in the world expected to compete this week.

Some of the biggest names in the field include:

• Scottie Scheffler (World No.1)

• Collin Morikawa

• Rory McIlroy (defending champion)

• Ludvig Åberg

• Xander Schauffele

• Tommy Fleetwood

• Hideki Matsuyama

World No.1 Scottie Scheffler enters as the betting favorite, with odds around +450, while players like Morikawa and McIlroy sit around +1600 depending on the sportsbook.

Scheffler also has a chance to join Jack Nicklaus as one of the few players to win the tournament three times, which adds another storyline to watch this week.

Players to Watch This Week

Scottie Scheffler

The world No.1 continues to dominate the PGA Tour and is once again the favorite entering Sawgrass. If his iron play stays sharp, he could easily run away with the tournament.

Collin Morikawa

One of the hottest players entering the tournament. Morikawa has been trending upward with strong finishes and has become a popular betting pick to win this week.

Ludvig Åberg

The rising Swedish star continues to gain momentum on the PGA Tour and has the type of all-around game that fits Sawgrass well.

Rory McIlroy

The defending champion enters with some uncertainty due to recent back spasms, which has made his status and performance a storyline to watch this week.

Betting Picks and Value Plays

Looking at betting insights and early picks from analysts, here are a few names drawing attention.

Best Bet to Win

Collin Morikawa (+2000 range)Morikawa’s all-around game and current form make him a strong pick heading into this week.

Sleeper Pick

Min Woo Lee (+4000 to +4500)Lee has been playing excellent golf recently and has strong strokes-gained numbers across the board.

Longshot Value

Sepp Straka (+4500)Straka has quietly become one of the more consistent players on tour and could contend if his putting heats up.

What to Expect This Week

THE PLAYERS Championship always delivers a few predictable themes:

• Big names on the leaderboard

• Massive swings in momentum

• Balls flying into the water on 17

• Sunday chaos

The course is designed so that no lead is ever safe, especially with the closing stretch that includes the famous island green.

In other words, even if someone looks in control late Sunday afternoon…

…TPC Sawgrass still has the final say.