The classic “Fifth Major” kicks off Thursday at TPC Sawgrass as the 52nd Players Championship, a tournament every player wants to win with first place prize money of $4.5 million, a $25 million purse, the largest in golf, and the status of being a champion of a tournament that is the closest to a major in golf. It’s the fifth most important tournament on tour every year (except for when the Ryder Cup is played, then it’s the sixth), and there is “major” prestige that comes with winning this historic tournament on this iconic course in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. where the PGA Tour is headquartered.

The field consists of 123 players as the PGA is shooting for smaller fields to speed up play. The field is usually 144 players. The cut after the second round Friday will consist of the top 65 players and ties. The rough will be at 3 1/2 inches. The greens will be overseeded Poa trivialis over Bermuda, which grows better in cooler months. They’ll top out at 13 on the stimpmeter. Poa trivialis is different from Poa Annua, which is found on the California courses. The Poa trivialis gives a lot smoother roll than the Poa Annua. TPC Sawgrass is a stock par 72 and tips out at 7,352 yards. The winner of this classic also qualifies for the next five editions of the Players and all four majors this season. So, a lot to play for. Pete Dye was the architect. Dye worked on TPC Sawgrass from 1978-80 and it was opened in 1980. Dye passed away in 2020 at the age of 94.

Key holes include the 137 yard iconic, and, many times, treacherous 17th, with the island green leaving no margin for error. The green is 26 yards wide, and if you miss it, you are in the water and looking at bogey or worse. Classic, intense pressure on Sunday with the tournament on the line. To me, and I’ve said this before, No.18 is the most underrated and challenging hole on the tour. It’s a par 4, 468 yards and is a dogleg right to left. Water runs down the entire left side, and if you miss right you’re behind the trees. Tiger Woods made his “stinger” shot famous on this hole in winning in 2013. It’s the hardest hole on the course with the players getting zero relief after 17.

Tiger also won in 2001, with his “better than most” 40 foot birdie putt on 17 on Sunday, the highlight of that tournament and historically great in golf lore.

No. 12 is a high risk/high reward 369 yard par 4, with water running down the left side and pot bunkers on the right side. No. 16 is the famous 523 yard, par 5 that always has fireworks on Sunday as the leaders aim to enhance their chances of winning. A lot of players bail out to the left on their second shots to try and get up and down for birdie. It takes a lot of bravery to go for the green in two on 16 with water guarding the right side. All in all, this course is just a tremendous test of golf.

Rory is the defending champion. He won last year and then went on to complete the career Grand Slam at the 89th Masters in 2025, with high tension in both. He defeated J.J. Spaun in a Monday finish at the Players in a three hole aggregate playoff on 16, 17 and 18. He also defeated Justin Rose in a playoff at Augusta National to win his first Green Jacket and complete the career Grand Salome. Spaun went on to win the 125th U.S. Open with a 64 foot birdie putt of his own on Oakmont’s 18th hole. I’ve talked about how clutch that was.I was superbly clutch. Justin Rose is still playing at a high level at 45 years old, winning the Farmers in late January, early February.

A lot of drama will ensue this week/weekend at the Players. Here is the weather forecast, the TV times, some key tee times along with those players’ odds of winning..

Weather

Thursday, Scattered t-storms developing in the afternoon. 59% chance. Wind WSW 10-20.

Friday, 76, Partly cloudy/sunny, 14% chance. Wind ENE 11.

Saturday, 79, Partly cloudy/sunny, 12% chance. Wind ENE 12.

Sunday, 80, rain showers in the morning with t storms in the afternoon, 67%. Wind SE 11.

So weather will be a major factor Thursday and Sunday if the forecast holds up, and the wind will make 17 a bear all four days, especially Sunday for somebody trying to win the fifth major.

TV

Thursday-Friday, 12-6 P.M. CT/1-7 ET. Golf Channel.

Saturday, 1-6 P.M. CT/2-7 ET. NBC.

Sunday, 12-5 P.M. CT/ 1-6 ET. NBC.

ESPN+ will carry early round coverage.

Key tee times Thursday/odds

7:28 A.M. CT/8:28 ET. No.1 -Akshay Bhatta, 40/1, was iron at the Arnie in winning; Brooks Koepka, 65/1; Tony Finau, 100/1.

7:40 A.M. CT/8:40 ET. No.10, Collin Morikawa, 16/1. AT&T Pebble Beach winner, and certainly one of the favorites at TPC Sawgrass; Ludvig Aberg, 22/1. Another threat; Si Woo Kim, 20/1. Same for him. 2017 champion

7:52 A.M. CT/8;52 ET. No.10 Scottie Scheffler, 4/1. The favorite and back to back winner in 2023 and 2024. Tries to join Jack Nicklaus as the only three time winner ever at the Players; Tommy Fleetwood, 25/1. 2025 Fed Ex Cup champion. Has a shot; Justin Thomas, 33/1. 2021 winner at TPC Sawgrass, and starting to figure it out. Had back surgery in November, 2025.

8:04 A.M. CT/9:04 ET. No 10. Vik Hovland, 35/1. Possible; Russell Henley, 25/1. Very accurate off the tee and an excellent putter when the flat stick is clickin’; Bob McIntyre, 50/1. He hasn’t done much lately.

12:18 P.M. CT/ 1:18 ET. No.10 Keegan Bradley, 125/1. Don’t see it. Failed captaincy at the Ryder Cup still looms large; Ryan Fox, 150/1; Chris Kirk 300/1.

12:18 P.M. CT/1:18 ET. No.1. J.J. Spaun, 80/1. Good value from the U.S. Open champion and second place finisher in last year’s Players in a playoff; Sepp Straka, 40/1. Good player with a shot; Shane Lowry, 55/1. Not buying him after his implosion at West Palm Beach in the Cognizant Classic two weeks ago where he had a three shot lead with three to play and went double, double on 16 and 17 to lose to Nico Echavarria?

12:30 P.M. CT/1:30 ET. No.1,. Sahith Theegala, 70/1. He’s getting closer and closer to winning a big tournament, Signature or major; Rickie Fowler, 55/1. Possible, but not really seeing it even though he’s playing a lot better; Jordan Spieth, 70/1. Do NOT see this happening.

12:42 P.M. CT/1:42 ET. No.1. Xander Schauffele, 27/1. Possible ;Rory, 16/1. Sore back. Not seeing it this week, though possible; Hideki Matsuyama, 33/1. Has to putt A LOT better to win.

12:54 P.M. CT/1:54 ET. No.1 Chris Gotterup, 45/1. This guy has won the Sony Open and the Waste Management already this year. He’s a factor; Justin Rose, 80/1. Still a prolific player. Not out of the question, and he Can win going forward and not out of the major conversation this season by any means; Min Woo Lee, 35/1. Definite shot.

12:54 P.M. CT/ 1:54 ET. No.10. Cam Young, 33/1. Certainly has a shot; Davis Thompson, 115/1. Fifth on the tour in Strokes Gained: Putting. Always helps your chances; Sam Burns, 80/1. Not seeing it. Can’t seem to close very well.

Winner

My choices were between Min Woo Lee, Chris Gotterup and this now veteran. Lee has great stats off the tee leading the tour in total driving, which measures distance and accuracy, which is critical at TPC Sawgrass with all the water. He’s also seventh in strokes gained total. Gotterup is a total winner. Bigger fella.

But this 30 year old from Seoul, South Korea has some seriously strong stats on tour this year. He’s tied for fourth in driving accuracy percentage. He’s second in strokes gained: approach to the green. He leads the tour in proximity to the hole, a huge stat on any course. And he also leads the tour in strokes gained: approaches from 100 yards or more. Some people, who I don’t trust, say statistics are for losers. I like what two time Super Bowl winning coach Bill Parcells (1986, 1990, Super Bowls 21 and 25, respectively) said about stats: “The numbers don’t lie.”

So, I’ll take these stats of a four time winner on tour. He won the 2016 Wyndham Championship, the 2021 American Express, the 2023 Sony Open, AND, is the 2017 winner at the Players.

This season he’s finished T-11 at the Sony, T-6 at the AMEX, T-2 at the Farmers, T-3 at the WM Phoenix, T-45 at Pebble, T-34 at the Genesis, and finished in a tie for 13th at the Arnie last week. He has 7 top 15’s in his last nine starts. He’s 151st in Strokes Gained: Putting, but he putts well on these Poa trivialis greens. Besides his 2017 victory at the Players, he has two top 10’s at Sawgrass. Give me:

Si Woo Kim