RG's "Fairway Focus" is a weekly look at golf's major tours. PGA Professional Brendon Elliott, a three-decade industry veteran, provides his insights. In this installment, Elliott previews golf's “Fifth Major,” THE PLAYERS Championship at famed TPC Sawgrass.
This week, the golf world turns its attention to TPC Sawgrass for the PGA TOUR's flagship event, THE PLAYERS Championship. With a stacked field, course changes, and plenty of storylines to follow, the 51st edition promises to deliver more memorable moments on one of golf's most iconic stages.
Scheffler Chasing Unprecedented Three-Peat at TPC Sawgrass
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler returns to Ponte Vedra Beach with history on the line. After becoming the first player to win back-to-back PLAYERS Championships last year, Scheffler now aims to accomplish something not seen on the PGA TOUR in over a decade – winning the same event three consecutive years.
"He was the first to ever go back-to-back at THE PLAYERS and is now looking to become the first player to win a PGA TOUR event three straight years since Steve Stricker won the John Deere Classic from 2009-11," notes the PGA TOUR. Beyond that, Scheffler could join Jack Nicklaus as just the second player to win THE PLAYERS three times overall.
Scheffler's journey at TPC Sawgrass has been remarkable. After missing the cut in his 2021 debut and finishing 55th in 2022, he's rattled off consecutive victories, including last year's dramatic final-round 64 that matched the biggest comeback and lowest closing round by a winner in tournament history.
The 28-year-old superstar enters the week not in the best form, having struggled at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational. His tie for 11th at 4-under par, seven shots behind winner Russell Henley, was not what Scheffler had been hoping for as the teeth of the Florida Swing was gearing up. Scottie's putter was awful bulky last week, as was clearly the case by his 49th spot in Strokes Gained Putting. That said, Scheffler still hit the ball very well and was near the top in those relevant statistical categories. The bottom line is if he gets heated up with the putter this week, it's game on!
Names To Watch As Golf's Elite Gather at Sawgrass
THE PLAYERS Championship once again boasts one of the strongest fields in golf, with 48 of the world's top 50 players teeing it up this week. World No. 2 Rory McIlroy, winner at this year's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, returns to a venue where he captured the 2019 title.
McIlroy's results at TPC Sawgrass have been mixed since his victory, with a T19 finish last year but also two missed cuts since 2020. Still, his combination of power and precision makes him a perpetual threat on any course.
Other past champions in the field include Justin Thomas, Si Woo Kim, Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar, and Adam Scott. Kuchar and Justin Rose are both making their 20th PLAYERS appearance, while Scott leads all competitors with 23 career starts at the event.
The field also welcomes 25 first-time participants, including recent Puerto Rico Open winner Karl Vilips. The young Australian, who recently moved to Jacksonville, Florida, has a history of success at the venue, notching five top-10s in five starts at the Junior PLAYERS, including a runner-up finish in 2020. Seeing the rookie on the first page of the leaderboard come the weekend would not shock me.
TPC Sawgrass: New Challenges Await
Pete Dye's masterpiece has undergone several changes for this year's tournament, with a total of 77 yards added across multiple holes. The par-5 second hole features a new tournament tee, adding 23 yards, while the iconic tree at the par-4 sixth has been replanted to restore shot values off the tee. The par-5 11th has a new tee complex adding 15 yards, and the par-4 14th now showcases "stronger, deeper and dramatic moguls with additions of palms, oaks and native grasses to the right rough."
These adjustments should provide fresh challenges even for players familiar with the course. TPC Sawgrass has always been known for its balanced test that rewards precision over power, and these changes seem designed to maintain that character while ensuring the course keeps pace with modern equipment and athleticism.
The Stadium Course's closing stretch remains one of golf's most dramatic, highlighted by the risk-reward par-5 16th and the infamous island-green par-3 17th. Last year's tournament came down to the 72nd hole, with Wyndham Clark's birdie attempt to tie Scheffler horseshoeing around the cup and staying out, one of the most brutal lip-out scenarios in recent memory on the PGA TOUR.
Historic Hole-in-One Moment: Morikawa's Caddie Aces the Island Green
One of THE PLAYERS Championship's beloved traditions is the Wednesday caddie competition at the island-green 17th hole, where caddies trade the bag for a club in a closest-to-the-pin challenge. In its 26-year history, the competition had never seen a hole-in-one – until yesterday.
JJ Jakovac, caddie for Collin Morikawa, made history by holing his tee shot from 131 yards with a pitching wedge. His ball landed about 15 feet past the hole before spinning back into the cup, igniting a wild celebration on the tee box.
"Jakovac isn't the everyday amateur golfer," the PGA TOUR noted. "He played collegiately at Cal State-Chico from 2000 to 2004 and won two NCAA Division II titles individually. He also made three Korn Ferry Tour starts, most recently in 2008, before dedicating himself to a career on the bag."
The caddie competition honors Bruce Edwards, Tom Watson's longtime caddie and friend, who passed away from ALS in 2004. Since 2014, the PGA TOUR has matched donations made by caddies or players to charities of their choice and to the Bruce Edwards Foundation.
Creator Classic Delivers Entertainment at TPC Sawgrass
On Wednesday, the second event in the Creator Classic series brought 10 golf content creators to TPC Sawgrass for eight holes of stroke play on the back nine, culminating in a playoff at the island-green 17th.
Grant Horvat emerged victorious with a 15-foot birdie on the first playoff hole, outlasting Chris Solomon of "No Laying Up" and George Bryan IV of "Bryan Bros Golf." The trio had finished regulation at 1-over, 1-over, and 2-over, respectively.
The event produced several memorable moments, including Fat Perez of "Bob Does Sports" draining a 50-foot birdie putt on the 17th that drew comparisons to Tiger Woods' famous "Better Than Most" putt from 2001. Meanwhile, Barstool Sports' Trent Ryan provided comic relief with an octuple-bogey 11 on the island green, bowing to spectators after finally finding the putting surface on his fifth attempt.
Tiger Woods Sidelined with Achilles Injury
In disappointing news for golf fans, Tiger Woods announced Tuesday that he ruptured his left Achilles tendon while training and practicing at home. The 15-time major champion underwent successful surgery performed by Dr. Charlton Stucken at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida.
"The surgery went smoothly, and we expect a full recovery," Dr. Stucken said in a statement.
Woods is now back home, focusing on recovery and rehabilitation, though no timetable for his return has been provided.
This setback adds to Woods' lengthy injury history. The 49-year-old hasn't made a PGA TOUR start since The Open Championship last summer and underwent back surgery in September. He had competed alongside his son Charlie at the PNC Championship in December (using carts) and was scheduled to tee it up at The Genesis Invitational, which he hosts, but withdrew following his mother's passing.
Final Thoughts
As THE PLAYERS Championship takes center stage this week, there is plenty to look forward to...From Scheffler's pursuit of history to the drama that inevitably unfolds at one of golf's greatest final three-hole stretches, it will undoubtedly be a must-watch weekend of golf.
Brendon Elliott, a distinguished PGA Professional, is best known for his dedication to the growth and development of junior golf. With nearly three decades of experience, Elliott has been recognized multiple times as one of the best instructors, both regionally and nationally.
Elliott's crowning achievement was being named the 2017 PGA of America National Youth Player Development Award Winner, a testament to his exceptional skills and dedication. He is the founder of Little Linksters, an award-winning youth golf academy and nonprofit that works with kids of all abilities to help them develop a passion for golf. His innovative teaching methods and love for the game have made significant impacts on students and the broader golfing community.
Additionally, Brendon, a Golf Writers Association of America member, has become a renowned freelance golf writer, further solidifying his position as a top professional in the industry.
