The Players Championship 2024: Scottie Scheffler's Quest for Golf's Coveted 'Fifth Major'

Scottie Scheffler tees off in pursuit of history on Thursday, as the American seeks to become the first ever golfer to defend The Players Championship.

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - AUGUST 22: PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan speaks to the media prior to the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club on August 22, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan addressed the media before the TOUR Championship at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia on August 22, 2023. He was photographed by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images.

Related article

Ahead of PGA Tour’s richest tournament, tensions simmer between players and leadership

In order to claim victory, the current world No. 1 player will need to outperform 143 competitors who are all competing for a portion of the $25 million prize at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

Making the task a bit easier is the fact that world No. 3 player Jon Rahm will not be participating in the tournament, as LIV Golf players are not taking part in the PGA Tour's main event.

While no stars from LIV Golf will be seen in Florida, the Saudi-backed venture has had a big impact on the 50th edition of golf's 'fifth major.'

World No. 6 Xander Schauffele criticized PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, saying he still needs to earn the trust of the players. Monahan mentioned that ongoing discussions with LIV Golf were progressing but would take time to fully resolve.

How can I watch The Players Championship?

Golf Channel will broadcast the opening two rounds from 1 p.m. ET, with NBC handling weekend coverage – from 2 p.m. ET Saturday and from 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

PGA Tour Live offers exclusive coverage of featured holes and groups for ESPN+ subscribers.

For viewers in the United Kingdom, We Golf will be showcasing the first two rounds starting at 11:30 a.m. GMT. Weekend action coverage will kick off at 2 p.m. GMT.

Scheffler is the reigning champion after a dominant victory at last year's tournament.

Scheffler is the reigning champion after a dominant victory at last year's tournament.

Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images

23 countries represented in field

Scheffler is currently leading the 144-player field in top form, having secured his sixth PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday with a five-stroke victory. This win marks his first title since his triumph at TPC Sawgrass last year.

Challenging Scheffler to prevent a back-to-back win are the other top-10 ranked players in the world (excluding Rahm), with world No. 2 Rory McIlroy among the nine previous Players champions participating in the tournament.

In the field, there are 23 different countries represented, and all 23 golfers are making their debut at the tournament. One of these new faces is Nick Dunlap, who turned pro shortly after winning The American Express in January. Unfortunately, he was unable to claim the $1.5 million prize because of his amateur status.

Nick Dunlap was the first of four players to win their first PGA Tour event this season. Following him were Matthieu Pavon, Jake Knapp, and Austin Eckroat, all of whom will be competing alongside the 20-year-old Dunlap this week.

Dunlap celebrates his first win on the PGA Tour at The American Express.

Dunlap celebrates his first win on the PGA Tour at The American Express.

Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images

Absentees

Four players who are eligible to play will not be participating in the upcoming competition, with Tiger Woods being the most notable absentee.

After a long break, the 48-year-old returned to the sport at November's Hero World Challenge. He expressed his intention to compete in one tournament per month but unfortunately, he will not be contending for his third Players title as he did not make the field list.

15-time major winner Tiger Woods had to cut short his long-awaited return to the PGA Tour at The Genesis Invitational last month. He withdrew during the event's second round due to "flu-like symptoms."

Woods, who has been focusing on playing at the majors following serious leg injuries from a 2021 car accident, is now expected to aim for an appearance at The Masters in April.

Woods in action at the 2021 tournament.

Woods in action at the 2021 tournament.

Three of the world’s top-50 ranked players, Rahm (3), Tyrrell Hatton (16), and Brooks Koepka (31), are missing from the LIV Golf event. Meanwhile, five of the top-10 finishers from the 2022 Players Championship, including winner Cameron Smith, have decided to participate in the Saudi-backed tour.

Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, and Henrik Stenson, previous champions at TPC Sawgrass, will not be able to defend their titles as they have left the PGA Tour.

PGA Tour commissioner Monahan remarked to reporters on Wednesday that there are 144 players participating in the championship, all of whom are the best in the world. The PGA Tour is considered the greatest tour globally.

"There's always disruption in our sport, but it's something we deal with on a regular basis. Strength in our sport comes from various factors such as the support of our members. As an organization, we continuously nurture talent and help create new stars."

Rahm is one of the game's biggest stars absent this week.

Rahm is one of the game's biggest stars absent this week.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

Scheffler: ‘This is where I want to be’

Scheffler remains determined to concentrate on the future of his own tour.

"If guys want to take the money and leave, that's totally up to them. I won't stop anyone from grabbing hundreds of millions of dollars," Scheffler mentioned.

"If they believe it's the right decision for them, then go ahead. I won't push anyone to stay on our Tour. Personally, I am committed to being here and we are focused on expanding our efforts. Their choices don't really bother me."

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida - On March 3, 2024, Scottie Sheffler and his family had a fun visit to TPC Sawgrass before THE PLAYERS Championship at Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. The photo captures a special moment during their visit. (Photo by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR)

Chris Condon/PGA TOUR

Related article

Grandma’s chocolate pie and staying humble are the key ingredients to success for world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler. He believes that unity is important, as shown by his statement, “We had a Tour. We were all together, and the people that left are no longer here. At the end of the day, that’s where the splintering comes from.”

Scheffler was asked why he believes no one has been able to defend their crown at The Players. He replied, "I think it's simply because the course doesn't favor a specific type of player."

He described the course as a brilliant design that requires players to execute various types of shots, testing them in different ways. Scheffler expressed his belief that The Players is one of the best venues on the Tour because it does not cater to a particular style of player.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming Players Championship promises to be an exciting spectacle as Scottie Scheffler aims to become the first player to successfully defend his title. While the absence of Jon Rahm and other LIV Golf stars is notable, the tournament will still feature a formidable field of top-ranked players. Scheffler's recent victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational demonstrates his current form, and he will undoubtedly be the one to watch. However, with 143 other talented competitors vying for the $25 million prize, the competition is sure to be intense.

The impact of LIV Golf on the PGA Tour is evident in the absence of several top players and the ongoing tensions between the leadership and some members. Commissioner Jay Monahan's comments suggest that the situation is still evolving, and it remains to be seen how these issues will be resolved in the long term. Despite these challenges, the PGA Tour continues to showcase the best golfers in the world and offers a significant platform for competition and entertainment.