The Players Championship 2026 preview, picks & analysis

The eyes of the golfing world will be on TPC Sawgrass this week, not for golf’s fifth major but for the Players Championship, which is definitely the biggest tournament of 2026 so far, boasting easily the strongest field of the season.

Twelve months ago Rory McIlroy arrived here having won the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and being arguably in the form of his life. He had won The Players in 2019 but Sawgrass is not one of his favourite courses.

What Happened at TPC Sawgrass Last Year?

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

Nonetheless, he added $4.5m to his bank account as he defeated JJ Spaun in a three-hole play-off to win. He also became the first man to win twice on the PGA Tour in 2025. The following month he would, of course, go on to win The Masters and complete the Career Grand Slam.

He said: "I am unbelievably proud and happy to win my second Players. It's the third time I've won on St Patrick's Day. It's been a good-luck charm for me."

McIlroy dominated the play-off from the opening tee shot on the par-five 16th, smashing a huge drive down the centre of the fairway, while Spaun, who had just one PGA Tour win to his name, found the rough. 

The American put his second into a greenside bunker and took three from there to register a par, while McIlroy, who hit his second into the centre of the green, two-putted for a birdie.

McIlroy found the green with his tee shot on the par-three 17th 'island hole', but Spaun put his ball in the water to effectively end his hopes.

He took a triple-bogey six and although McIlroy three-putted to drop a shot, his lead was three going down the last. Both players scrambled their way down the 18th following wayward drives out to the right that left them blocked by trees.

But McIlroy's advantage was so great he could tap in for a bogey to win the play-off on one over par. Spaun, who was at four over, picked up his ball without finishing the hole having taken four shots.

"I feel really bad for JJ," added McIlroy. "He hit a great shot on the 17th but it just went straight through the wind."

Spaun said "it looked like it was floating and we didn't see it land" of his tee shot on the short hole. "But I would have taken getting into a play-off for the title at the start of the week." Like McIlroy, he would go on to bigger and better things last season, holing a massive putt on the 72nd green to win the US Open.

Who Will Win The Players Championship in 2026?

So what about this year’s event? Can Scottie Scheffler become a three-time winner? Will McIlroy make a successful defence of his title? This is a course that is made for Collin Morikawa - can he maintain his early-season form, unlike last year? 

Scheffler won the American Express but has developed a worrying habit of starting poorly before storming back into contention. He had a long winter layoff and I believe that he is still shaking off some ring rust. I expect the world number one to be the man to beat at Ponte Vedra Beach this week. 

McIlroy has shown some decent early-season form and of course he would like to win this title again but his main focus will be on making a decent fist of trying to retain the Green Jacket next month.

I am expecting a big European challenge and I believe that Shane Lowry will be at the forefront fo it all. His failure to close the deal at the Cognizant Classic was shocking but I prefer to focus on what he did before reaching the 16th hole in the final round. He played some magnificent golf when it mattered, with a birdie at the 10th, eagle at the 11th and further birdies at the 13th and 14th. Yes, he hit a dreadful shot at the 16th that cost him a double-bogey and was clearly still in shock when he found the water at the 17th but he will want to focus on the positives - and there were plenty of those.

This is also a golf course that is made for Tommy Fleetwood and he is due a big performance here. After a sluggish start he has played some sparkling golf, with a tied fourth at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am and a tied seventh at the Genesis. Sawgrass is a course that rewards accurate driving and good iron play and those are the Englishman’s strengths.

Players Executive Director Lee Smith said: "Part of what makes The Players Stadium Course special is that it favours no one style of play, which is why we’ve seen players like Calvin Peete and Fred Funk capture the title, as well as long-hitters like Tiger, Rory and Scottie.

"When I look at No. 17, it’s the most iconic hole in golf, and I define that as one that any person in a bar, at home, on their phone, could look up and see and instantly know that’s TPC Sawgrass.

"The defining moment that hole provides - not just on Sunday but all week - speaks to the excitement of the moment, our fans holding their breath, and each player being terrified over a 140-yard shot they could hit in their sleep - if it wasn’t for the 10,000 fans and full body of water around the green. I love the fact that it’s the 71st hole in The Players and if you want to win this championship, it’s time to hit a great shot."

It is a hole that has sunk the hopes of many players over the years. I have to say that it is not my favourite hole but you cannot deny that it creates plenty of drama.

The field size this year has been reduced to 120, ostensibly to speed up play.

Tournament Winners:

The tournament was won in 2015 by Rickie Fowler, in 2016 by Jason Day, in 2017 by Si Woo Kim, in 2018 by Webb Simpson, in 2019 by Rory McIlroy, in 2021 by Justin Thomas, in 2022 by Cameron Smith and in 2023 and 2024 by Scottie Scheffler and last year by Rory McIlroy. It was abandoned after one round in 2020 because of the global pandemic.

The Course:

The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass was designed by Pete Dye. It is a par 72 and measures 7,245 yards. The 17th, a par three measuring 137 yards, is one of the most iconic holes in golf. Completely surrounded by water, it claims an estimated 100,000 golf balls every year. The 16th is a par five with water running down the right - it is a hole where eagles can be scored, but a wayward approach could just as easily result in a double-bogey, or worse. And the 18th is a fearsome par four with water on the left.

Form Guide:

Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler will, of course, head to Sawgrass as tournament favourites. McIlroy is the defending champion while Scheffler is looking to become a three-time winner but Tommy Fleetwood has been quietly coming into top form. 

Prize Money:

The total prize fund is $25m, with the winner collecting $4.5m and 750 FedEx Cup points - the same number awarded to major winners.

How to Watch:

Thursday, March 12, Friday, March 13, Saturday, March 14, Sunday, March 15, Sky Sports Golf, 11.30am.

To Win:

Scottie Scheffler. The man to beat

Each Way:

Tommy Fleetwood. Has the game to tame Sawgrass

Each Way:

Shane Lowry. Write him off at your peril

Five to Follow:

Scottie Scheffler. Can he win for a third time?

Tommy Fleetwood. Ready for another win

Shane Lowry. Fabulous short game

Russell Henley. A proper shotmaker

Rory McIlroy. Hard to ignore

Five Outsiders to Watch:

Marco Penge. Fans will love him

Kurt Kitayama. Underrated

Ryan Fox. All depends on how he drives the ball

Sami Valimaki. Never a dull moment

Ryo Hisatsune. Gifted Japanese golfer