As the 50th anniversary of The Players event at TPC Sawgrass unfolds, Rory McIlroy identifies it as a telling example of the direction the PGA Tour, for which he holds a tour card, is taking. Increased glitz and a heightened emphasis on entertainment mark this milestone edition of the event.
On the tournament’s eve, McIlroy, ranked second globally, was caught up in a press brawl. He expressed views on how the PGA Tour could implement strategies from Formula One and the ATP, the male tennis tour, for its future progression. However, he acknowledged that this course of action might cause discontent amongst a significant part of the PGA Tour’s membership, with restrictions potentially affecting playing opportunities – a key value held by the association for decades.
McIlroy empathised with those concerned but voiced the contention that the Tour has been slow to adapt to evolving trends in entertainment and media, thus compromising its appeal. Calling for a more dynamic approach, he likened the situation to tennis, whose one-year ranking system contrasts with golf’s two-year model used by the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). The tennis method discourages player complacency, which McIlroy sees as vital to the sport.
On a personal level, The Players offers McIlroy a chance to return to form. His only victory this year is his achievement at the DP World Tour at the Dubai Desert Classic. He is yet to make a mark this season at the PGA Tour due to struggling with his iron approach shot.
In the lead up to The Players tournament, which he previously won in 2019, McIlroy has been focusing his attention on his iron play. Despite having a strong comfort level with his woods, recreating the same feeling with his irons has proven challenging – when attempting to do so, it results in him producing a leftward swing and continues to spin left, which he believes is due to applying too much pressure when switching to the iron. His love of directing his right arm down the target line is achievable with his woods, but his attempts to do so with his irons meet less success as the club face closes over and steers left.
McIlroy confesses that his approach needs two distinct swing thoughts – one for his wood, and another for his iron, something he has been trying to develop. This comes only a month before his approaching effort to secure the remaining missing piece from his Grand Slam at the Masters.
On the other hand, Shane Lowry appears to be in good form heading into The Players. Following impressive performances in recent weeks- a fourth-place finish at the Cognizant and a third-place finish coming after Scottie Scheffler at the API, Lowry’s form shows promise to have him compete at the top of the leaderboard. His best performance at The Players was a tied eighth-place finish in 2021.
The tournament is happening in Ponte Vedra, Florida, with a substantial purse of €23 million, with the winner set to receive €4.15 million.
TPC Sawgrass, a challenging ‘stadium course’ spanning 7,275 yards with a par of 72, is renowned for its constructed mounds designed to enhance the spectators’ viewing experience. The creative masterminds behind it, Pete and Alice Dye, emphasised the strategic use of approach irons by incorporating small greens and profound bunkering. Furthermore, the layout’s savvy trajectory around what was once a swamp encourages golfers to alternate their shots off the tee. The course has consistently tested abilities, rewarding both power hitters and tactical players alike with victories.
Its iconic hole is the 17th, a par-3 with a notorious island green, forming part of a formidable closing line-up. This run also includes the par-5 16th hole, offering a high-risk, high-reward game with water hazards present around the green and down the right side. The 18th – a par-4 hole – features a crescent-shaped fairway that meanders alongside a lake, with the flanking water hazards a dominant feature to the left of the hole.
Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, fresh off his win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, leads the vibrant mix of participants. This group includes 23 newcomers in The Players, reflecting the incoming wave of talent making their mark on the PGA Tour. Notable among them are Matthieu Pavon and Bob MacIntrye from the DP World Tour, and debut tour victors Jake Knapp and Austin Eckroat. The exemplary line-up also comprises world number one Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, despite his failure to proceed past the preliminary stages the previous year. The past four championships have all been claimed by players within the top 10 worldwide rankings.
In the event of a tie, a three-hole playoff will determine the winner (holes 16-17-18), with sudden death being applied to holes 17-18-16 if necessary.
In his discourse on the impact of being the world’s top golfer, Scottie Scheffler noted that whilst it’s fantastic to be the leading player, it doesn’t greatly influence his daily life or provide any significant advantages in tournament play. He added that the pressure to maintain that top spot might be more challenging than achieving it in the first place. From an Irish perspective, Rory McIlroy sets off from the 10th alongside Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland at 12.35pm in Irish time, while Séamus Power is paired with Grayson Murray and Francesco Molinari, leaving the 10th hole at 5.18pm. Additionally, Shane Lowry partners Tony Finau and Will Zalatoris, starting from the 1st at 6.02pm.
In regards to betting, reigning champion Scottie Scheffler, embolden by his recent victory at Bay Hill, is the bookies favourite with odds of 11-2, partially aided by his effective mallet putter. Rory McIlroy follows at 16-1, with others like Shane Lowry, who performed impressively in recent tournaments, at 33-1. Some could consider betting on past champion, Rickie Fowler, or Nicolai Hojgaard, both presenting enticing each-way chances at 125-1.
To keep up with the action, tune into Sky Sports Golf from 11.30am.