The highly-anticipated PLAYERS Championship, considered men’s golf’s unofficial “fifth major”, will tee off this week. The prestigious flagship PGA TOUR event boasts a massive $25 million purse, the biggest purse of the 2025 season, with the champion set to earn $4.5 million and receive 750 FedExCup points.
As always, TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, will host THE PLAYERS Championship, featuring one of the most competitive fields in the sport, setting the stage for intense competition. World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, the two-time defending champion, will have the chance to make history by becoming the first player since Jack Nicklaus to win three PLAYERS titles.
Top Players and Groups to Watch
Everyone will be keeping a close eye on Scheffler and his bid for a historic third PLAYERS victory that would put him in elite company alongside Nicklaus. A win would also make him the first player since Steve Stricker (John Deere Classic, 2009–2011) to capture three consecutive PGA TOUR titles at the same venue.
48 of the world’s top 50 players on the Official World Golf Rankings will battle it out but the spotlight will fall on a powerhouse trio – Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Xander Schauffele – who start their round Thursday at 1:29 p.m. ET in what has been described as the ‘supergroup’. McIlroy, who won here in 2019 and will be making his 15th career start at THE PLAYERS, enters the event with a victory already under his belt this season and will look to continue his fine form in his continued quest for a fifth major title later down the line this year.
Right behind this star-studded group, Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, and Tommy Fleetwood will begin their rounds with Morikawa looking strong following his second-place finish at the recent Arnold Palmer Invitational.
The morning brings its own share of excitement. Russell Henley, Shane Lowry, and Viktor Hovland tee off at 8:35 a.m with Henley riding high on confidence after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Karl Vilips will lead a group of 25 first-time players. The Australian rookie earned attention with his recent win at the Puerto Rico Open. His Junior Players experience includes five top-10 finishes.
Former champion Hideki Matsuyama will return for his eighth start in 11 weeks after winning the 2025 season opener at The Sentry. His track record at TPC Sawgrass shows promise with four top-10 finishes in recent starts.
High-profile LIV players including the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Jon Rahm will not be taking part as they remain banned from appearing in PGA TOUR events.
TV and Streaming Schedule
Fans around the world will be able to watch every shot of THE PLAYERS Championship with detailed television and streaming coverage. Golf Channel will guide the broadcast during the first two rounds from 1-7 p.m. ET on Thursday and Friday then NBC will take over the weekend coverage from 2-7 p.m. ET on Saturday and 1-6 p.m. ET on Sunday.
PGA TOUR Live on ESPN+ will give viewers extra streaming options throughout the tournament with coverage starting at 7:30 a.m. ET each morning with four different streams:
- Main Feed: Shows the best action from across the tournament field
- Marquee Group: Tracks featured pairings
- Featured Groups: Shows selected player combinations
- Featured Holes: Focuses on signature holes, specifically numbers 3, 12, 16, and 17
ESPN+ subscribers can watch more than 30 feeds during weekend rounds. ESPN Bet will bring specialized coverage with stats, explanations, and live betting analysis from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ET Thursday through Sunday.
SiriusXM PGA TOUR Radio will broadcast from noon to 7 p.m. ET during the first two rounds. Weekend coverage runs from 1-7 p.m. ET on Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. ET on Sunday.