Who said there were only four majors in men’s professional golf? Well, it’s not one officially but plenty consider The PLAYERS Championship as the fifth major on the Tour. It is one of the most prestigious tournaments on the planet which each and every pro dreams of winning. Heading into TPC Sawgrass, we take a look at the best golfers to look out for with our complete preview below.
Jordan Spieth looks to redeem himself after his meltdown at the Masters Tournament. Meanwhile, world No. 1 Jason Day is seeking his first ever PLAYERS Championship trophy. But there are also some sleepers who wish to steal their thunder. Sergio Garcia and the unheralded Chesson Hadley also have their respective chances of winning the coveted tournament.
For more on the PLAYERS Championship, check out our list of the best long shot and sleeper picks.
Jordan Spieth barely missed out on the first major of the season, finishing second at the Masters Tournament last April 10. He shot a divine 66 in the first round. He shot 74, 73, 73 the rest of the way, including a disastrous quadruple-bogey in the fourth round to finish second.
It remains to be seen how Spieth will overcome adversity. He’s been partying in the tropics since losing. It could relieve some of the pressure he’s feeling as the No. 2 golfer on the planet, but it could also keep his concentration off the upcoming tournament.
Rory McIlroy
Rory McIlroy still has not won this season. But he’s still pretty solid with three top four and four top 10 finishes in his last five tournaments. The Irishman started slow at the Wells Fargo Championship last time out, but ended with a 66-under par in the fourth round to finish with a seven-under par 281. McIlroy has had plenty of success at TPC Sawgrass in recent years, finishing eighth, sixth and eighth in his last eight appearances at the golf course.
Jason Day
A PLAYERS Championship is something that Jason Day has to have. It’s widely considered as the fifth major tournament in the PGA Tour. Day took last week off after finishing fifth at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. His time off should help him get back on his game.
Day hasn’t had much success at the PLAYERS in his career. He finished sixth in 2011 but missed the cut twice since then. His highest finish since 2011 was 19th in 2013. With that said, he’s still one of the best golfers on the planet at this moment. He should be sharp heading into TPC Sawgrass considering the upward trajectory he’s on since winning last year’s PGA Championship.
Sleeper
Sergio Garcia
TPC Sawgrass fits Sergio Garcia’s game perfectly. He has a lethal iron play and is consistent off the tee. He’s very comfortable on the greens, which should be excellent on a demanding course when it comes to tee-to-green.
Garcia has finished in the top 10 five times in his last nine starts at TPC Sawgrass. He has never even missed a cut on the course. He’s the perennial sleeper that golf fans dearly love. He has an excellent shot at winning the PLAYERS Championship if everything falls right.
Long Shot
Chesson Hadley
Chesson Hadley may not prick up plenty of ears heading into TPC Sawgrass. He’s had just two starts in the PLAYERS Championship, missing the cut in 2014 and finishing in the top 25 in 2015. But he played the best round of his career at last week’s Wells Fargo with a five-under 67 in the second round. Hadley has many positives to take away from that performance, which could translate into a career-defining performance at TPC Sawgrass.
