The 2026 Players Championship takes centre stage on the PGA Tour from March 12-15 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
The Florida Swing moves from Bay Hill to the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass with the PGA Tour’s flagship event once again assembling one of the deepest fields of the season.
Sawgrass is a par‑72 Pete Dye design that demands complete control, strategic thinking and mental resilience, with water in play on 17 holes, tight driving corridors and small, fiercely‑protected Bermuda greens.
The risk‑reward closing stretch from 16-18 – including the iconic island‑green 17th, arguably Florida’s best golf hole – ensures late drama is almost guaranteed on Sunday.
A 120‑plus‑man field headed by Scottie Scheffler and defending champion Rory McIlroy will tackle the Stadium Course this week. Both players are chasing a record‑equalling third Players title.
Current 2026 Players Championship Betting Odds
| Player | Betting Odds |
|---|---|
| Scottie Scheffler | 9/2 (+475) |
| Rory McIlroy | 12/1 (+1200) |
| Xander Schauffele | 23/1 (+2300) |
| Collin Morikawa | 23/1 (+2300) |
| Tommy Fleetwood | 23/1 (+2300) |
| Ludvig Aberg | 23/1 (+2300) |
| Cameron Young | 31/1 (+3100) |
| Hideki Matsuyama | 31/1 (+3100) |
| Si Woo Kim | 31/1 (+3100) |
| Russell Henley | 36/1 (+3600) |
Leading 2026 Players Championship Contenders
Scottie Scheffler
Two‑time Players champion Scottie Scheffler returns to TPC Sawgrass as the clear favourite and the world number one after yet another relentlessly consistent start to the season.
Scheffler lifted this title in 2023 and 2024 and has since cemented himself as the game’s benchmark tee‑to‑green, topping strokes‑gained ball‑striking numbers on Pete Dye layouts over the past two seasons.
Sawgrass rewards elite approach play and patience, and Scheffler’s ability to separate from the field with his irons and long game is tailor‑made for this test.
If he finds anything close to a cooperative putter on the Bermuda surfaces, a third Players crown in four years is firmly on the cards this week.
Rory McIlroy
Defending champion Rory McIlroy arrives at TPC Sawgrass looking to add a third Players title to his CV, having won here previously in 2019 and again in an epic playoff in 2025.
McIlroy withdrew from Bay Hill with a minor back issue last week but is expected to tee it up this week, and his record at Sawgrass when healthy is outstanding.
The Northern Irishman’s high‑flying long game and aggressive play on the reachable par‑5s give him repeated scoring opportunities on a course where many players are forced to play defensively.
With confidence still high after last season’s major breakthrough and a proven knack for closing at Sawgrass, McIlroy is the most obvious challenger to Scheffler once again.
Xander Schauffele
Xander Schauffele heads to Sawgrass with a run of solid 2026 finishes and the all‑round game that tends to thrive on demanding, strategic layouts.
The Olympic champion ranks among the leaders in strokes‑gained total on Pete Dye designs over recent seasons, underlining how comfortably he handles the visual intimidation and precision required at Sawgrass.
Schauffele has posted multiple top‑10s in elite fields already this year, combining accurate driving with one of the most reliable putting strokes on Tour.
If he keeps the ball out of trouble off the tee and continues to roll his mid‑range putts with confidence, he looks poised to contend deep into Sunday.
Collin Morikawa
Collin Morikawa remains one of the purest iron players in the game and brings ideal traits to a course where approach play is king.
The two‑time major winner has shown encouraging form through the early part of 2026, including a return to winning ways and a string of top‑20s as well as a strong performance on another Dye design earlier in the year.
With so many holes at Sawgrass decided by precise mid‑irons into small targets, Morikawa’s ability to repeatedly find the right tiers and sections of greens is a significant weapon.
Should he unlock a confident stroke on the often‑tricky Bermuda greens, his approach play could very quickly separate him from a congested leaderboard.
Tommy Fleetwood
Tommy Fleetwood continues to impress on both sides of the Atlantic and returns to Sawgrass with quietly strong course form and renewed confidence in contention.
The Englishman owns multiple top‑20 finishes at The Players and has long been regarded as one of the most consistent ball‑strikers in windy, demanding conditions.
Fleetwood’s piercing iron flight and sharp short game allow him to pick his way around Sawgrass, particularly when the wind kicks up over the weekend.
With an improving record on Bermuda greens and a recent run of high finishes in Florida, another big week – and a long‑awaited marquee PGA Tour victory – can’t be ruled out.
Russell Henley
Russell Henley may not generate the same headlines as the big names above him in the market, but his profile fits Sawgrass far better than his price suggests.
Henley has been one of the form players on Tour over the past few months and ranked among the leaders in strokes‑gained total over a key stretch heading into last year’s Players.
His game is built around accuracy off the tee, tidy iron play and precise distance control – exactly what is needed to avoid Sawgrass’ hazards and keep the ball on the right side of the flag.
With bookmakers still offering him at around the 36/1 mark, Henley shapes as one of the week’s most appealing each‑way and dark‑horse options.
James is an avid golfer and reviews golf equipment and new gear for GolfReviewsGuide.com as well as providing the latest golf news. You will find him on a golf course wherever possible.