Two-time champ Rory McIlroy is looking to defend his 2025 title which he won in a playoff over J.J. Spaun. Both players went on to win major championships last year, McIlroy at Augusta<\/a> to complete a career Grand Slam and Spaun at Oakmont Country Club (host of the U.S. Open). <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n TV times and more for The Players Championship, March 12-15 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.<\/p>\n Brooks Koepka, who last competed at TPC Sawgrass in 2022 and is playing this year under the Tour\u2019s Returning Member Program<\/a>, has pushed the field to 123 players. The last two names will be announced on Monday at noon ET.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s take a look at the field as it currently stands:<\/p>\n The 52nd playing of THE PLAYERS Championship is the 44th contested at TPC Sawgrass. THE PLAYERS is the first of five events this season offering 750 FedExCup points to the winner.<\/p>\n Seven past champions are competing, highlighted by two-time PLAYERS Champions Rory McIlroy and\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/wd5ds4Hg8j<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n The winners of the Arnold Palmer Invitational and Puerto Rico Open will qualify for The Players, if not otherwise exempt.<\/p>\n Daniel Berger holds a five-stroke lead<\/a> over Akshay Bhatia at Bay Hill, while Chandler Blanchet<\/a> leads Gordon Sargent by four strokes at Grand Reserve GC.<\/p>\n Will Zalatoris, who withdrew from last week\u2019s Cognizant Classic due to an ankle injury<\/a>, is one of the alternates. <\/p>\n ![\"Thumbnail\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772846950_309_.jpeg\")
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