Nina Caldwell
The Players Championship (stylized as THE PLAYERS Championship) is an annual golf tournament held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It is a PGA Tour tournament that began in 1974 and is considered one of the most prestigious golf events, often dubbed as the fifth major. The tournament usually takes place in March and features a challenging course design by renowned architect Pete Dye, which tests the skills of the top golfers in the world.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The Players Championship |
| Location | TPC Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida |
| Year | 2026 |
| Month | March |
| Prize Money | $25 million |
| Winner's Share | $4.5 million |
| Winner's Ranking Points | 80 |
| Winner's Exemptions | 5-year exemption on the PGA Tour, 3-year invitations to the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship |
| Winner's FedEx Cup Points | 600 |
| Winner of 2026 | TBD |
| Notable Past Winners | Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, Jack Nicklaus, Sergio García, Adam Scott, David Duval, Hal Sutton, Fred Couples, Lee Janzen, Greg Norman |
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What You'll Learn
The Players Championship location
The Players Championship is an annual golf tournament held in March on the PGA Tour. It is the tour's flagship event, offering the highest purse of any tournament in golf. The Players Championship is held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The course was designed by renowned golf course architect Pete Dye and PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman. The result is a golf course that has tested the best on the PGA Tour and set the stage for some of the most dramatic finishes in golf.
TPC Sawgrass features two PGA Tour championship courses. The Players Stadium Course is known for its challenging holes, including the Par 3, 17th, and its famous "Island Green". This hole has been the site of many memorable moments in golf history, such as Tiger Woods' "Better Than Most" putt in 2001. The course is designed to test every aspect of a player's game, with long, medium, and short holes that play in different directions.
The inaugural event in 1974 was played at the Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia. Since then, The Players Championship has been held at TPC Sawgrass every year, with the exception of 2011 and 2016 when it was held in May. The tournament usually takes place over six days and consists of 144 players who qualify based on criteria that ensures the very best will compete. These include the 50 best players as ranked by World Golf, current FedEx point leaders, and winners of the competition for the past five years.
The winner of The Players Championship receives a substantial share of the $25 million purse, as well as 80 points towards their world ranking. They also earn a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, a three-year invitation to the Masters Tournament, and three-year exemptions for the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the PGA Championship. The tournament provides an unforgettable experience for spectators, with unobstructed views of the action, comfortable seating, and a vibrant atmosphere.
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TPC Sawgrass
The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass has been the site of memorable moments in golf. In 2025, Rory McIlroy emerged victorious, winning his 28th PGA Tour title and becoming one of the few players to win multiple Players Championships. The course has also received mixed reviews from players in the past, with some comparing it to "Star Wars golf, designed by Darth Vader."
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Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
The tournament was first held in 1974 and has since become one of the most prestigious events in golf, offering the highest purse of any tournament, with a total of $25 million in prize money as of 2023. The winner receives $4.5 million, along with 80 points towards their world ranking and exemptions for other major championships. The field typically includes the top 50 players in the world rankings, with past champions including Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy, Phil Mickelson, and Jack Nicklaus.
TPC Sawgrass is located in Ponte Vedra Beach, just a short drive from Jacksonville International Airport. The area offers a range of entertainment options, including a lively music scene and sports events. The clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass is a Mediterranean-style building that provides stunning views and upscale hospitality options, such as the Intracoastal Club, which offers bar-style seating and a curated selection of beverages.
The tournament is known for its exciting finishes and dramatic moments, providing an unforgettable experience for spectators. The grandstands and sloping mounds offer unobstructed views of the action, and the course is easy to walk, making it a comfortable and welcoming experience for all. Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, is, therefore, the perfect destination for golf enthusiasts and those seeking a world-class golf experience.
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Tournament history
The Players Championship, commonly known as The Players, is an annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour. It is the tour's flagship event, though it is not one of the major championships. Despite this, it has often been promoted as such and is widely regarded as the next most prestigious tournament in golf after the majors. This is due to the high-class field it attracts, its challenging course conditions, and the large purse on offer.
The tournament was conceived by PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman and the inaugural event took place in 1974 at the Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia. Jack Nicklaus won the first edition, beating J. C. Snead by two shots. Nicklaus went on to win two more Players Championship titles, in 1976 and 1978. In 1982, the tournament moved to its current home at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
Over the years, The Players Championship has featured some notable moments and achievements. In 1992, Mark Calcavecchia and John Daly were reprimanded by Deputy PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem for completing their 18 holes in just two hours and three minutes. In 1994, Greg Norman shot the tournament's 72-hole record score of 264, winning by four shots over Fuzzy Zoeller. Following Norman's record-breaking performance, the course was made tougher with the addition of new, rock-hard greens. In 1999, David Duval won the tournament by two shots over Scott Gump, which propelled him to the number one spot in the world rankings.
In more recent years, Hal Sutton won his second Players Championship title in 2000, 17 years after his first victory, the longest period between wins in the tournament's history. In 2010, Tim Clark claimed his first Tour win after 206 career PGA Tour starts. K.J. Choi became the first Asian-born golfer to win The Players Championship in 2011. Rory McIlroy has also won multiple Players Championships, becoming the eighth man to do so and cementing his place as one of the greatest players of his generation.
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Past winners
The Players Championship (stylized by the PGA Tour as THE PLAYERS Championship) is an annual golf tournament that began in 1974. The tournament is held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The course was designed by world-renowned architect Pete Dye and features a challenging Par 3, 17th hole, known as "Island Green".
Over the years, The Players Championship has crowned many notable champions. Here is a list of some of the past winners of the tournament:
- 2025: Rory McIlroy won his second Players Championship, defeating J.J. Spaun in a Monday three-hole aggregate playoff.
- 2024: Scottie Scheffler became the first back-to-back winner of the tournament.
- 2023: The winner received $4.5 million, an 18% share of the $25 million purse, the largest in golf.
- 2013: K.J. Choi became the first Asian-born golfer to win The Players Championship, defeating David Toms in a sudden death playoff.
- 2011: This year saw a change in the playoff format to a three-hole aggregate, similar to the PGA Championship.
- 2010: Tim Clark secured his first Tour win after 206 career PGA Tour starts.
- 2008: Sergio Garcia won The Players Championship.
- 2005: Fred Funk became the tournament's oldest champion at the time, edging out Tom Lehman, Luke Donald, and Scott Verplank by one shot.
- 2004: Adam Scott won by one shot over Pádraig Harrington, despite hitting the water on the 72nd hole.
- 2003: Davis Love III won The Players Championship for a second time, shooting a final round 64 to win by six shots.
- 2000: Hal Sutton won at the TPC at Sawgrass for a second time.
- 1999: David Duval won by two shots over Scott Gump, propelling him to the number one ranking in the world.
- 1996: Fred Couples won for the second time, twelve years after his first victory, beating Colin Montgomerie and Tommy Tolles by four shots.
- 1995: Lee Janzen won the tournament, with a score of 283, a record for a one-year swing on the same layout.
- 1994: Greg Norman shot a 72-hole record score of 264, winning by four shots over Fuzzy Zoeller.
- 1993: Nick Price of Zimbabwe won for the third time in three years, solidifying his place in golf history.
- 1992: Mark Calcavecchia and John Daly were reprimanded for their fast pace of play but still finished as champions.
- 1983: Hal Sutton topped the money list with his win, taking home $426,668 in prize money.
- 1982: Jerry Pate won The Players Championship, marking the beginning of a new era for the tournament.
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Frequently asked questions
The Players Championship is held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
The Players Championship is held annually in March.
The most recent winner of the 2023 Players Championship is Rory McIlroy, who won his 28th PGA Tour title.
The prize money for the 2023 tournament was $25 million, with the winner's share at $4.5 million.
The Players Championship began in 1974 and was originally known as the Tournament Players Championship.
