XXL player field, mythical course, TV broadcasting, record prize money, we tell you everything about The Players Championship, THE event not to be missed this month of March.
This is the 40th time that the PLAYERS Championship, considered, rightly or wrongly, as the 5th Major of the season, is played on the superb course of the Stadium Course of the TPC Sawgrass (par 72 of 6,573 meters, out of the ground in 1980), fruit of the very fertile imagination of its designer, Pete Dye, who passed away on January 9, 2020 at the age of 94.
Inaugurated in 1974, installed since 1976 in Ponte Vedra Beach (Florida), which is also the headquarters of the PGA Tour, this tournament with a record prize pool of 20 million dollars (3.6 million for the winner) has been repositioned in March three years ago after being shifted to May between 2007 and 2018 in the US circuit schedule.
Record for Matsuyama and cancellation in stride
We remember that the 2020 edition had been definitively stopped at the end of the first round due to the pandemic linked to Covid-19. The decision fell at the start of the evening (around 10:00 p.m.) when the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama had equaled the course record with a huge 63 (-9).
The PGA Tour would then have to undergo a dormancy for several months before resuming on June 11, behind closed doors and under a health bubble.
Thomas for the story
A year later, the cream of world golf is once again at the rendezvous of one of the biggest golfing events of the year.
47 of the world’s top 50 (except for injured Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson on breakand Harris English) are at the start.
Now 8th player in the world, Justin Thomas will therefore have a lot to do to achieve what no one has managed to do before: retain his title. With 3 top 10 in 4 tournaments in 2022 he will be among the long list of favorites.
Rahm in danger of losing his crown
Indeed, several players are posting insolent stats at the start of the season.
Current world number 1 Jon Rahm could leave feathers there since 3 players can dislodge him from the top of the world hierarchy in the event of a victory. His dolphin for several months Collin Morikawa but also Viktor Hovland Where Scottie Scheffler author of a thunderous start to the year after signing a second victory this Sunday at Bay Hill!
Exceptional device on Golf+
The historic golf broadcaster in France is working hard. Present on site Thomas Levet, Jean Van de Velde, Julien Xanthopoulos, Thierry David and Adrien Toubiana will offer you no less 37 hours of live to enjoy without moderation!
Thursday 03/10 : Golf+ 14.30-00.00 (rediff Canal+Sport 00.00-02.00)
Friday 11/03 : Golf+ 14.30-00.00 (rediff Canal+Sport 00.00-02.00)
Saturday 12/03 : Golf+ 2.30-00.00 and Canal+Sport 20.45-00.00
Sunday 13/03 : Golf+ 2.30-11.00 p.m. and Canal+ Sport 7.00-11.00 p.m.
©PGA Tour
