It’s Friday at the 2026 Players Championship, as many of golf’s biggest stars take on TPC Sawgrass in hopes of hoisting a trophy and taking home a $4.5 million winner’s check.
But before any of them get that far, they must make the cut and secure a weekend tee time. Five players were tied at the top at 5 under after the first day and 11 others are within two shots after Thursday’s first round, which had a brief weather delay that pushed back afternoon tee times by a half hour. All but four golfers — including Austin Smotherman, who was part of that five-way tie for the lead — finished their first round.
Follow along below for live leaderboard updates, highlights, round recaps and more from the second round of the 2026 Players Championship.
Players Championship leaderboard
Check tee times and keep tabs on every score turned in at TPC Sawgrass with the 2026 Players Championship live leaderboard. Here’s what it looked like at the top after play concluded on Thursday:
PositionPlayerScoreThruT1Maverick McNealy-5FT1Lee Hodges-5FT1Sepp Straka-5FT1Sahith Theegala-5FT1Austin Smotherman-517*T6Justin Thomas-4FT6Russell Henley-4FT6Taylor Moore-4FT6Cameron Young-4F
How to watch the 2026 Players Championship
Second round, Friday, March 13
Get PGA Tour Live on ESPN+
Watch Golf Channel for free on Fubo
What happened in Thursday’s first round at the Players?
There was that weather delay we mentioned. Maverick McNealy that went out and carded a 5-under 67, which gave him the lead for most of the day until four others caught him late in the afternoon. Justin Thomas bounced back from a missed cut last week to the tune of a 4-under 68. Max Homa had a wild looking scorecard, as his day included a hole-out eagle, two double bogeys and a string of four straight birdies. And Rory McIlroy, after not arriving on property until Wednesday, started his title defense.
How much money is on the line at the 2026 Players?
The PGA Tour’s top event has the Tour’s top money: $25 million in total prize money and $4.5 million to the winner. How did it get to be the biggest payday on Tour? The Players is part of the $550 million up for grabs on the PGA Tour in 2026.
Should the Players be a major? The debate continues
‘Is the Players a major’ has been argued since before the first tee was stuck in the ground at a championship that dates to 1974. Not much has changed in that discussion, writes Golfweek’s Adam Schupak.
What’s the highest score ever recorded at the 17th hole?
The par-3 island green hole is one of the most talked about holes in golf and someone has to hold the infamous record for the highest score there. Here’s the answer.