The PGA Tour’s best have made their way to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, for the 2026 Players Championship, the most significant event ahead of major championship competition. The Tour’s flagship event always seems to deliver drama thanks to the unique test of TPC Sawgrass, and The Players has produced a tremendous list of recent winners, including the top two players in the world currently.
Rory McIlroy enters as the defending champion, having added a second Players title to his résumé; however, his status for the week was up in the air due to lingering back spasms. Though he was listed as a game-time decision, McIlroy was able to complete the first round sitting seven shots back of the leaders. Not so lucky was Collin Morikawa, who injured his back while taking a practice swing on the second hole he played. Morikawa immediately left the course and withdrew from The Players.
Like McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler also has a pair of Players Championships, winning back-to-back at TPC Sawgrass in 2023-24. Those two are trying to join Jack Nicklaus as the only three-time winners at The Players, but they are facing stiff competition from a group of contenders that seems to be growing by the week. Scheffler is two shots better than McIlroy but still five back of the leaderboard’s top spot, which was shared by five golfers as play ended Thursday.
Russell Henley, Justin Thomas, Akshay Bhatia, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Min Woo Lee and Ludvig Åberg are just some of the top names to watch as second-round play gets underway.With so many players seemingly rounding into top form — amid questions lingering about Scheffler and McIlroy — the 2026 Players is setting up to be a fascinating tournament.
Here’s how you can watch all of the action this week at TPC Sawgrass as the PGA Tour’s best battle it out for the biggest purse in golf.
2026 Players Championship TV schedule
All times Eastern
Round 2 – Friday, March 13
Round 2 start time: 7:30 a.m. [Tee times]
TV coverage: 1-7 p.m. on Golf Channel
Live streams: 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on PGA Tour Live
Featured Holes (Nos. 3, 12, 16, 17)Featured Groups
Radio: 12-7 p.m. — PGA Tour Radio
Round 3 – Saturday, March 14
Round 3 start time: 8 a.m.
Live TV coverage: 2-7 p.m. on NBC
TV simulcast live stream: 2-7 p.m. on Peacock
Live streams: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on PGA Tour Live
Featured Holes (Nos. 3, 12, 16, 17)Featured Groups
Radio: 1-7 p.m. — PGA Tour Radio
Round 4 – Sunday, March 15
Round 4 start time: 7:30 a.m.
TV coverage: 1-6 p.m. on NBC
TV simulcast live stream: 1-6 p.m. on Peacock
Live streams: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on PGA Tour Live
Featured Holes (Nos. 3, 12, 16, 17)Featured Groups
Radio: 1-7 p.m. — PGA Tour Radio