The Players Championship is always a test, but with wild weather conditions at TPC Sawgrass, the challenge is greater than ever this week in Ponte Vedra Beach.
Due to the volatile nature of the schedule, the changing weather conditions and more, we’re adding a live updates page to stay on top of each facet of the tournament.
A loaded field of the world’s best players – 46 of the top 50 after Bryson DeChambeau withdrew on Sunday and Kevin Na followed suit on Monday – are at the event. Justin Thomas is back to defend his 2021 title.
Check back throughout the day for more as our team of reporters and photographers capture the scene.
The Players: Leaderboard | PGA Tour Live on ESPN+
UPDATE (4:02 p.m.): Brooks Koepka twirled. He laughed. It was almost as if he didn’t know what else to do. One of the best players in the world, Koepka continued his streak of futility on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass on Saturday in a big way — posting a double as he finished up his opening round and then followed it with a triple just a few hours later as he came back through.
Brooks Koepka is +20 in 20 attempts at No. 17.
He’s +5 there today after hitting it into the water for the second time. pic.twitter.com/yKkOGdPHwW
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 12, 2022
.@BKoepka has hit two balls into the water at 17 today — about three hours apart. Since 2015, he is 17 over on the hole and has rinsed 9 golf balls
— Steve DiMeglio (@Steve_DiMeglio) March 12, 2022
Cruel and unusual punishment to have to play 17 @tpcsawgrass twice within 3 hours. Brooksy 0 for 2. Same for Scottie Scheffler.
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) March 12, 2022
UPDATE (3:11 p.m.): It’s been fascinating theater to watch No. 17 throughout the day and the players’ struggles have done little to deter fans from watching. In fact, it’s become even more densely packed. The numbers, though, as you can see below, have really dipped in Saturday’s wind.
Wall-to-wall spectators at 17. Here is the group of Jason Day, Ryan Brehm and co-leader Kevin Kisner, who nearly birdied the Island Green from 40-plus feet a moment ago at @THEPLAYERSChamp. pic.twitter.com/b8pv8NjvgN
— Clayton Freeman (@CFreemanJAX) March 12, 2022
What can wind do? 123 players played the par-3 17th on THR and FRI (three players were on green for restart). They combined to be +4. On Saturday, after play resumed at 12 noon, 21 players teed off on the 17th during completion of their first round. They were +24.
— Steve DiMeglio (@Steve_DiMeglio) March 12, 2022
UPDATE (2:31 p.m.): Oh, sweet relief.
Tee on 17 for second round moved up 10 yards to 136 yards.
— Steve DiMeglio (@Steve_DiMeglio) March 12, 2022
UPDATE (1:54 p.m.): Tommy Fleetwood still sits atop the leaderboard with Tom Hoge at 6 under, and the British star isn’t scheduled to go off until after 5 p.m. today, but he will be at an advantage if conditions remain gusty over the next few days. Fleetwood is one of the best players into the wind on Tour, a skill that will certainly come in handy.
Last weekend the API turned into a US Open. This weekend the Players has turned into a British Open.
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) March 12, 2022
Very windy… https://t.co/YkoDZzUJeC
— Clayton Freeman (@CFreemanJAX) March 12, 2022
UPDATE (1:26 p.m.): The fun on No. 17 continues as Michael Thompson’s shot never had a chance.
Michael Thompson tee shot on 17 was so off line right that it landed 40 yards short and right of green. @THEPLAYERSChamp
— Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) March 12, 2022
So does this mean No. 17 is currently playing its fiercest? Believe it or not, a round back in 1984 played even more difficult. Fred Couples went on to win that year, but not before a hellacious first round on the island green.
The 1st rd in 1984 @theplayerschamp had 45-mph gusts out of the northwest. Statistically, it was the worst single day in the history of 17. The stroke average of 3.853 is the highest at 17 in any single round. 37 balls into the drink. Ronnie Black’s 8 was the day’s highest score.
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) March 12, 2022
All the chaos has caused discussion about the quality of golf being played, and former Tour player Richard Zokol weighed in on whether course architect Pete Dye was enjoying this from above.
We are witnessing a point of ridiculous that is always possible with this Pete Dye design.
You know Pete is up in heaven looking down with a smile on his face.
— Richard Zokol (@RichardZokol) March 12, 2022
UPDATE (12:59 p.m.): Should play have been halted as winds swirled? It’s a difficult debate. It’s clear that those who avoided these winds will be at a great advantage, but with the tournament already staring at a Monday and possible Tuesday finish, organizers are taking advantage of any window to let play continue.
Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee and DP World Tour player Eddie Pepperell had differing opinions on how this should have been handled.
No Brandel, they shouldn’t.
From where I’m sat… it’s pure entertainment.
— Eddie Pepperell (@PepperellEddie) March 12, 2022
Also, a handful of players were already told they won’t be getting out today.
Nine of the 12 groups on each side (18/24 total) in the afternoon wave are scheduled to begin the second round today.
TOUR officials have informed the last three groups on each side that they will not begin the second round until Sunday. https://t.co/9nrKTsZVYk
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 12, 2022
UPDATE (12:49 p.m.): As you might expect in gale-force winds, players are having real difficulty figuring what club to hit. For example, Rory McIlroy was hitting his drive about 80 yards less than normal — he typically averages about 325 yards off the tee.
.@McIlroyRory with driver on 18 that’s playing into the wind: 247 yards.
— Steve DiMeglio (@Steve_DiMeglio) March 12, 2022
Also, Billy Horschel, who lives nearby and is intimately familiar with the course, took a triple-bogey on No. 17. He was understandably upset.
Horschel goes over green at 17 and fumes to caddie Mark Fulchet. “I knew it, man.” Then mumbles some choice words to himself. @THEPLAYERSChamp
— Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) March 12, 2022
UPDATE (12:32 p.m.): The weather is making it difficult to gauge where players need to hit, but it’s also simply difficult to maintain any sense of comfort. For example, many players are putting hats and gloves while walking, then taking them off while hitting. It’s not the temperatures now (it’s 61 degrees at this time), but the winds that are causing the most difficulty.
Cold weather headgear today for Thomas Pieters doesn’t keep him from finding the fairway bunker to the left on 10. Wind is wreaking havoc at the moment. pic.twitter.com/RgC971WsSY
— Clayton Freeman (@CFreemanJAX) March 12, 2022
UPDATE (12:15 p.m.): We just witnessed the unthinkable: In the face of howling winds, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Brooks Koepka all knocked their balls in the water on No. 17. Schauffele’s was particularly off-line.
Oh, my, all three wet at 17 — Scottie, X and Brooksy. @TPCSawgrass is going to be brutal today.
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) March 12, 2022
First group off 17 ll go in water.Scheffler goes over green, Schauffele way short and Koepka also just short. Gonna be tough day at island hole@THEPLAYERSChamp
— Eugene Frenette (@GeneFrenette) March 12, 2022
Scheffler 💦
Schauffele 💦
Koepka 💦The wind is causing carnage at the 17th. pic.twitter.com/uMI7whZ8Ot
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 12, 2022
Prior to the restart of @THEPLAYERSChamp, 122 guys had played No. 17 in the first round, with four water balls. We’ve had half that in the first threesome after the restart: Kopeka and Scheffler.
— Gsmitter (@gsmitter) March 12, 2022
Scheffler and Xander salvage bogey at TPC’s 17th after rinsing tee shots, double for Brooksy. Next up: Rory, Collin and JT. Are you not entertained? pic.twitter.com/w0FCZNAP1G
— Adam Schupak (@AdamSchupak) March 12, 2022
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