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 (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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