They came and they are (almost) all there.
28 of the top 30 of the Fedex Cup as well as the 48 of the top 50 in the world will tread this week the fairways of the legendary TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course (par 72 of 6,573 meters), designed by the legendary Pete Dye and known worldwide for its 17 hole (par 3) and its island green.
Only missing: former world number one Brooks Koepka, forfeited due to a new injury to his right knee, rising star Matthew Wolff (hand injury) and obviously golf star Tiger Woods, double winner (2001 and 2013) still hospitalized after his serious car accident .... With his record endowment of $ 15 million ($ 2.7 million for the winner);
this unmissable event of the PGA Tour, repositioned in March two years ago after being shifted to May between 2007 and 2018 in the US circuit calendar, has never seen an outgoing champion retain his title the following year since its creation in 1974. Can Rory McIlroy end the curse?
The 2020 edition was definitively stopped at the end of the first round due to the pandemic which was beginning to rage across the Atlantic, while the Japanese Hideki Matsuyama had equaled the course record with a fabulous 63 (-9).
Reigning champion @McIlroyRorylooks ahead to @THEPLAYERSChampfrom TPC Sawgrass.
https://t.co/rHLlD1Yt7P
- PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 9, 2021
The PGA Tour was then put on a forced break before the following June 11, behind closed doors and under a sanitary bubble.
The defending champion McIlroy was nine strokes behind the leader, Matsuyama, and shared 83rd place in the first round, before the tournament was interrupted… .It must be said that the Northern Irishman has lost his splendor in recent months.
Nothing catastrophic, of course.
In his last 12 outings, he has never finished further than 21st place.
But 8th of the last US Open, 5th of the last Masters, the Northern Irishman often has trouble concluding.
“I need something, a spark and today I haven't found it.
Some days it's good, others it's not. "
Without a victory on the PGA Tour since November 2019, he is now 11th in the world, his worst ranking for 3 years.
It's time for questions.
"I'm thinking more of a change in philosophy or maybe things I'm working on in training."
A year ago this week, the world was put on pause due to COVID-19.
How the TOUR and @THEPLAYERSChampnavigated uncharted territory and the Return to Golf over the last 12 months.
- PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 9, 2021
The former world number one will therefore not leave with the favors of the forecasts.
The future winner could well be among the gala party composed of Collin Morikawa winner of the last US PGA and 15 days ago of the WC-Workday Championship, of Dustin Johnson, world number one for 122 weeks in aggregate and winner of the last Masters and Bryson DeChambeau, winner of the US Open and Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend.With this victory, DeChambeau rose from 11th to 6th in the world and was awarded at 27, his eighth title on the PGA Tour.
Will he attack the target golf course that is TPC Sawagrass.
Not so sure: “Even though there are a few holes where you can take the advantage, from a length point of view you mostly have to put it into play with a great set of iron.
So that's what I'm really focusing on.
If I can improve my iron game and wedges this week, I have a good chance of winning with my putting. ”
Also not sure that he is trying to drive the green of the 18th with his driver… But with this extraordinary player, everything seems possible.
As a reminder, on the tee of hole 6, at Bay Hill, a par 5 of 507 meters, at 377 yards (345 meters), he sent a drive in a bunker placed 80 meters from the green of this par 5!
Victor Perez's challenge
The only French competitor this week, Victor Perez made his first cut (excluding Majors) on the PGA Tour at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, taking 68th place in the final.
In the first two laps, he will be teamed up with Americans Sam Burns and Wyndham Clark.
In 2020, he discovered this event by signing a very promising 69 (-3).
Enough to hope to play four rounds at The Players, a very important event in the race for qualification for the Ryder Cup.
It would mark the history of French golf.
Since, neither Jean Van de Velde in 2000 and 2001, nor Thomas Levet in 2003, nor Alexander Levy in 2018 have passed the cut in Florida.
The Tarbais, like the 144 competitors, will have the chance to evolve with the public.
The gauge will be increased to 20% of the site's capacity, which should allow 8 to 10,000 fans to attend the show each day.
A first step towards the return of "normal life", one year after a sad birthday.
Players Championship (PGA Tour) - $ 15,500,000 endowment (10,934,347 euros endowment)
Players to watch
Rory McIlroy (IdN), Daniel Berger (USA), Patrick Cantlay (USA), Paul Casey (Ang), Jason Day (Aus), Bryson DeChambeau (USA), Tony Finau (USA), Matthew Fitzpatrick (Ang), Tommy Fleetwood (Ang), Rickie Fowler (USA), Sergio Garcia (Esp), Tyrrell Hatton (Ang), Sungjae Im (CdS), Dustin Johnson (USA), Sung Kang (CdS), Si Woo Kim (CdS), Marc Leishman ( Aus), Hideki Matsuyama (Jap), Collin Morikawa (USA), Louis Oosthuizen (AfS), Jon Rahm (Esp), Patrick Reed (USA), Justin Rose (Ang), Xander Sc Chaudele (USA), Adam Scott (Aus) , Webb Simpson (USA), Brandt Snedeker (USA), Justin Thomas (USA), Erik Van Rooyen (AfS), Bubba Watson (USA), Gary Woodland (USA).
The committed French
Victor Perez.
To follow the Players Championship (PGA Tour) on television:
Thursday March 11, 1st round: 2:30 p.m.-12 a.m. (Golf +) Friday March 12, 2nd round: 2:30 p.m. - 12 a.m. (Golf +) Saturday March 13, round 3: 2:30 p.m.- 12 a.m. (Golf +) and Canal + Sport 7 p.m. - 12 a.m. Sunday March 14, 4th round: 2.30 p.m.-11 p.m. (Golf +);
7 pm-11pm (Canal + Sport)
