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JT, Spieth, McIlroy sure to ‘draw some pretty big crowds’

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – While much of the focus this week has been on the high-profile grouping of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler, there is another “must see” threesome that will make the first two rounds of this year’s Players Championship compelling.

Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas and Rory McIlroy will be grouped together for Rounds 1 and 2, a threesome that includes the last three FedExCup champions.

“Going to draw some pretty big crowds,” figured Thomas, who won last year’s FedExCup. “That’s something I really enjoy about this tournament. It has a very major-like feel, and hopefully we can continue to get weather like we have today the rest of the week.”


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Although the threesome is sure to draw plenty of attention, with the group teeing off at 8:27 a.m. on Thursday – on the opposite side of the Tiger draw – don’t expect it to change the game plan for any of the players in the marquee three-ball.

“If it’s a tournament that yields a lot of low scores, sometimes you’re pretty caught up in the guys in your group,” said Spieth, the winner of the season-long race in 2015. “But on a course where the scores can change so quickly, good or bad, I found myself very much focused on the golf course and not so much with the people around me until you get into Saturday or Sunday afternoon.”

Thomas and McIlroy were grouped together for the first two rounds last year at The Players, and the Northern Irishman played with Spieth for the first two rounds at TPC Sawgrass in 2015.