Players Championship week is officially upon us as the sun sets at the 2026 Arnold Palmer Invitational after a thrilling playoff where Akshay Bhatia eged out Daniel Berger.
Offering 750 FedEx Cup points to the winner, the 52nd Players will feature seven past champions in a 123-man field that includes 121 names as of Friday afternoon.
Two-time champ Rory McIlroy, who withdrew citing a lower back injury before Saturday’s third round at Bay Hill, is looking to defend his 2025 title which he won in a playoff over J.J. Spaun. Both players went on to win major championships last year, McIlroy at Augusta to complete a career Grand Slam and Spaun at Oakmont Country Club (host of the U.S. Open).
Brooks Koepka, who last competed at TPC Sawgrass in 2022 and is playing this year under the Tour’s Returning Member Program, has pushed the field to 123 players. Patton Kizzire and Seamus Power were announced Monday as the final additions.
Let’s take a look at the field as it currently stands:
The 52nd playing of THE PLAYERS Championship is the 44th contested at TPC Sawgrass. THE PLAYERS is the first of five events this season offering 750 FedExCup points to the winner.
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 6, 2026
Seven past champions are competing, highlighted by two-time PLAYERS Champions Rory McIlroy and… pic.twitter.com/wd5ds4Hg8j
In addition to Bhatia’s win in Orlando, Ricky Castillo took home the top prize at the Puerto Rico Open. Both were already in the field for TPC Sawgrass.
Will Zalatoris, who withdrew from last week’s Cognizant Classic due to an ankle injury, is one of the alternates.
One marquee grouping announced on Sunday will be McIlroy with Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama.
Star-studded marquee groups at TPC Sawgrass!@XSchauffele @McIlroyRory@HidekiOfficial_#THEPLAYERS | @PGATOUR pic.twitter.com/ov7Krc69XI
— THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERS) March 8, 2026
Scottie Scheffler will go off with Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas in another grouping that was unveiled early.