The Players Championship 2023: Course and current form stats

Andy Swales
06 March 2023
3.0 min read

The 11th green at the immaculate TPC Sawgrass

The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass is often referred to as 'The Fifth Major'

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The PGA Tour goes up a significant notch this week with The Players Championship taking place at TPC Sawgrass. Words and stats supplied by Andy Swales ...

Focus on solid tee-to-green performers
Bradley big each-way contender
Scottie ready to add title to 2022 Green Jacket

It's celebration time this week for the PGA Tour which has reached a milestone with the 50th staging of their flagship event, The Players Championship.

However, the golfer who holds aloft the trophy on Sunday evening will only become the 49th winner of this prestigious event because the 2020 tournament was abandoned after just 18 holes - due to the Covid pandemic.

First staged in 1974, 'The Fifth Major' moved to its current, purpose-built home, eight years later and that's where the event has remained.

One unusual fact about this competition is that, as yet, no reigning champion has ever successfully defended their title.

The best finish by a defending champion is fifth, while the closest margin behind the winner is four shots.

There is no chance of last year's champion teeing-up on Thursday, because Australian Cameron Smith has since flown the PGA Tour nest to join the Saudi-backed LIV Tour, and is banned from competing at Sawgrass.

Course Characteristics

Laid out just one mile from the Atlantic Ocean, the Stadium Course is one of golf's most iconic venues.

When the former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman purchased the land on which the course is built, he instructed Pete Dye to design a layout that would not suit any one particular type of golfer.

Its putting surfaces are slightly smaller than the Tour average, along with narrower than normal fairways.

In 2016, the course underwent a revamp with the aim of increasing the number of times water came into play during a round.

This figure currently sits at 16 out of 18 holes, although the water hazards on the Stadium Course vary in size considerably.

Yet a bigger change was made in 2019, when the tournament switched dates for a second time.

Between 1982 and 2006, the championship was contested during March, before moving to May for 12 straight years.

But another re-vamp of the Tour calendar four years ago meant the tournament reverted, once again, to March - and one week earlier than before.

To accommodate this new date, and take into account changing weather conditions, organisers decided to overseed greens, tees, fairways and rough.

Switching back to March meant conditions favoured the bigger hitters, and Rory McIlroy truly obliged.

Suddenly there was less run on the fairways, and the ball didn't travel as far through the colder air. However, on the plus side, the softer putting surfaces became much more receptive to approach shots.

Many fairways subtly change direction - and some more than once - which means accuracy from tee-to-green remains paramount.

Latest betting for this week's Players Championship

Stroke Averages

Lowest 15 At TPC Sawgrass (2016-22)
Average .... (Rounds)
70.43: Justin Thomas (23)
70.50: Corey Conners (12)
70.50: Jason Day (22)
70.59: Adam Scott (22)
70.61: Tommy Fleetwood (18)
70.63: Webb Simpson (16)
70.75: Keegan Bradley (24)
70.80: Joel Dahmen (10)
70.90: Si Woo Kim (21)
71.00: Hideki Matsuyama (16)
71.13: Tom Hoge (15)
71.15: Shane Lowry (20)
71.22: Ryan Moore (18)
71.22: Justin Rose (18)
71.25: Alexander Noren (16)
Min. No. of Rounds = 10
Only those entered this week are included in table

Betfair Sawgrass Odds

Four To Watch

Keegan Bradley: Maybe not the first name you'd think of as a potential Sawgrass champion but, at No 20, holds his highest World Ranking position in almost nine years. Last October, he won his first PGA Tour title in over four years and he arrives at Sawgrass on the back of a top-10 finish at Bay Hill. Tied-fifth in the Players Championship 12 months' ago and an each-way finish is certainly on the cards this week.

Jason Day: Similar to Bradley, is another former major winner who is heading in the right direction up the World Ranking. Started the year at No 112, and is currently 43 thanks to four straight top-10s, including Bay Hill on Sunday. He's a former Sawgrass champion.

Matthew Fitzpatrick: The world No 12 finished five strokes off the pace at last week's Arnold Palmer Invitational. Has a best Sawgrass finish of tied-ninth two years ago.

Scottie Scheffler: Has pocketed 100 World Ranking points this year, while only Jon Rahm and Max Homa have scooped up more. A winner in Scottsdale last month, he tops the Greens in Regulation standings on this season's PGA Tour.

Latest betting for this year's Masters Tournament

MC* - Missed Additional 54-Hole Cut

Note: List Contains Leading Reserves

Note: Players Championship not completed in 2020 due to Covid pandemic.

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Last Nine Weeks / TPC Sawgrass (2012-22)

Position

1–5
6–15
16–25

Player	W9	W8	W7	W6	W5	W4	W3	W2	W1
Jon Rahm	39		1	3		7	1		1
Scottie Scheffler	4		12	1			11		7
Rory McIlroy	2		29	32		1
Patrick Cantlay	4		3	MC			26		16
Xander Schauffele	39		33	10		13	3		Wd
Will Zalatoris	53		4			MC	36		11
Max Homa	14		2	39		1			3
Justin Thomas	21		20	4		25			25
Collin Morikawa	MC		6	MC		3			2
Viktor Hovland	10		20	42	13				18
Tony Finau	24		20	14		9	16		7
Matt Fitzpatrick	14		MC	29	MC				7
Sam Burns	MC		MC	6			11		32
Joo Hyung Kim	34		45	50			6	MC	5
Cameron Young	10		20	64	2		26		13
Jordan Spieth	4		MC	6	63			MC	13
Sung Jae Im	21	42	56	6		4	18	MC	13
Kurt Kitayama	1		MC	23	29	MC		73
Shane Lowry	67	5	14	MC		MC	28
Billy Horschel	MC	42	MC	32				MC	30
Keegan Bradley	10		MC	20		2		MC	34
Hideki Matsuyama	MC		MC	29		9		48	21
Brian Harman	MC		MC	42			MC	32	16
Tommy Fleetwood	61		20	MC		59	38
Tyrrell Hatton	4		40	6		38	7
Seamus Power	72		14	20	15		20		25
Sepp Straka	MC	5	45			MC	MC		21
Tom Hoge	MC		14	MC	48		32	41	3
Sahith Theegala	14		6	39		4	54		33
Chris Kirk	39	1		MC			3	3
Ryan Fox	14			17	11	20	65
Russell Henley	53		MC	MC				32	30
Adam Scott	31		65					21	29
Justin Rose	MC		MC		1	18	26
Alexander Noren	61		MC	MC			5
Harris English	2	MC	12	MC		MC	MC	73
Kyoung-Hoon Lee	53		MC	42			MC	28	7
Corey Conners	21		61	50				12	18
Aaron Wise	MC	29		MC			MC		18
Si Woo Kim	39		MC	23		25	22	1
Kevin Kisner	MC		MC	MC	34
Keith Mitchell	24		5	42	4		22	MC
Jason Day	10		9	5		7	18
Min Woo Lee	MC	26				13	2
Lucas Herbert	MC		58	50	3	3
JT Poston		63	MC	MC			6	21	21
Mackenzie Hughes	61		50	MC				MC	21
Taylor Montgomery	39		MC	MC		31	5	12
Scott Stallings	MC		MC	23	15	MC			25
Adam Svensson	24	49	9	MC		MC		41	37
Davis Riley	8	29		MC	MC	MC	65
Denny McCarthy		MC	14	MC	4		50	32
Davis Thompson	53		MC	MC		69	2	54
Adam Hadwin	MC		66	10		44	18
Matt Kuchar		MC	8	32	MC			7
Maverick McNealy				Wd	Wd	31		7
Andrew Putnam	34		MC	MC	MC		36	4
JJ Spaun	MC		33	MC		MC		12	5
Rickie Fowler	31		20	10		11	54
Nick Taylor	MC		33	2	20		MC	7
Christiaan Bezuidenhout	MC	42	58	MC			11	MC
Trey Mullinax	8		62	61	Wd	31			28
Thomas Detry	24	Wd	33		37	37	26
Brendon Todd	39		MC	MC	2		MC	21
Joel Dahmen	MC		MC	50	41
Gary Woodland	MC		9	42		62		MC
Luke List	MC		29	MC		25	MC		11
Cameron Davis	MC	MC	MC			MC	MC	32
Ben Griffin	14	21			MC	31	32	12
Danny Willett	34	29	18		41		MC
Emiliano Grillo	39		67	MC		44	MC	MC
Alex Smalley	MC		MC		65	37	22	MC
Hayden Buckley	MC	MC	MC	29		MC		2
Justin Suh	24	5	40		Wd	20	54	41
Taylor Moore	39		MC	14	15	11	MC
Matthew NeSmith	39		MC	MC	55	MC	MC
Taylor Pendrith	MC	42		57	7	60	MC
Brandon Wu		14	MC	50	2		MC	MC
Troy Merritt	MC		MC	MC	MC		MC	65
Wyndham Clark	34		33	10		37	50
Robby Shelton	39	21			20	67	6	MC
Francesco Molinari	14		MC	MC		MC	5
Lucas Glover	MC		MC	39	MC		MC	MC
Aaron Rai	53	MC	29	42		52	MC	61
Will Gordon	70	42			Wd	MC	MC	28
Beau Hossler	MC		MC	14	11	MC	50
Seong Hyeon Kim	39	63	33		41	20	MC	12
Jhonattan Vegas		21	56	23		25	MC
Chez Reavie	MC		MC	MC			MC	41	35
Patrick Rodgers	MC		MC	14		MC	MC
Adam Schenk	31	42	50	23	37	20	MC	67
Stephan Jaeger		14	40	MC		53	36	28
Lee Hodges	MC	14	18	MC		MC	MC
Callum Tarren	MC	MC	MC	MC	65	25	MC
Kevin Streelman	MC		50	MC	63	60		MC
Sam Ryder	MC		20	20		4	MC	MC
Dylan Frittelli		29	MC	14	Wd	37	MC
Mark Hubbard		42	MC	MC	20		MC	MC
David Lipsky	65		62	MC	MC		MC	4
Garrick Higgo	MC	29		MC	20	53	11
Tyson Alexander	MC	78			48	MC	MC	32
Webb Simpson	24	74		57	MC			MC
Eric Cole	MC	2			15	MC	36	61
Stewart Cink	MC		MC	65			41	21
Joseph Bramlett	MC	55			7	13	54	54
Nick Hardy	MC	MC	MC		41	44		41
Byeong Hun An	Wd	21			37	62	41	12
David Lingmerth	70	10			58	MC	MC	MC
Lanto Griffin			Wd		58	37		66
Russell Knox		MC	MC	MC	41		54	67
Ryan Palmer	53	MC		42	MC	62		32
Matt Wallace		29	MC	MC		16	20
Martin Laird	39		MC	MC		MC	62
Justin Lower	MC		MC	50	MC	MC	41
Greyson Sigg	61	MC	MC	57	55		MC	48
Peter Malnati	MC	MC	20	MC	4	20	MC	MC
Chad Ramey		MC	MC	MC	70			54	38
Harry Hall	7	74			34	MC	41	28
Patton Kizzire	MC		MC	MC		MC	11	76
Tyler Duncan		3	33	MC		MC	41	MC
Adam Long		MC	50	42	48	73	MC	48
Scott Piercy	21		50	Wd	MC	31	41	MC
Harry Higgs	7	MC			48	44	18	MC
Nate Lashley	3		20	61	Wd		MC	7
Michael Thompson			45	MC		37	MC	32
Chesson Hadley		29	MC	23	MC		MC	MC
Ben Martin		5			13	MC	MC	32
Kramer Hickok		14	29	MC			MC	MC
Erik Barnes	MC	49			MC	13	MC	MC
NicoEchavarria	1	MC			MC	MC	MC	12
Kevin Tway		63	40	32	MC	18	54	54
Matthias Schwab		60	50	MC	MC		26	MC
Doug Ghim			62	MC	Wd	MC	MC
James Hahn			MC	32	MC	MC	MC
Max McGreevy	33	MC	MC	MC	MC		MC	MC
Harrison Endycott		26			MC	MC	22	MC
Ryan Armour	61	63			58	MC	65	MC
Robert Streb		MC	MC	MC		MC	MC	MC
Ryan Moore		MC		MC	7		MC	MC
Austin Smotherman			MC	MC	MC	MC		67
Andrew Novak	44	29			20	69	MC	12
Ryan Brehm	MC	14	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	41	35
Aaron Baddeley	34	MC			37	MC	50	7
Doc Redman		MC	MC	MC	41	MC		32
Dylan Wu	48	10			29	MC	32	MC
Nick Watney	57		MC	MC	MC	MC	MC
Kelly Kraft		55	MC	63	MC	MC		61
Erik van Rooyen	32	MC		50	MC		6
Cameron Percy	MC	12			Wd	MC
Marty Dou Ze Cheng	MC	MC			MC	62	62	MC
Chris Stroud	15	MC			MC
Michael Kim	5	MC			11	44	MC	MC
Paul Haley	21	MC			58	62	69	MC
Henrik Norlander	15	MC			MC	MC
Jerry Kelly								MC

Player	`22	`21	`19	`18	`17	`16	`15	`14	`13	`12
Jon Rahm	55	9	12	63	MC*
Scottie Scheffler	55	MC
Rory McIlroy	33	MC	1	MC	35	12	8	6	8	MC
Patrick Cantlay	MC	MC	MC	23	22
Xander Schauffele	MC	MC	MC	2
Will Zalatoris	26	21
Max Homa	13	MC
Justin Thomas	33	1	35	11	MC*	3	24
Collin Morikawa	MC	41
Viktor Hovland	9	MC
Tony Finau	MC	MC	22	57	MC	MC
Matt Fitzpatrick	MC	9	41	46	MC	MC
Sam Burns	26	MC
Joo Hyung Kim
Cameron Young	MC
Jordan Spieth	MC	48	MC	41	MC	MC	MC	4
Sung Jae Im	55	17	MC
Kurt Kitayama
Shane Lowry	13	8	MC	46	MC	16	MC
Billy Horschel	Wd	58	26	37	MC	28	13	26	MC
Keegan Bradley	5	29	16	7	60	35	MC	MC	MC	35
Hideki Matsuyama		MC	8	MC	22	7	17	23
Brian Harman	63	3	8	MC	53	54	8	MC	MC	51
Tommy Fleetwood	22	MC	5	7	41
Tyrrell Hatton	13	MC	MC	MC	41
Seamus Power	33		35
Sepp Straka	9	MC
Tom Hoge	33	22	30	MC*
Sahith Theegala	MC
Chris Kirk	MC	48	56	46	12	Wd	13	13	55	51
Ryan Fox
Russell Henley	13	MC	MC	MC	35	MC	24	17	MC
Adam Scott	MC	48	12	11	6	12	38	38	19	15
Justin Rose	MC		8	23	65	19	MC	4	MC	51
Alexander Noren	26	MC	MC	17	10
Harris English			MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC	33	64
Kyoung-Hoon Lee	55	41
Corey Conners	26	7	41
Aaron Wise	50	65	MC
Si Woo Kim	Wd	9	56	63	1	23
Kevin Kisner	4	MC	22	MC	56	MC	2
Keith Mitchell	13	MC	47	MC*
Jason Day	MC	35	8	5	60	1	MC		19	MC
Min Woo Lee
Lucas Herbert	68
JT Poston	MC	22	22
Mackenzie Hughes	MC	MC		57	16
Taylor Montgomery
Scott Stallings	42	MC	MC	MC			75	65	MC	MC
Adam Svensson
Davis Riley
Denny McCarthy	60	55	41
Davis Thompson
Adam Hadwin	9	29	MC	57	30	39	MC
Matt Kuchar	MC	MC	26	17	MC*	3	MC	17	48	1
Maverick McNealy	46	MC
Andrew Putnam	MC	MC	MC
JJ Spaun	MC		Wd	MC
Rickie Fowler		MC	47	MC	60	MC	1	MC*	MC	2
Nick Taylor		48	16	MC*		MC	73
Christiaan Bezuidenhout		41
Trey Mullinax			MC	MC
Thomas Detry
Brendon Todd	MC	35				MC	51
Joel Dahmen	33	MC	12
Gary Woodland	MC	MC	30	MC	MC*	28	MC	11		MC
Luke List	Wd	MC	56	MC	MC
Cameron Davis	MC	MC
Ben Griffin
Danny Willett			MC	MC	Wd	MC	MC
Emiliano Grillo	MC	MC	26	37	11	MC
Alex Smalley
Hayden Buckley	66
Justin Suh
Taylor Moore	MC
Matthew NeSmith	MC	MC
Taylor Pendrith	13
Brandon Wu
Troy Merritt	46	MC	MC		MC	MC	72
Wyndham Clark	MC	MC	Dq
Robby Shelton		MC
Francesco Molinari	42	MC	56	MC	6	7		6	MC	MC
Lucas Glover	MC	48	MC	MC*	6			MC	MC	MC
Aaron Rai
Will Gordon
Beau Hossler	MC	MC	MC	46
Seong Hyeon Kim
Jhonattan Vegas	MC	61	3	41	MC	57	42			7
Chez Reavie	MC	MC	MC	30	56	MC				MC
Patrick Rodgers	MC	65	MC*	MC	MC	MC
Adam Schenk	MC	MC
Stephan Jaeger	MC
Lee Hodges	70
Callum Tarren
Kevin Streelman	22	MC	MC	MC	MC*	74	MC	MC	2	51
Sam Ryder	60	MC	MC
Dylan Frittelli	50	22
Mark Hubbard		MC			MC
David Lipsky
Garrick Higgo	MC
Tyson Alexander
Webb Simpson	MC	MC	16	1	16		66	MC	15	MC
Eric Cole
Stewart Cink	MC	MC	MC	MC			MC	38	MC	64
Joseph Bramlett	MC
Nick Hardy
Byeong Hun An		MC	26	30		MC
David Lingmerth				MC	MC*	MC		MC	2
Lanto Griffin	MC	35
Russell Knox	6	67	35	MC	MC	19	17	34
Ryan Palmer	MC	17	MC	23	MC	23	MC	59	5	MC
Matt Wallace	MC		30
Martin Laird	MC	69	MC	57	MC	MC		MC	5	2
Justin Lower
Greyson Sigg
Peter Malnati	46	MC			MC	MC
Chad Ramey
Harry Hall
Patton Kizzire	22	35	MC*	MC	MC	76
Tyler Duncan		MC	MC*
Adam Long	46	22	MC*
Scott Piercy	MC	69	56	MC	MC	23	MC		MC	MC
Harry Higgs	MC	29
Nate Lashley		71
Michael Thompson	60	48	70	MC			MC	MC	55	51
Chesson Hadley	63		MC	11		MC	24	MC
Ben Martin				MC	30	MC	4
Kramer Hickok	42	58
Erik Barnes
NicoEchavarria
Kevin Tway	MC		MC	46
Matthias Schwab
Doug Ghim	6	29
James Hahn	MC	41		MC	MC	43	30	MC	62
Max McGreevy
Harrison Endycott
Ryan Armour		55	MC	MC
Robert Streb	MC	MC		MC	MC	MC	30
Ryan Moore		35	20	30	53	MC	MC	26	MC	46
Austin Smotherman
Andrew Novak
Ryan Brehm	MC
Aaron Baddeley			MC		41	MC	MC	MC	MC	MC
Doc Redman	26	MC
Dylan Wu
Nick Watney	66		MC	37			MC	MC	MC	56
Kelly Kraft			47	MC
Erik van Rooyen	13
Cameron Percy		29
Marty Dou Ze Cheng
Chris Stroud				46		Wd	42	MC*	33	MC
Michael Kim			MC	MC	60
Paul Haley
Henrik Norlander	MC	MC
Jerry Kelly		MC			MC	19	17	MC	37	MC