The Players Championship is a prestigious annual golf tournament on the PGA Tour, known for having one of the highest purses in golf and attracting the world's top 50 players. Established in 1974, it's owned and operated by the PGA Tour, setting it apart from major championships not governed by the Tour.
1974: Inaugural Tournament Players Championship
The first ever Tournament Players Championship took place in 1974 at the Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia.
1975: Relocation to Colonial Country Club
In 1975, The Players Championship was held at the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, replacing the Colonial National Invitational for that year.
1976: Agreement to Play at Sawgrass Country Club
In 1976, the PGA Tour struck a multi-year agreement to host The Players Championship at the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach starting in 1977.
1976: Move to Inverrary Country Club
The 1976 Tournament Players Championship was held in south Florida at the Inverrary Country Club's East Course in Lauderhill, taking the place of the Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic.
1977: First Championship Held in March
From 1977 to 1982, The Players Championship took place in mid-to-late March, three weeks before The Masters.
1977: First Championship at Sawgrass Country Club
The Players Championship made its debut at the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977, marking the start of its association with the area.
1978: Jack Nicklaus Wins The Players Championship and The Open Championship
In 1978, Jack Nicklaus achieved the remarkable feat of winning both The Players Championship and The Open Championship in the same calendar year.
1981: Playoff Before the Stadium Course Era
Prior to the tournament's move to the Stadium Course, the only playoff occurred in 1981, concluding on the first hole with a par by the eventual winner.
1982: Move to the Stadium Course
The Players Championship shifted from the Sawgrass Country Club to the newly constructed Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in 1982, establishing its permanent home.
1982: Last Championship Held Three Weeks Before The Masters
The 1982 Players Championship marked the last time the tournament was held three weeks prior to The Masters, with the schedule shifting to two weeks before the Masters the following year.
1982: Move to Stadium Course and Playoff History
Since moving to the Stadium Course in 1982, The Players Championship has only required playoffs on four occasions: 1987, 2008, 2011, and 2015.
1982: Relocation to TPC Sawgrass
In 1982, The Players Championship moved to its now-iconic home, the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, renowned for its challenging design and the famed "Island Green" on the 17th hole.
1982: Multiple Winners at TPC Sawgrass
Since relocating to TPC Sawgrass in 1982, five players have managed to win The Players Championship twice, showcasing their consistent excellence on the challenging course.
1983: Hal Sutton Wins The Players Championship and the PGA Championship
Hal Sutton accomplished a rare double in 1983, capturing both The Players Championship and the PGA Championship within the same calendar year.
1983: Change in Schedule - Two Weeks Before The Masters
Starting in 1983, The Players Championship was moved to two weeks before The Masters, marking a slight adjustment in the PGA Tour calendar.
1987: Name Change
Following the 1987 event, The Players Championship underwent a name change, dropping the word "Tournament" from its title, becoming simply "The Players Championship."
1987: Playoff at 16th and 18th Holes
In 1987, The Players Championship playoff began at the par-5 16th hole and extended to the par-4 18th hole for a third extra hole, with the winner securing victory with three consecutive pars.
1991: Steve Elkington's First Victory at TPC Sawgrass
Steve Elkington claimed his first Players Championship title in 1991 at TPC Sawgrass, marking the beginning of his successful run in the tournament.
1997: Steve Elkington's Second Victory at TPC Sawgrass
In 1997, Steve Elkington secured his second Players Championship victory at TPC Sawgrass, demonstrating his ability to conquer the course's challenges repeatedly.
2001: Tiger Woods Wins The Players Championship and The Masters
Tiger Woods joined the elite group of players to win both The Players Championship and The Masters in the same year, achieving this feat in 2001.
2006: Major Course Renovation Begins
After the conclusion of the 2006 Players Championship, the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass embarked on a significant renovation project, aimed at enhancing its design and facilities.
2007: Final Round on Mother's Day and the "Pink Out" Tradition
With the move to May in 2007, the final round of The Players Championship often fell on Mother's Day. To commemorate this occasion, a tradition emerged where players donned pink shirts or accessories, with many spectators joining in by wearing pink attire.
2007: Move to May and Introduction of FedEx Cup
In 2007, The Players Championship was moved to May, becoming part of a restructured PGA Tour schedule that included the introduction of the FedEx Cup, culminating with The Tour Championship.
2007: Unveiling of the Renovated Course
The Players Championship in 2007 marked the unveiling of the extensively renovated Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, which received highly positive feedback from the participating players.
2008: Playoff Ends on the 17th Hole
The 2008 Players Championship saw the playoff concluding on the very first extra hole, the par-3 17th, with the victor claiming the title with a par.
2011: Playoff Ends on the 17th Hole
As in 2008, the 2011 Players Championship playoff was decided on the first extra hole, the par-3 17th, with the champion securing victory with a par.
2011: Final Round Not on Mother's Day
In 2011, the final round of The Players Championship did not coincide with Mother's Day, breaking the trend of the previous four years.
2013: Sudden-Death Playoff Format
Until 2013, The Players Championship employed a sudden-death playoff format, typically commencing at the par-3 17th hole to determine the winner in case of a tie.
2014: Martin Kaymer Wins The Players Championship and the U.S. Open
In 2014, Martin Kaymer secured victories in both The Players Championship and the U.S. Open, showcasing his exceptional skill and consistency across major tournaments.
2014: Introduction of Three-Hole Aggregate Playoff Format
In 2014, The Players Championship transitioned to a three-hole aggregate playoff format, similar to the PGA Championship, conducted over the final three holes (16, 17, and 18) in sequential order.
2015: First Three-Hole Aggregate Playoff
The 2015 Players Championship marked the first instance of a three-hole aggregate playoff format, featuring three participants. Two players birdied the 17th hole, while the other was eliminated after the initial three holes.
2015: First Playoff to End with a Birdie
The 2015 Players Championship playoff held the distinction of being the first in the tournament's history to be decided with a birdie, adding a dramatic flourish to the sudden-death finish.
2016: Final Round Not on Mother's Day
Similar to 2011, the 2016 Players Championship concluded on a Sunday that wasn't Mother's Day, marking another exception to the usual trend.
August 2017: Announcement of Return to March
In August 2017, the PGA Tour announced that The Players Championship would revert to its March schedule starting in 2019, prompted by a realignment of the golf season that included shifting the PGA Championship from August to May.
2019: Return to March Schedule
In 2019, The Players Championship returned to its March schedule as part of the realigned golf season, marking a return to the tournament's traditional timeframe.
2019: Increased Prize Purse
The Players Championship offered a record $12.5 million purse in 2019, marking a significant increase in prize money for the tournament.
2020: Cancellation due to COVID-19 Pandemic
In 2020, the Players Championship was canceled due to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a disruption in the tournament's annual schedule.
2022: Cameron Smith Wins The Players Championship and The Open Championship
Cameron Smith replicated the remarkable achievement of winning The Players Championship and The Open Championship in the same year, accomplishing this feat in 2022.
2023: Scottie Scheffler's First Victory
In 2023, Scottie Scheffler secured his first Players Championship title, setting the stage for his historic back-to-back victory the following year.
2023: Largest Purse in Golf History
In 2023, The Players Championship reached a historic milestone by offering a staggering $25 million purse, the largest ever in the history of professional golf.
2023: Record-Breaking Winner's Share
The 2023 Players Championship offered the largest-ever winner's share in professional golf history, with the champion receiving a staggering $4.5 million, representing 18% of the total purse.
2024: Scottie Scheffler Becomes First to Successfully Defend Title
Scottie Scheffler achieved a historic feat in 2024 by becoming the first player to successfully defend his Players Championship title, solidifying his status as a dominant force in the tournament.
2024: Scottie Scheffler Wins The Players Championship and The Masters
Scottie Scheffler became the sixth golfer to win both The Players Championship and The Masters in the same year, achieving this milestone in 2024.
2024: Scottie Scheffler's Second Consecutive Victory
Scottie Scheffler etched his name in the record books in 2024 by winning The Players Championship for the second consecutive year, becoming the only player to achieve this remarkable feat.