Compelling storylines are in great supply ahead of The Players Championship, with world No.1 Scottie Scheffler topping the bill as he bids for an unprecedented third successive victory.
Third-ranked Xander Schauffele is looking to bounce back from a recent rib injury, while world No.4 Collin Morikawa is seeking a measure of redemption after squandering a golden opportunity to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week.
Meanwhile, European stars Rory McIlroy, the world No.2, and fifth-ranked Ludvig Aberg each are both chasing a second victory this season.
The elite field is one of the strongest in the game with the top 10 golfers in the world rankings — and 48 of the top 50 — assembled at the TPC Sawgrass for the tournament’s 51st edition, which starts on Thursday.
Only golfing great Jack Nicklaus has triumphed three times in the PGA Tour’s flagship event, but Scheffler would become the first player to claim back-to-back-to-back titles should he win on Sunday.
It would also make him the first player since Steve Stricker, at the 2011 John Deere Classic, to win the same PGA Tour event in three consecutive years.
Scheffler is by no means resting on his laurels after a superb 2024 campaign highlighted by nine wins worldwide that included a second Green Jacket at the Masters and Olympic gold in Paris.
“Last year is last year,” Scheffler said, ahead of the opening round when he will play alongside McIlroy and Schauffele in a mouth-watering ‘supergroup’.
“I’m not trying to replicate it. I’m not trying to look back on it. At the end of the day, it’s in the past. It was a great year.
“A lot of great things happened, and I’m very thankful for that. But when it comes to this year, I’ve never been a guy that sets long-term goals.
“I have what I would think of as dreams and aspirations, but my goal is to be as prepared as possible when I step up on the first tee and then I want to have a good attitude when I go out and play over each shot. And that’s how I view success.”
Scheffler came from behind with a sizzling eight-under 64 to win The Players Championship by one stroke last year.
He didn’t hesitate when asked if there was any secret to playing the Stadium Course, which has been lengthened by more than 75 yards for the 2025 edition.
“Playing good,” he smiled. “I mean, you can’t fake it around this place. There’s a lot of genius in the way the golf course is designed.
“It calls for different shots on each hole. You have to work the ball both ways. It doesn’t suit one type of player. It’s just the guys that are playing the best are going to be on the leaderboard on Sunday.”