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Rory McIlroy to Defend $25M Players Championship Title
10 Mar
Summary
- The Players Championship began in 1974 with Jack Nicklaus as the inaugural winner.
- The tournament has moved venues multiple times before settling at TPC Sawgrass.
- The 2026 Players Championship purse is $25 million with a $4.5 million prize for the winner.
The Players Championship, first held in 1974 and won by Jack Nicklaus, has a storied history of venue changes before its permanent home at TPC Sawgrass. Initial tournaments took place in Georgia and Texas before moving to Florida in 1976. The iconic TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course, designed by Pete and Alice Dye, became the venue in 1982.
This year, The Players Championship 2026 commences on Thursday, March 12, concluding on Sunday, March 15. Rory McIlroy returns to defend his championship title. The event features a substantial $25 million purse, with the victor set to receive $4.5 million. A total of 123 players will compete on the course, which measures approximately 7,352 yards this week.
