Mar 8, 2025; Orlando, Florida, USA; Scottie Scheffler plays a shot from a bunker on the second hole during the third round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational golf tournament at Bay Hill. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-Imagn Images Field Level Media’s Golf Glance provides weekly news and storylines from each of the major North American golf tours.
PGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: Arnold Palmer Invitational (Russell Henley)
THIS WEEK: The Players Championship, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., March 13-16
Course: TPC Sawgrass, The Players Stadium Course (Par 72, 7,352 Yards)
Purse: $25M (Winner: $4.5M)
Defending Champion: Scottie Scheffler
FedExCup leader: Sepp Straka
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV: Thursday-Friday: 1-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel); Saturday: 2-7 p.m. (NBC/Peacock); Sunday: 1-7 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Streaming (ESPN+): Thursday-Friday: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m. ET; Saturday: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
X: @ThePlayers
NOTES: Scheffler was the first player to successfully defend his title at The Players last year. His 64 on Sunday matched the lowest closing-round score in tournament history. Jack Nicklaus (1974, ’76, ’78) is the only three-time winner of the event. Steve Stricker is the last player to win the same event three consecutive years (John Deere Classic/2009-11). … Each of the past five winners has entered the week in the top 10 of the Official World Golf Ranking. … The field includes 48 of the top 50 players in the OWGR, and 25 players who will be making their debut at The Players, including eight rookies. … Adam Scott will make his 23rd appearance in the event, the most of any player in the field. … The Players has not been decided by a playoff since Rickie Fowler beat Kevin Kisner and Sergio Garcia in 2015. … Laurie Canter is the first former LIV Golf player to compete at The Players, having qualified more than a year after his most recent LIV event. … Former LIV Golf CEO and current board member Greg Norman holds the tournament scoring record of 264 set in 1994. Tom Hoge holds the 18-hole record of 62, set in the third round two years ago.
BEST BETS: Scottie Scheffler (+400 at DraftKings) was pleased with his ball-striking last week but said he struggled on the rock-hard Bay Hill greens. This is his fifth start since returning from a hand injury. … Rory McIlroy (+1000) settled for a T15 last week but does already have a win this year at Pebble Beach. He won The Players in 2019 but does not have a top-10 in the event since. … Collin Morikawa (+1400) keeps knocking on the door of his first win since 2023, with his solo second last week his tour-high fourth in the past two years. … (Ludvig Aberg (+1600) is coming off a disappointing T22 following his win at the Genesis, but does live in Ponte Vedra Beach and is extremely familiar with the course. … Justin Thomas (+2200), like Morikawa, is trying to snap a lengthy win drought that dates to 2022. His T36 last week followed a pair of top-10s. Thomas won The Players in 2021 … Tommy Fleetwood (+2800) hasn’t finished worse than T22 in his past 13 worldwide starts, but is still seeking his first win in the United States. … Corey Conners (+5500) leapt 20 spots to No. 30 in the world with his quiet third-place finish last week. He tied for 13th here last year. … Michael Kim (+6500) might be the hottest player few people are talking about with five consecutive finishes of T13 or better, including fourth at Bay Hill. His lone PGA Tour title to date came seven years ago at the John Deere.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Valspar Championship, Palm Harbor, Fla., March 20-23
LPGA TOUR
LAST TOURNAMENT: Blue Bay LPGA (Rio Takeda)
THIS WEEK: OFF
Race to the CME Globe leader: A Lim Kim
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Ford Championship, Chandler, Ariz., March 27-30
LIV GOLF LEAGUE
LAST TOURNAMENT: Hong Kong (Individual: Sergio Garcia; Team: Fireballs GC)
THIS WEEK: Singapore, March 14-16
Course: Sentosa Golf Club at Fanling, Serapong (Par 71, 7,406 Yards)
Individual Purse: $20M (Winner: $4M)
Team Purse: $5M (Winners: $3M)
Defending Champions: Individual: Brooks Koepka; Team: Ripper GC
Season Leaders: Individual: Garcia; Team: Fireballs GC
HOW TO FOLLOW
TV/Streaming: Thursday-Saturday: 11 p.m.-4 a.m. ET (FOX, LIV Golf Plus)
X: livegolf_league
NOTES: This is the fourth of 13 events on the 2025 schedule, which will be followed by the Team Championship. … The field consists of 13 four-player teams competing in daily shotgun starts over 54 holes. … John Catlin, who led the Asian Tour’s Order of Merit in 2024, earned a spot in this week’s field by winning the league’s first 18-hole, four-player qualifying playoff on Tuesday. He will replace injured Iron Heads GC player Jinichiro Kozuma this week. Catlin competed in six LIV Golf events last year, including as part of the winning Smash GC team at the Greenbrier.
NEXT TOURNAMENT: LIV Golf Miami, April 4-6
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
LAST TOURNAMENT: Cologuard Classic (Steven Alker)
THIS WEEK: OFF.
Charles Schwab Cup leader: Ernie Els
NEXT TOURNAMENT: Hoag Classic, Newport Beach, Calif., March 21-23
–Field Level Media
