2026 Players Championship: Previewing the Upcoming Weekend
PONTE VEDRA, Fla. — After two rounds at TPC Sawgrass, the Players Championship has produced an intriguing leaderboard as the weekend approaches. While Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler have faced challenges in their pursuit, many of the top players in the world have managed to navigate a more demanding version of this annual PGA Tour event.
With eight competitors within six strokes of the lead, including two-time major champion Xander Schauffele and former Players winner Justin Thomas, and leader Ludvig Åberg holding a slim two-stroke advantage, the concluding rounds of the Players are poised to offer an exciting finish.
Here’s what we are monitoring as the tournament progresses.
How far back is still in contention?
Mark Schlabach: With world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and defending Players champion Rory McIlroy encountering difficulties, and Collin Morikawa withdrawing due to a back injury, the PGA Tour could not have hoped for a better leaderboard at this stage.
Being four or five strokes behind is likely the maximum distance for a viable contender—unless someone replicates Scheffler’s performance from 2024. He was six strokes behind Wyndham Clark after 36 holes in the Players Championship, then surged ahead with an 8-under 64 in the final round to secure victory at TPC Sawgrass for the second consecutive year.
There are numerous skilled golfers in the top 10, making it challenging for anyone to surpass them all.
Paolo Uggetti: Anything can unfold on the back nine at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday, yet I do not see a significant enough name more than four shots back who could threaten the leaders this weekend. I believe being 5-under is too far back, and 6-under may also be, largely because I cannot envision Åberg, Schauffele, and Cam Young all faltering.
Which player could be a ‘surprise’ contender Sunday?
Schlabach: Sepp Straka may not be as recognized as Schauffele, Åberg, or Thomas, but the 32-year-old has achieved four victories over the past four seasons and has been part of two winning European Ryder Cup teams.
Straka’s performance has been improving leading into this week, and he stands at 7 under after 36 holes.
While his ball striking has not been exceptional, he has excelled at scrambling, converting all 15 of his opportunities. He is also gaining approximately 3½ strokes in putting.
Straka has minimized errors, recording only one bogey in the first 36 holes.
After hitting just six of 14 fairways in the opening round, he dedicated extra time on the driving range. He managed to hit 11 of 14 fairways while posting a 2-under 70 on Friday. His iron play was not as strong in the second round, so if he can refine his swing, he could emerge as a contender on Sunday.
The Austrian-born golfer relocated to southern Georgia at age 14 and attended the Players Championship annually during high school.
He has finished tied for 16th or better in three of his last four outings, demonstrating his familiarity with TPC Sawgrass. “This is obviously one of the biggest golf tournaments in the world,” Straka remarked. “It would be pretty incredible [to win]. But, yeah, it’s only Friday, just past noon, so [I’m] not trying to get ahead of myself here.”
Uggetti: Consider a player who has already secured a significant victory this season? Jacob Bridgeman has been one of the most consistent competitors this year, and after winning the Genesis Invitational last month, he finds himself near the top of another prestigious tournament.
Bridgeman, who has three top-10 finishes this season and has not placed outside the top 25 in any event this year, shot 68 on Friday following a 70 on Thursday, bringing him to 6-under as he heads into the weekend.
“I think I’ve always liked this place just because I think you have to hit it really straight and conservative off the tee. There’s not really a whole lot of room for aggression off the tee,” Bridgeman stated. “Kind of just got to hit it where the course gives you. I kind of like that style of golf.”
The 26-year-old has not had an outstanding ball-striking week thus far (ranking near the middle of the field in strokes gained: tee to green), but his putting has once again proven to be his strength. Bridgeman is gaining 5.6 strokes on the greens so far. He mentioned on Friday that he felt he played better on Thursday than on Friday, despite posting a lower score. If he can find a few more fairways and greens over the weekend, his putting may propel him into contention once more.
Who finishes the weekend higher, Scottie or Rory?
Schlabach: For a golfer who was uncertain about participating this week due to a back injury—and who did not play a single practice round—McIlroy performed well to make the cut on Friday.
The defending Players Championship winner comfortably surpassed the cut line with a birdie on the par-5 ninth, his final hole of the second round. He narrowly missed a 31-foot eagle putt after reaching the green in two shots.
McIlroy noted that NBC Sports reporter Jim “Bones” Mackay inquired about his pre-Masters plans while walking up the ninth fairway.
“I said, ‘Bones, I’ll tell you after this hole. There’s a lot riding on this golf hole,'” McIlroy explained. “Obviously, I wanted to make the cut. Of course, you want to be here for the weekend.”
McIlroy recorded a 1-under 71 to finish at 1 over after 36 holes.
“I wish I was further up the leaderboard,” McIlroy expressed. “I felt like I played well enough today to be higher, I just couldn’t get a putt to drop. I feel like I hit the ball a bit better today than I did yesterday.”
After tweaking his back while warming up before the third round of last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, McIlroy mentioned he is avoiding pre-round workouts this week.
He planned to receive treatment and take a couple of muscle relaxers after Friday’s round at TPC Sawgrass.
“[My back] feels pretty much there,” McIlroy stated. “Not all the way there, but I feel like it’s progressively getting better each and every day.”
Uggetti: Considering McIlroy’s lack of sharpness this week due to not having a standard preparation week, I would still lean towards Scheffler, even though the world No. 1 is facing his own challenges.
An even par 72 on Thursday sent Scheffler directly to the range, where he practiced under heavy rain. Friday was not significantly better. He missed as many fairways as he did in the first round (seven) and as many greens (six) while losing 1.3 strokes with his putting, a figure nearly three shots worse than in the opening round.
Scheffler did not address the media following the round, and although he made the cut by two strokes, he will need to regain some rhythm to mount another charge up the leaderboard this weekend.
Pick your winner
Schlabach: Xander Schauffele has been showing signs of resurgence, and he is starting to resemble the golfer who claimed two major championships in 2024.
Schauffele took the clubhouse lead after Friday’s early wave, carding a 7-under 65 to reach 10 under.
He hit all 14 fairways on Friday and found 16 of 18 greens. His iron play has been exceptional thus far; he led the field in strokes gained: approach (11.413) after 36 holes.
“Yeah, [I] wasn’t aware of all the fairways hit,” Schauffele remarked. “Definitely nice to hit all of them, especially on this property. For the most part, I felt like I was in control and felt like I was attacking the golf course rather than playing defensively.”
Schauffele hit only 5 of 14 fairways in the first round. He spent time with swing coach Chris Como on the driving range to refine his technique.
The 10-time PGA Tour winner is not yet ready to declare he has returned to his previous form after a painful rib injury disrupted his 2025 season.
“I’m definitely hitting a lot of really good golf shots,” Schauffele noted. “I think even earlier this year I started hitting a lot of good golf shots again. 2024 was a year filled with really good results, and right now I think we’re focusing a bit more on the process, trying to ensure everything is sorted out and in a good place. Then after that, you go and compete.”
Uggetti: I am sticking with my pre-tournament selection, Ludvig Åberg. After a challenging start to the season, the Swede has evidently found his rhythm just as the major season approaches.
“I think my mind is very good when it’s simple, and when things are very easy, and that’s what I’ve felt like I’ve been able to do over the last couple of weeks,” Åberg stated.
He shot 29 on the front nine at TPC Sawgrass on Friday and concluded with a 63 that included two eagles, showcasing his status as one of the top players in the world when he is swinging well. Although he downplayed the advantage, it is noteworthy that this is Åberg’s home course and where he practices. It is safe to say this particular layout suits his game exceptionally well.
“Sawgrass is also a golf course where you have to execute golf shots, and I love the golf course because it’s right in front of you,” Åberg explained. “It’s very straightforward, but you still have to do it. Is there an advantage? Maybe. But you still have to hit the shots.”
Through two days, no one is executing the shots better than him.
