TPC SAWGRASS

Cameron Smith made the longest week at The Players Championship worth the wait.

Normally, it's the final round of The Players Championship, but weather postponements made Sunday cut day at TPC Sawgrass. The tournament had nearly a dozen golfers in the field with local ties to the area. How did those local golfers fare?

The longest week at The Players Championship is moving closer to a conclusion.

The longest week at The Players Championship is moving closer to a conclusion.

It’s not the entertainment the PGA Tour was expecting Friday afternoon on hole 17 at the Stadium Course.

Rain has made The Players Championship a mess, interrupting the first and second rounds. So, what does that mean for fans who bought tickets for those rounds?

The first round of The Players Championship hit some speed bumps Thursday, with storms causing a four-hour weather delay.

As the weather caused a delayed start and a suspension in play for the first round of The Players Championship on Thursday, the tournament’s executive director asked fans for patience.

The Players Championship tees off Thursday morning at TPC Sawgrass without the two biggest attractions in the sport, but there's no shortage of storylines as the Stadium Course awaits the best field in golf.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Players Championship moving into it’s permanent home at TPC Sawgrass. In 1982, Jerry Pate fired a final round 67 to beat Brad Bryant and Scott Simpson by two strokes, taking home $90,000 and a set of wet clothes after he dove into the water at 18 in celebration of his win.

The Players Championship offers the richest prize in golf.

Tuesday was Military Appreciation Day at The Players Championship.

After a start and stop and then limited crowds, The Players Championship is back to doing what it does best. The event at TPC Sawgrass is 30 days away and will feel normal for the first time since Rory McIlroy edged Jim Furyk by a stroke in 2019. That feels like an eternity ago.

Tickets for The Players Championship are finally on sale for the general public.

Tickets for The Players Championship will go on sale next week, with newsletter subscribers getting first dibs on those the tournament announced on Wednesday morning.

Thomas navigated the closing nine at the Stadium Course in spectacular fashion, storming back to win The Players Championship on a postcard perfect Sunday. Thomas had a final-round 68 and finished 14-under 274 to win by a stroke over Lee Westwood. I’m so happy they’re back and I’m so happy to be The Players champion,” Thomas said. Thomas grinded his way through the front nine in the final round and made the turn at even. “That’s why he’s one of the best players in the world and will continue to be one of the best players in the world for a long time.”

Tyler McCumber plays a shot on the 14th hole during the second round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on March 12, 2021 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Tyler McCumber had a stellar second round at The Players Championship on Friday and made the cut in his first appearance in the tournament. He’s the first Nease golfer since Jeff Klauk in 2009 to make the cut at The Players. Klauk, whose father, Fred, was the course superintendent at TPC Sawgrass, finished T-14 that year. Len Mattiace had top-five finishes in 1998 and 2000 at TPC Sawgrass, going T5 and T9, respectively in those years.

Ad“I don’t think I’ve ever played it, just played it (not in a tournament),” Meyer said of the Stadium Course. So why would you not be here if you had the best facilities, best trainers, best coaches and best nutrition, all of the above. “I don’t know that [about playing overseas this year]. This year I don’t know because of COVID. I don’t know.”

The last photo on her phone before the pandemic declaration was taken at 4:32 p.m. March 10. “We are here having a beer at Tubala Rasa Brewing Company,” Blanton said of his last pre-pandemic image. SLIDESHOW: Here are our last memories before our lives changed🗓 3.11.20📸 9:22 AM - A morning walk. Bob Ellis, the vice president and general manager of WJXT/WCWJ, said his last photo before the pandemic hit was from a vacation at the beach with his family. She said it was the last picture she took on her phone before we all started wearing masks in public.

Tyler McCumber plays a shot on the fourth hole during the first round of The Players Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 11, 2021 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Tyler McCumber’s first round in The Players Championship was a success. McCumber, a Nease High and University of Florida graduate, shot an even-par 72 in his debut at TPC Sawgrass. “I didn’t really know what my first round at The Players would feel like, but it was pretty awesome,” McCumber said. “He came out of his office yesterday talking golf, and I said, ‘you know the rule, no golf when we’re away from the course,’” Tyler said.

Garcia thought he had plenty of time to get from the range to the 10th tee to start his round. Then he fired off a 7-under 65, capped off by a birdie-birdie-eagle finish for a two-shot lead over Brian Harman. AdWhen darkness brought the first round to a halt — 21 players didn't finish — there already were 13 scores of 80 or higher. “For some reason, it just kind of fits my eye,” said Garcia, who won The Players in 2008 and has twice been runner-up. British Open champion Shane Lowry took bogey on his final hole for a 68 and was tied with Corey Conners and Matt Fitzpatrick.

This year, the PGA Tour is encouraging people to check out some of the different spots to watch the action in order to help spread people out more during the coronavirus pandemic. The 17th hole is one of the most popular spots for fans to watch The Players, but around the course, there are a variety of great vantage points you might not think of. But this year, there won’t be a hospitality tent, making it easier for fans to watch the action at both holes from the same spot. AdThe Players Championship returns: Fan’s guide to the 2021 tournamentJared Rice, executive director of The Players, also shared with News4Jax his favorite place to watch. TacoLu is back there, so who doesn’t like to grab a taco, a little something to drink out there and watch some great golf?

The legion of volunteers at The Players Championship are one of the most integral parts of the event. This week, we’re looking at several longtime volunteers who are celebrating tournament milestones in 2021. Herbert had a perfect view of one of those, carded by Paul Azinger in the third round of the 2000 event. AdHerbert spent four years in various volunteer roles before becoming a walking scorer in 1991 and has been in that position since. The ball lands, I hit, ‘shot hit,’ … a laser operator lasers that ball, and you know exactly immediately how far he hit it, 247 yards, and he’s got 185 to go to the hole,” she said.

PONTE VEDRA, Fla. – It takes a year’s time and a team of people to prepare the grass that covers the fairways, rough and green surrounds at The Players Championship Tournament at TPC Sawgrass. When it comes to preparation, TPC Sawgrass’ Director of Golf Court Maintenance Jeff Plots said it goes beyond cultivating conditions to produce the perfect shade of green. It’s also about the creating the right feeling. Plott’s said this year’s grass is better than ever. During the tournament, Plotts and his a team of volunteers start their day early.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Every year, some of the world’s best golfers compete in The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. “It takes a great team,” said Jeff Plotts, director of agronomy at TPC Sawgrass. Plotts and his team work year-round to get the course ready for the tournament. “This is the third year doing the overseed, and we’re just getting better and better each year,” Plotts said. “It’s been a really good year for us, difficult weather-wise, but we’ve been able to endure and have some really good conditions.”This year, Plotts said, they tried to improve some of the conditions based on player feedback.

125th Fighter Wing to bring the “Sound of Freedom” to entire community on Tuesday’s Military Appreciation Day at THE PLAYERSJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Four F-15 Eagles flew over various Northeast Florida locations on Tuesday to honor and celebrate service members, bringing the “Sound of Freedom” to the entire community for The Players’ Military Appreciation Day. The 125th Fighter Wing/FLANG conducted the flyover near NAS Mayport, TPC Sawgrass, NAS Jacksonville and downtown Jacksonville. RELATED: The Players Championship returns: Fan’s guide to the 2021 tournamentOver the last year, the 125th Fighter Wing have played an especially crucial role in Florida’s COVID-19 response. AdAerial footage captured by an F-15 pilot“The 125th Fighter Wing, Home of the Thunder, is extremely proud to perform the flyover for military appreciation day in honor of our fellow service members and community of supporters,” Col. Matthew J. French, 125th Fighter Wing commander, said. Again, thanks to all, and when you hear our mighty F15 eagles thundering over, know that they’re from your 125th Fighter Wing, Where the Thunder is the Sound of Freedom!”Ad

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The Players Championship kicks off this week at TPC Sawgrass, and News4Jax is teaming up with The Players this year for a daylong fundraising campaign called Match4Military. Typically, people come out to the tournament’s Military Appreciation Day ceremony and concert on the 17th hole every year. But this year, both events are canceled, so Match4Military is providing a way for everyone to come together remotely and give back to those who have given so much to our country. “Tuesday, March 9, we’re going to market with a community campaign in order to drive, hopefully, more than $500,000 in charitable benefit to military charities,” said Jared Rice, executive director of The Players. The Players will match donations dollar for dollar up to $250,000, and the money raised will benefit several different military organizations in Northeast Florida, including Wounded Warrior Project and The Fire Watch.

The first tee times are 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and 7:45 a.m. on Sunday. Full tee times are below. AdThe total purse of The Players has jumped again, with $12.5 million up for grabs this week. The two-time Players winner is at 3-under and in a tie for 43rd going into Sunday. A look at Sunday's final-round tee times for The Players Championship.

Rory McIlroy hits his tee shot on the 17th hole during the first round of The Players Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 12, 2020 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Cliff Hawkins/Getty Images)Players Championship week is here, and we’ve got the important information all right here for fans who plan on attending — or watching — the tournament at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. AdParkingThe general parking lot is located at 5360 Palm Valley Road in Ponte Vedra Beach. Costs are $15 for pre-tournament days (Tuesday and Wednesday) and $40 for tournament rounds (Thursday through Sunday). The jets will leave NAS Mayport at 11:57 a.m. and fly over TPC Sawgrass at noon.

Britt was one of hundreds of active duty, veterans, military spouses and retirees who attended Saturday’s Military Job Fair at TPC Sawgrass. It was the 10th annual free event hosted by The Players and the Jacksonville Military Veterans Coalition. “This is my first official job fair,” Britt said. AdThe 18 companies at Saturday’s job fair are ready and committed to do just that. The companies at Saturday’s Job Fair were:

Fans gather at the TPC Sawgrass course to watch The Players during the 2019 event. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tickets came and went for The Players Championship on Tuesday, with the tournament selling out its limited allotment of passes within two hours. The only tickets that remain are for Tuesday’s practice round. The event is March 9-10 (practice rounds) and 11-14 (tournament rounds) at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. A limited number of pre-sale tickets were made available on Feb. 1 to those who subscribe to the Players newsletter, and those who attended the tournament in 2019 and ’20.

File photo of the 17th green during The Players Championship on The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Tickets to The Players Championship will be harder to get this year due to limits on the size of the crowd. So they may go fast when single-day tickets go on sale Tuesday. Jared Rice, the executive director of The Players, said last month that tickets would be limited to 20% of the maximum capacity — a number he declined to share. The Players was the first event on the PGA Tour to be impacted by the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Tickets for next month’s Players Championship are going to be more in demand than ever before. The message from The Players — get those tickets quickly. The Tour hasn’t released attendance totals since 2013, so nailing down an exact number of available tickets is a bit estimation. That would put a 20% attendance at roughly 9,000 per day this year if the Tour based its numbers off that 2013 high. Players tickets are always in demand, especially the Friday and Saturday rounds, so scooping those up early is strongly encouraged by the tournament this year.

Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida – Saturday, four young golfers from the First Tee of North Florida got the chance of a lifetime to play a round on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. The round was donated by former First Tee volunteer coach Chet Stokes who is now the General Manager of Marsh Landing Country Club. Just getting to play at TPC Sawgrass is cool on its own but they went a step further for these golfers. Playing the Stadium Course can be stressful for professionals golfers, so it is easy to understand why Brandon Fowler said he was a little nervous on the first tee. “I was shaken but I pulled through and hit a good shot on the first shot,” said Fowler.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - The award-winning duo, The Chainsmokers, will highlight Military Appreciation Day next March, The Players Championship officials announced Monday. The concert will be held Tuesday, March 10, on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on the world-famous island green 17th hole. The concert will immediately follow the Military Appreciation Day Ceremony beginning at 5 p.m.Tuesday parking is $15 and must be purchased in advance. Tuesdays at the Island Green will never be the same. pic.twitter.com/YkMpkV5Wmr THE PLAYERS (@THEPLAYERSChamp) November 11, 2019Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.