Who do we like at The Players Championship?
Each week, we ask our panel of writers, PGA members and golf industry experts to weigh in with their views on the hot topics of the day.
Last Sunday at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, in a stunning reversal of fortunes, Russell Henley vaulted from one behind to one ahead of leader Collin Morikawa with a chip-in eagle on the par-5 16th hole. Henley went on to claim his fifth Tour title over a stunned Morikawa. There have been a lot of single shot heroics that changed the outcome of a tournament at or near the finish. What’s your favourite game-changing shot that snatched victory away from the leader?
Jim Deeks, Fairways Magazine (@jimdeeks): Gene Sarazen’s double eagle on #15 at the 1935 Augusta National Invitation led to a next-day playoff, in which Sarazen defeated Craig Wood. Still one of the most famous shots ever struck. And Robert Gamez’s eagle two on #18 at Bay Hill in 1990 was pretty terrific, and gave him a one-shot victory over — who else? — Greg Norman. So was Corey Pavin’s 4-wood on #18 at Shinnecock Hills in 1995 helped him beat Norman and Tom Lehman. All memorable shots!
Craig Loughry, Golf Ontario (@craigloughry): It was some time ago, but Robert Gamez holing out on 18 coincidentally at Bay Hill to beat Norman and Mize was pretty spectacular. That stretch of holes 15-18 really can make for some great leaderboard changes.
Michael Schurman, Master Professional / Hall of Fame Member, PGA of Canada: There are so many great and timely shots I have to make some boundaries. It has to be on the 17th or 18th hole, and it should be a hole-out. Having said that, I still regard Hogan’s 1 iron at Marion, Jack’s 2 iron on #17 at Pebble, Watson’s chip on #17 at Pebble and Sarazen’s 2 on 15 at Augusta among the greatest, but they don’t meet my criteria. I have Worsham’s PW on 18, Rocca’s putt on 18, and Aoki’s PW on 18. I’m going to choose Worsham’s PW because it was one of the first tournaments televised, so the impact would have been sensational. In the days when purses were $5000 to 10,000, Worsham won $50,000. Which, based on today’s purses, would be about $15M. to 20M.
TJ Rule, Golf Away Tours (@GolfAwayTJ): A few come to mind. Tiger at Pebble in 2000 when he holed out for eagle on 15 and came from way behind to beat Matt Gogel; Jordan Spieth holing out from the bunker on the 72nd hole at the John Deere to break David Hearn’s heart; Craig Perks chipping in for eagle on 16 and par on 18 at the Players. Those are all in contention. The one that actually came to mind first was one that fell just short. Steve Lowery holed out for eagle on 15 at the International in 2002 for 5 Stableford points. He was still 9 points behind Rich Beem on 17 but holed a 6 iron for double eagle and 8 points, then hit it to 15 feet on 18. He had that putt for the most improbable of comebacks but left it on the lip. What a finish that was.
Hal Quinn, Freelance Writer, Vancouver: Well, my two favourites are when there wasn’t a leader as both happened in playoffs. Still, they were great snatches. Of course, at the 2023 Canadian, Tommy Fleetwood had a shortish putt for birdie on the 4th playoff hole. That’s when Nick Taylor sunk the eagle bomb heard sea-to-sea-to-sea. That was an Ohhh Canada moment up there with Weir at the Masters and Knudson in the desert. The other was also on the 4th playoff hole, at the 2010 Shriners, but with three players. First on the tee on the par 3, Jonathon Byrd canned it, and the other two guys could just laugh. First hole-in-one I witnessed was a snap hook 3-wood (the rest of us hit 7-irons) off a stump 20 yards left of the green. It rocketed right back over the bunker and slammed into the pin – and dropped. Golf is a funny game.
Peter Mumford, Fairways Magazine (@FairwaysMag): I suppose the greatness of a shot can depend on who you’re rooting for. I was a big Greg Norman fan in his hey day so Larry Mize’s chip in on 11 to win a Green Jacket wasn’t too popular. More like a dagger to the heart. The other that stands out was the 1983 Sony Open. Jack Renner was sitting in the scorer’s tent with a one-shot lead, thinking maybe he won or in a worst case would be in a playoff. Then Isao Aoki, trailing by one, holed out his wedge shot for eagle on the par-5 18th to beat Renner by a stroke. The look on Renner’s face was priceless.
This week the PGA Tour moves on to TPC Sawgrass for the Players Championship. Scottie Scheffler is the two-time defending champion, but he hasn’t done much so far in 2025. Also, there haven’t been any repeat winners on the Tour either, so nobody could really be described as a favourite based on recent play. Does Scheffler break out and get the three-peat? If not, who walks away with the title this year?
Deeks: Just a hunch. Collin Morikawa.
Loughry: Horses for courses! I think that holds true here for Scheff. He’s played OK this year (coming off the hand injury), and has his reps in, I think he’ll start to rip it up here this week.
Schurman: TPC demands accuracy off the tee and into the greens. Three players are head and shoulders this week: Conners, Day and Morikawa. All have perfect balance and can ‘hold’ the finish with every club. The course suits Henley, but two big ones in a row that’s tough. I’ll pick Conners.
Rule: I like Ludvig Aberg this week. He’s one of the best ball strikers on tour, which this course demands, and he played well in his first trip around the course last year. If he gets a little warm with the putter, it’ll be a big week for him. As a long shot, I like Jason Day, who has also been hitting the ball well, and seems to be coming around with his putting as well, which used to be his hallmark. He may pull it together this week and win his second Players.
Quinn: Based on current form, as Baker-Finch might say, a three-peat looks very doubtful. A balky putter does not a Players’ champion make. Have been thinking Rory but hope he’s saving his breakout A game for Georgia. Would not be a shock if Aberg takes it. (Be nice to see the “Internationals” get back on track after the Henley interruption). Aberg, with or without the circle over the A, has the length (well, a lot of them do) and the flair for Sawgrass— where I parred in from 15. Well, did put one in the water on 17 before making three on my second ball (back right Sunday pin). Oh, and did I mention I rinsed a sleeve before splitting the fairway on 18? Anyway, wasn’t much of a gallery so no one was posting on Instagram. Hope lots of folks are sacrificing innocent pixels as Aberg marches up 18 Sunday.
Mumford: The reason Scheffler wins so often is he makes the fewest mistakes, and Sawgrass is designed to tempt players to make mistakes. That said, Scheffler’s game isn’t sharp yet. Ditto for Schauffele. Morikawa is heartbroken after the API. McIlroy says he’s playing a more patient game in 2025, but the evidence isn’t there yet. In my mind it comes down to Aberg or Matsuyama. Aberg in a playoff. Longshot: Tommy Fleetwood. He’s ranked 10th in the world but doesn’t have a win on the PGA Tour yet. Maybe keep picking him until he does.
The Masters is just a month away and as we know, it tends to favour those with experience, especially past winners. Last week, Sergio Garcia won the LIV event in Hong Kong while 54-year-old Phil Mickelson finished third. Jon Rahm and Patrick Reed also placed in the top 10. How likely is it that any of these LIV golfers will contend or even win at Augusta next month?
Deeks: Not if I have anything to do with it. Which I don’t. But I really root against the LIV players when they play in a major. A victory gives them legitimacy which I just don’t think they deserve. It’s time for another Canadian to win at Augusta. I’ll be putting five quid on Conners, Hughes, and Taylor.
Loughry: I think it’s reasonable to assume a few LIV’rs will be in contention for a green jacket. But not the ones mentioned, I’d put Koepka and DeChambeau in there, they are the superstars of LIV (and have proved it the last few years too).
Schurman: Trending is always a positive thing, but it’s still a month away. I appreciate your subjects, but I think I’ll wait until I see the whites of their eyes.
Rule: Well, as we’ve seen in the past few years, LIV players have fared well at Augusta. Not sure I would put any money on Patrick Reed (mostly because I can’t stand him), but I believe Jon Rahm will put his name into the conversation come the weekend at Augusta. I hope he does and then immediately leaves LIV to return to the Tour!
Quinn: Highly unlikely, unless Rahm plays well enough to contend. Until last week it was pretty clear that Garcia and Phil were past it — not DJ past it, but close. Anyway, playing no-stress 54-hole exhibitions ain’t exactly the best way to tune up for Augusta National. For golf’s sake, here’s hoping no LIVers are on the weekend leaderboard, especially Reed.
Mumford: I think it’s likely several LIVers are in contention. Maybe Koepka, Rahm and DeChambeau, more so than Garcia, Mickelson and Reed. You could also add Tyrrell Hatton to the mix.
