On Tap: THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass

The PGA TOUR’s best are once again bound for TPC Sawgrass and THE PLAYERS Championship. Big-time golf is officially back.

Rory McIlroy, who beat J.J. Spaun in a Monday playoff a year ago, enters the week as the defending champion. But after withdrawing from last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational with a nagging back, his quest for a third PLAYERS title is suddenly in wait-and-see mode. The World No. 2 is slated to tee it up alongside Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama for the opening two rounds.

This week’s winner will take home $4.5 million from the $25 million purse, along with 750 FedExCup points. As for Pete Dye’s masterpiece, TPC Sawgrass is a par-72 layout that measures 7,352 yards on the scorecard.

If you’re planning on catching every moment of the action from Ponte Vedra, here’s everything you need to know.

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Tee Times for THE PLAYERS

How to Watch THE PLAYERS

(All times listed ET)

Thursday and Friday

ESPN+: 7:30 a.m.-7 p.m.

Golf Channel: 1-7 p.m.

Saturday

ESPN+: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.

NBC: 2-7 p.m.

Sunday

ESPN+: 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.

NBC: 1-6 p.m.