Players Championship tee times: Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau in action

The world’s best golfers have descended on TPC Sawgrass

(Getty Images)

The Players’ Championship begins on Thursday with the world’s best golfers descending on TPC Sawgrass.

Rory McIlroy won the tournament back in 2019 but remains the defending champion after last year’s edition was cancelled following the opening round due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic.

“I guess it’s nice I get another bite at the cherry,” said McIlroy, who shot a first round of 72 on that occasion to trail Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama by nine shots. “Last year was obviously very surreal, difficult.

“If I felt for anyone last year because of all this, it was Hideki. That was obviously a hell of an opening round. I birdied my last three holes to shoot even par, so it could have been a lot worse as well.

“There’s been no-one else’s name added to the trophy after mine, so I guess I still am (defending champion), even though it’s a two-year thing.

“A lot has happened since. I’ll still try to rekindle those feelings and memories from two years ago, and hopefully that gives me the spark that I need to get my game in shape.”

McIlroy is joined by a host of top names with Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Jon Rahm all tipped to contend.

Here’s all you need to know:

When is it?

The Players Championship begins on Thursday 11 March at TPC Sawgrass.

First round tee times

(All time UK time, USA unless stated)

Starting at Hole 1:

11:45 Xinjun Zhang (Chn), Alexander Noren (Swe), Doug Ghim

11:56 Lee Westwood (Eng), Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Robert MacIntyre (Sco)

12:07 Phil Mickelson, Charles Howell III, Tony Finau

12:18 Henrik Stenson (Swe), Kevin Kisner, Sung Jae Im (Kor)

12:29 Keith Mitchell, Troy Merritt, Brice Garnett

12:40 Michael Thompson, Sebastian Munoz (Col), Brian Gay

12:51 Cameron Smith (Aus), Dylan Frittelli (Rsa), Keegan Bradley

13:02 Carlos Ortiz (Mex), Kevin Na, Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng)

13:13 J. T. Poston, Russell Knox (Sco), Max Homa

13:24 Nick Taylor (Can), Austin Cook, Stewart Cink

13:35 Henrik Norlander (Swe), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa), Byeong-Hun An (Kor)

13:46 Vaughn Taylor, Jerry Kelly, Joel Dahmen

13:57 Sam Ryder, Scott Brown

17:05 Cameron Tringale, Matthew NeSmith, Denny McCarthy

17:16 Bernd Wiesberger (Aut), Cameron Percy (Aus), Brian Harman

17:27 Joaquin Niemann (Chi), Martin Laird (Sco), Tyler Duncan

17:38 Aaron Wise, Richy Werenski, Kevin Streelman

17:49 Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Jon Rahm (Spa)

18:00 Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau

18:11 Adam Scott (Aus), Shane Lowry (Irl), Daniel Berger

18:22 Brendan Steele, Andrew Landry, Cameron Champ

18:33 Francesco Molinari (Ita), Jason Kokrak, Jason Day (Aus)

18:44 Rory Sabbatini (Svk), Charley Hoffman, Cameron Davis (Aus)

18:55 Will Zalatoris, Maverick McNealy, Matt Jones (Aus)

19:06 Luke List, Chris Kirk, Bo Hoag

19:17 Brian Stuard, Danny Lee (Nzl), Beau Hossler

Starting at Hole 10:

11:45 Kyle Stanley, Tyler McCumber, Lucas Glover

11:56 Scottie Scheffler, Tom Hoge, Russell Henley

11:07 Chengtsung Pan (Tai), Graeme McDowell (NIrl), Matt Kuchar

11:18 Gary Woodland, Ian Poulter (Eng), Billy Horschel

12:29 Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Patrick Cantlay

12:40 Webb Simpson, Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Sergio Garcia (Spa)

12:51 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Si Woo Kim (Kor), Harris English

13:02 Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Paul Casey (Eng)

13:13 Lanto Griffin, Rickie Fowler, Corey Conners (Can)

13:24 Brendon Todd, Andrew Putnam, Adam Long

13:35 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Doc Redman, Harry Higgs

13:46 Victor Perez (Fra), Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns

13:57 Scott Stallings, Adam Schenk

17:05 Peter Malnati, Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Abraham Ancer (Mex)

17:16 Robby Shelton, Kyoung-Hoon Lee (Kor), Anirban Lahiri (Ind)

17:27 Jimmy Walker, Sung-Hoon Kang (Kor), Branden Grace (Rsa)

17:38 Hudson Swafford, Brandt Snedeker, Scott Piercy

17:49 Mackenzie Hughes (Can), Jim Herman, Ryan Armour

18:00 Ryan Palmer, Nate Lashley, Zach Johnson

18:11 Robert Streb, Justin Rose (Eng), Marc Leishman (Aus)

18:22 Bubba Watson, Chez Reavie, Pat Perez

18:33 Danny Willett (Eng), Patton Kizzire, Jason Dufner

18:44 Harold Varner III, James Hahn, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)

18:55 Patrick Rodgers, Mark Hubbard, Adam Hadwin (Can)

19:06 Sepp Straka (Aut), Ryan Moore, Scott Harrington

19:17 Jhonattan Vegas (Ven), Tom Lewis (Eng), Talor Gooch

How can I watch it?

The tournament will be broadcast live on Sky Sports’ dedicated golf channel as well as Main Event.

Thursday: 11.30-23.00

Friday: 11.30-23.00

Saturday: 13.30-23.00

Sunday: 13.30-22.00

What are the odds?

• Dustin Johnson 13/1
• Jon Rahm 17/1
• Rory McIlroy 19/1
• Bryson DeChambeau 20/1
• Collin Morikawa 21/1
• Justin Thomas 22/1
• Patrick Cantlay 22/1
• Xander Schauffele 25/1
• Webb Simpson 30/1
• Tony Finau 35/1
• Viktor Hovland 35/1
• Hideki Matsuyama 40/1
• Tyrell Hatton 40/1
• Jordan Spieth 45/1
• Daniel Berger 47/1
• Patrick Reed 50/1,
• Tommy Fleetwood 55/1
• Sungjae Im 55/1
• Scottie Scheffler 60/1
• Jason Day 66/1
• Matthew Fitzpatrick 66/1
• Paul Casey 66/1
• Cameron Smith 66/1

Odds provided by Betfair Exchange