The Players Championship: What time does it start, how to watch in UK, tee-times, odds and more

Rory McIlroy wins the Players Championship in 2019 (Getty Images)

The world’s best golfers descend on TPC Sawgrass this week for The Players’ Championship as Rory McIlroy defends his 2019 title.

The event, often heralded as the greatest tournament outside of the four majors, was abandoned in dramatic fashion after the first round last year when the true scale of the pandemic came into perspective. Several players had become agitated over safety concerns and a text arrived from the PGA Tour late on Thursday evening that no more golf would be played for the foreseeable future.

A year later, with the PGA Tour back in full swing, although still without anything close to a full crowd of spectators, the competition signals the gearing up of the 2021 golf season, with The Masters now not far on the horizon. There have already been some fireworks this year, though, and memorably so last week when Bryson DeChambeau held off England’s Lee Westwood to claim his eighth PGA Tour title at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

DeChambeau, whose gunslinging drives across the water at the par-5 sixth at Bay Hill represented another chapter in his big-hitting legacy, is not the favourite heading to Sawgrass, though. Instead, it is world No 1 Dustin Johnson who arrives as a heavy favourite, despite the Masters champion finishing some 23 shots back of Collin Morikawa in his last appearance at the WGC-Mexico in February.

McIlroy endured another final round to forget at Bay Hill, having been in contention before carding a miserable 76. It seems something of an inescapable trend for the Northern Irishman, although there are plenty of other European players in contention this week, with Jon Rahm, Tyrrell Hatton, Tommy Fleetwood and Matt Fitzpatrick all in action.

Here is everything you need to know ahead of The Players:

When is it?

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

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

First round tee times

(All time local time, USA unless stated)

Starting at Hole 1:

06:45 Xinjun Zhang (Chn), Alexander Noren (Swe), Doug Ghim

06:56 Lee Westwood (Eng), Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Robert MacIntyre (Sco)

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

07:18 Henrik Stenson (Swe), Kevin Kisner, Sung Jae Im (Kor)

07:29 Keith Mitchell, Troy Merritt, Brice Garnett

07:40 Michael Thompson, Sebastian Munoz (Col), Brian Gay

07:51 Cameron Smith (Aus), Dylan Frittelli (Rsa), Keegan Bradley

08:02 Carlos Ortiz (Mex), Kevin Na, Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng)

08:13 J. T. Poston, Russell Knox (Sco), Max Homa

08:24 Nick Taylor (Can), Austin Cook, Stewart Cink

08:35 Henrik Norlander (Swe), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa), Byeong-Hun An (Kor)

08:46 Vaughn Taylor, Jerry Kelly, Joel Dahmen

08:57 Sam Ryder, Scott Brown

12:05 Cameron Tringale, Matthew NeSmith, Denny McCarthy

12:16 Bernd Wiesberger (Aut), Cameron Percy (Aus), Brian Harman

12:27 Joaquin Niemann (Chi), Martin Laird (Sco), Tyler Duncan

12:38 Aaron Wise, Richy Werenski, Kevin Streelman

12:49 Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, Jon Rahm (Spa)

13:00 Collin Morikawa, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau

13:11 Adam Scott (Aus), Shane Lowry (Irl), Daniel Berger

13:22 Brendan Steele, Andrew Landry, Cameron Champ

13:33 Francesco Molinari (Ita), Jason Kokrak, Jason Day (Aus)

13:44 Rory Sabbatini (Svk), Charley Hoffman, Cameron Davis (Aus)

13:55 Will Zalatoris, Maverick McNealy, Matt Jones (Aus)

14:06 Luke List, Chris Kirk, Bo Hoag

14:17 Brian Stuard, Danny Lee (Nzl), Beau Hossler

Starting at Hole 10:

06:45 Kyle Stanley, Tyler McCumber, Lucas Glover

06:56 Scottie Scheffler, Tom Hoge, Russell Henley

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

07:18 Gary Woodland, Ian Poulter (Eng), Billy Horschel

07:29 Justin Thomas, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Patrick Cantlay

07:40 Webb Simpson, Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Sergio Garcia (Spa)

07:51 Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn), Si Woo Kim (Kor), Harris English

08:02 Xander Schauffele, Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Paul Casey (Eng)

08:13 Lanto Griffin, Rickie Fowler, Corey Conners (Can)

08:24 Brendon Todd, Andrew Putnam, Adam Long

08:35 Charl Schwartzel (Rsa), Doc Redman, Harry Higgs

08:46 Victor Perez (Fra), Wyndham Clark, Sam Burns

08:57 Scott Stallings, Adam Schenk

12:05 Peter Malnati, Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Abraham Ancer (Mex)

12:16 Robby Shelton, Kyoung-Hoon Lee (Kor), Anirban Lahiri (Ind)

12:27 Jimmy Walker, Sung-Hoon Kang (Kor), Branden Grace (Rsa)

12:38 Hudson Swafford, Brandt Snedeker, Scott Piercy

12:49 Mackenzie Hughes (Can), Jim Herman, Ryan Armour

13:00 Ryan Palmer, Nate Lashley, Zach Johnson

13:11 Robert Streb, Justin Rose (Eng), Marc Leishman (Aus)

13:22 Bubba Watson, Chez Reavie, Pat Perez

13:33 Danny Willett (Eng), Patton Kizzire, Jason Dufner

13:44 Harold Varner III, James Hahn, Tommy Fleetwood (Eng)

13:55 Patrick Rodgers, Mark Hubbard, Adam Hadwin (Can)

14:06 Sepp Straka (Aut), Ryan Moore, Scott Harrington

14:17 Jhonattan Vegas (Ven), Tom Lewis (Eng), Talor Gooch

Second round tee times

Starting at Hole 1:

06:45 Abraham Ancer (Mex), Emiliano Grillo (Arg), Peter Malnati

06:56 Anirban Lahiri (Ind), Kyoung-Hoon Lee (Kor), Robby Shelton

07:07 Branden Grace (Rsa), Sung-Hoon Kang (Kor), Jimmy Walker

07:18 Scott Piercy, Brandt Snedeker, Hudson Swafford

07:29 Ryan Armour, Jim Herman, Mackenzie Hughes (Can)

07:40 Zach Johnson, Nate Lashley, Ryan Palmer

07:51 Marc Leishman (Aus), Justin Rose (Eng), Robert Streb

08:02 Pat Perez, Chez Reavie, Bubba Watson

08:13 Jason Dufner, Patton Kizzire, Danny Willett (Eng)

08:24 Tommy Fleetwood (Eng), James Hahn, Harold Varner III

08:35 Adam Hadwin (Can), Mark Hubbard, Patrick Rodgers

08:46 Scott Harrington, Ryan Moore, Sepp Straka (Aut)

08:57 Talor Gooch, Tom Lewis (Eng), Jhonattan Vegas (Ven)

12:05 Lucas Glover, Tyler McCumber, Kyle Stanley

12:16 Russell Henley, Tom Hoge, Scottie Scheffler

12:27 Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell (NIrl), Chengtsung Pan (Tai)

12:38 Billy Horschel, Ian Poulter (Eng), Gary Woodland

12:49 Patrick Cantlay, Viktor Hovland (Nor), Justin Thomas

13:00 Sergio Garcia (Spa), Rory McIlroy (NIrl), Webb Simpson

13:11 Harris English, Si Woo Kim (Kor), Hideki Matsuyama (Jpn)

13:22 Paul Casey (Eng), Tyrrell Hatton (Eng), Xander Schauffele

13:33 Corey Conners (Can), Rickie Fowler, Lanto Griffin

13:44 Adam Long, Andrew Putnam, Brendon Todd

13:55 Harry Higgs, Doc Redman, Charl Schwartzel (Rsa)

14:06 Sam Burns, Wyndham Clark, Victor Perez (Fra)

14:17 Adam Schenk, Scott Stallings

Starting at Hole 10:

06:45 Denny McCarthy, Matthew NeSmith, Cameron Tringale

06:56 Brian Harman, Cameron Percy (Aus), Bernd Wiesberger (Aut)

07:07 Tyler Duncan, Martin Laird (Sco), Joaquin Niemann (Chi)

07:18 Kevin Streelman, Richy Werenski, Aaron Wise

07:29 Jon Rahm (Spa), Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth

07:40 Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Collin Morikawa

07:51 Daniel Berger, Shane Lowry (Irl), Adam Scott (Aus)

08:02 Cameron Champ, Andrew Landry, Brendan Steele

08:13 Jason Day (Aus), Jason Kokrak, Francesco Molinari (Ita)

08:24 Cameron Davis (Aus), Charley Hoffman, Rory Sabbatini (Svk)

08:35 Matt Jones (Aus), Maverick McNealy, Will Zalatoris

08:46 Bo Hoag, Chris Kirk, Luke List

08:57 Beau Hossler, Danny Lee (Nzl), Brian Stuard

12:05 Doug Ghim, Alexander Noren (Swe), Xinjun Zhang (Chn)

12:16 Robert MacIntyre (Sco), Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa), Lee Westwood (Eng)

12:27 Tony Finau, Charles Howell III, Phil Mickelson

12:38 Sung Jae Im (Kor), Kevin Kisner, Henrik Stenson (Swe)

12:49 Brice Garnett, Troy Merritt, Keith Mitchell

13:00 Brian Gay, Sebastian Munoz (Col), Michael Thompson

13:11 Keegan Bradley, Dylan Frittelli (Rsa), Cameron Smith (Aus)

13:22 Matthew Fitzpatrick (Eng), Kevin Na, Carlos Ortiz (Mex)

13:33 Max Homa, Russell Knox (Sco), J. T. Poston

13:44 Stewart Cink, Austin Cook, Nick Taylor (Can)

13:55 Byeong-Hun An (Kor), Christiaan Bezuidenhout (Rsa), Henrik Norlander (Swe)

14:06 Joel Dahmen, Jerry Kelly, Vaughn Taylor

14:17 Scott Brown, Sam Ryder