World No. 1 Scheffler and No. 2 McIlroy Aim to Join Jack Nicklaus as Only Three-Time Winners of THE PLAYERS
NBC Sports’ Coverage Live from TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida Begins at 2 p.m. ET this Saturday, March 14 and 1 p.m. ET Sunday, March 15, on NBC and Peacock
STAMFORD, Conn. – Defending champion Rory McIlroy and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler headline THE PLAYERS Championship – the PGA TOUR’s flagship event – this weekend on NBC and Peacock from TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. NBC Sports presents live championship coverage this Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. ET and Sunday, March 15 at 1 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
THE PLAYERS has been held at TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course, which features the iconic 17th hole island green since 1982. Its 52nd edition features the highest single-event purse at $25 million. Offering 750 FedExCup points, the winner also receives a three-year invitation to The Masters Tournament, and three-year exemptions for the U.S. Open, the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.
The top two golfers in the world, Scheffler and McIlroy, have each been crowned PLAYERS champion twice in the last seven years. A third victory for either would tie Jack Nicklaus as the only three-time winners of THE PLAYERS and first three-time winner at TPC Sawgrass.
Scheffler won at TPC Sawgrass in back-to-back years (2023 and 2024), which marked the first time a player successfully defended his title in the event’s history.
McIlroy returns to defend his 2025 title, after defeating J.J. Spaun in a three-hole Monday playoff. It was the first three-hole playoff in 10 years. McIlroy, who also won in 2019, is one of only eight golfers to win multiple PLAYERS Championships.
Scheffler and McIlroy lead a premier field of 123 players featuring 46 of the World Top 50, including Tommy Fleetwood (No. 3), Collin Morikawa (No. 4), Justin Rose (No. 5), Russell Henley (No. 6), Chris Gotterup (No. 7), Robert MacIntyre (No. 8), Sepp Straka (No. 9), and Xander Schauffele (No. 10).
World No. 19 Akshay Bhatia enters THE PLAYERS after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational last weekend on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff over Daniel Berger.
NBC Sports’ announce team for THE PLAYERS features Dan Hicks and Terry Gannon handling play-by-play alongside analysts Kevin Kisner and Brad Faxon, with on-course reporters Jim “Bones” Mackay, Smylie Kaufman and John Wood. Cara Banks will conduct interviews.
NBC Sports’ third round coverage on Saturday, March 14 begins at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock, with final round coverage at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 15.
NBC Sports will utilize four drones for its coverage of THE PLAYERS, the first time four drones have been used in a golf telecast. Additional broadcast enhancements on NBC and Peacock include:
- Of the four drones, which will enhance the broadcast experience with unique aerial perspectives and augmented‑reality visuals:
- Two drones equipped with the PGA TOUR’s Emmy‑winning Drone AR technology will capture the signature views of TPC Sawgrass
- Live tracing drone with enhanced graphic technology tracking players’ shots from above tees and greens
- Drone camera coverage dedicated to the 16th and 17th holes, including the iconic 17th hole island green
- Weather Applied Metrics to help to visualize the impact of wind and weather on ball flight and performance
- Bunker cams at the 16th and 17th hole
- A side follow camera at the 17th tee, pushing along with tee shots as they are struck towards the island green to provide an enhanced perspective on the flight of the ball
- A robotic reverse-follow camera tracing shots at the 18th tee
- Fixed-wing airplane coverage from above the Stadium Course
- X-mo and super-slo-mo replays, as well as NBC Sports “NBCeeIt” zoom technology to make sure fans don’t miss a moment
Following THE PLAYERS Championship, NBC Sports’ PGA TOUR coverage continues with the Valspar Championship (March 21-22), Texas Children’s Houston Open (March 28-29), and Valero Texas Open (April 4-5).
NBC/Peacock Broadcast Team for THE PLAYERS
- Dan Hicks
- Terry Gannon
Analysts
- Kevin Kisner
- Brad Faxon
On-Course
- Jim “Bones” Mackay
- Smylie Kaufman
- John Wood
Interviews
- Cara Banks
2026 THE PLAYERS Coverage Schedule
(All times ET, subject to change)
Date |
Time (ET) | Program | Platform |
| Thurs., March 12 | 1 – 7 p.m. | Round 1 | Golf Channel |
| Fri., March 13 | 1 – 7 p.m. | Round 2 | Golf Channel |
| Sat., March 14 | 2 – 7 p.m. | Round 3 | NBC, Peacock |
| Sun., Mar. 15 | 1 – 6 p.m. | Final Round | NBC, Peacock |
Notable Players This Week
- Scottie Scheffler
- Rory McIlroy
- Tommy Fleetwood
- Justin Rose
- Collin Morikawa
- Chris Gotterup
- Russell Henley
- Robert MacIntyre
- J.J. Spaun
- Xander Schauffele
- Vicktor Hovland
- Brooks Koepka
- Adam Scott
CONTACT:
Carly Bonk, carly.bonk@nbcuni.com
Dan Masonson, dan.masonson@nbcuni.com
