Players Championship roundup: Changes in store for Tour schedule, Rory and Rahm fist-bump LIV
The first practice-round day of Players Championship week was a blur for everyone, beginning with a 7 a.m. players meeting with commissioner Jay Monahan in which he outlined the coming schedule and format changes (some players attended, some didn't), informative news conferences with Monahan and Rory McIlroy and Military Appreciation Day ceremonies and the Riley Green concert.
The 144 pros in the field have one more day of practice at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass before taking on Pete Dye's devilish creation on Thursday.
Here's a rundown of what happened on Tuesday:
World No. 1-ranked Jon Rahm had his worst round as a professional at the Stadium Course in 2017. It wasn't pretty and he didn't handle adversity well. Gene Frenette tells how he's curbed his temper and learned to be patient.
Designated events. No cut. Limited fields. That's what is coming for the PGA Tour in 2024. But it's really a combination of new ideas and formats the PGA Tour has used in the past.
Justin Thomas explains why he likes The Players in May. But he won in March. And he's really okay with either time period. Either way, he's got the best lifetime scoring average on the Stadium Course. Plus, Rory gives a nod to LIV Golf for forcing the Tour out of its "antiquated" ways, NBC analyst Dan Hicks talks about what he loves about the Florida Swing so far and there could be another change at the top of the World Golf Rankings.
Oh yeah ... Jon Rahm gives a shout-out to LIV Golf.
Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence was in the house. PGA Tour social media takes followers on his tour of the Stadium. Yeah, it was always The Players.
Jordan Spieth contended in his first Players Championship deep into the fourth round in 2014 before Martin Kaymer shook free. Since then he's missed five of seven cuts and finished no higher than a tie for 41st. What gives?
Rory McIlroy won the FedEx Cup last year. Then won on the PGA Tour. Then on the DP World Tour. He tied for second last week at the Palmer Invitational. He seems on the verge of something great. But those 7-hour board meetings ...
Phil Mickelson seems to have an obsession with being proven right. Or that he's the smartest guy in the room. Seems like he's one of those people who will always tell you what should have been done. Oh, well. Golfweek.com's Riley Hammel outlines the latest Phil social media broadsides.
Here are the Players tee times for Thursday and Friday.
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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Players Championship roundup: Trevor Lawrence pays a visit, Rory lauds LIV
