\n<\/p>\n
As well as the history and the hype, the unpredictability of the tournament sets it apart from the rest.<\/p>\n
No player has lifted the trophy more than three-time champion Jack Nicklaus, who won three of the first five events in its formative, nomadic years.<\/p>\n
Since the Stadium Course at Sawgrass became its permanent home in 1982, Nicklaus’ tally remains untouched.<\/p>\n
This week, though, offers an opportunity for defending champion Rory McIlroy, who is battling a back injury, and world number one Scottie Scheffler – in a pack of two-time winners alongside Fred Couples, Steve Elkington, Hal Sutton, Davis Love III and Tiger Woods – to equal the record.<\/p>\n
Scheffler is the only player to win the Players back-to-back, a fact which Fitzpatrick points to when outlining what makes the event so special.<\/p>\n
The 2022 US Open champion has a mixed record on a course which requires clarity of thought and precision, with its seemingly-omnipresent water and sand ready to mete out severe punishment.<\/p>\n
In the past five years, Fitzpatrick has earned two top-10 finishes – ninth in 2021 and fifth in 2024 – but has missed the cut on the other three occasions.<\/p>\n
“I like the golf course, it’s a great golf course,” said Fitzpatrick.<\/p>\n
“It’s a really good test and offers a different variety of shots, which really makes you think. <\/p>\n
“It’s interesting there has only been one repeat winner and if you look at the results of a lot of players it is up and down. It really tests all aspects of your golf.”<\/p>\n
Fitzpatrick’s game is generally in a good place and the reason why he has been backed to be among the contenders.<\/p>\n
The 31-year-old Yorkshireman finished 2025 with a stylish victory at the DP World Tour Championship, using that momentum to make an encouraging start to 2026 which so far sees a top-10 finish at the Phoenix Open as the high point.<\/p>\n
Going into last weekend’s Arnold Palmer Invitational – the final event before the Players starts on Thursday – the statistics illustrated where Fitzpatrick’s game was at.<\/p>\n
He was ranked in the top 20 for total strokes gained – the analytic tool used to determine a player’s scoring against the rest of the tour – and sitting fifth from tee to green. <\/p>\n
Those figures were hit by a poor finish at Bay Hill, though, where five bogeys in the final eight holes dropped Fitzpatrick down to 41st on the final leaderboard.<\/p>\n
There was a positive to take. His putting – which had let him down on the PGA Tour’s west coast swing in January and February – was largely improved.<\/p>\n
Speaking before Bay Hill about his prospects at the Players, Fitzpatrick said: “I feel my game is heading in the right direction, I played pretty well on the west coast, I just didn’t really make any putts.<\/p>\n
“Hopefully over the next few weeks I’ll be getting on greens which I’m a little more comfortable with and have some good results.<\/p>\n
“My driving and approach play has been solid. If I can make a few more putts then I’ve got a chance.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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