Mark Schlabach
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler returns to the Gamers Championship at TPC Sawgrass this week after turning into the primary back-to-back winner within the occasion’s 50-year historical past in 2024.
This yr, Scheffler will look to hitch Jack Nicklaus as solely the second three-time winner; the Golden Bear gained the Gamers in 1974, 1976 and 1978.
A yr in the past, Scheffler battled neck ache early within the second spherical and wasn’t certain he might preserve taking part in. He battled by way of the harm and located himself six pictures behind Wyndham Clark on the midway level.
Scheffler was 5 behind Xander Schauffele after 54 holes, however discovered himself lifting a trophy once more that Sunday by carding a bogey-free, 8-under 64 within the closing spherical. Clark, Schauffele and Brian Harman had birdie tries on the 72nd gap to tie Scheffler and drive a playoff — however all three missed.
Scheffler completed 20 underneath and beat them by a stroke.
This is a take a look at the 144-player area for this week’s Gamers Championship (stream on ESPN+, 7:30 a.m. ET on Thursday), from the clear favourite to the golfers hoping to make the lower:
Leap to a bit:The clear favorites | Guys who can win | If all the things goes rightLong pictures | Miracles occur | Joyful to make the lower
Tier I: The clear favorites
Scottie SchefflerLast yr, Scheffler led the sector in pictures gained: off the tee (1.619) and tied for first in driving accuracy (45 of 56). He had only one bogey in his closing 39 holes in 2024. He can be the primary PGA Tour golfer to win an occasion three straight occasions since Steve Stricker did it on the John Deere Basic in 2009-11. He struggled along with his placing on the Arnold Palmer Invitational, dropping greater than 5 strokes to the sector over 72 holes.
Ludvig ÅbergThe 25-year-old from Sweden posted three 67s to complete solo eighth at 14 underneath in his Gamers Championship debut in 2024. He led the sector in driving distance (303.3 yards) and was ninth in strokes gained: method (1.440). Oh, the previous Texas Tech star moved to Ponte Vedra Seashore in October and claims TPC Sawgrass as his house course.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Collin MorikawaMorikawa has his world-class iron play dialed in once more, and he was runner-up on the Sentry in Hawaii within the season opener and once more on the Arnold Palmer Inviational. Morikawa was second in strokes gained: tee to inexperienced heading into final week’s API, and that talent is a necessity at TPC Sawgrass. Morikawa has putted a lot better this season. His finest end on the Gamers was a tie for thirteenth at 7 underneath in 2023.
Justin ThomasThe 2021 Gamers Championship winner has been taking part in a lot better golf, ending second on the American Categorical in January, adopted by top-10s on the WM Phoenix Open and the Genesis Invitational. He has been strong from tee to inexperienced, though his driving accuracy hasn’t been nice. Final yr, JT missed the lower on the Gamers, ending his streak of eight straight weekends performed at TPC Sawgrass.
Rory McIlroyRory is a menace to win every time he tees off in a match, nevertheless it has been a little bit of a wrestle for him at TPC Sawgrass since successful the 2019 Gamers Championship. His 4 finishes since then: missed lower, T33rd, missed lower, T19th. Final yr, McIlroy hit solely 28 of 56 fairways and carded 11 bogeys and three double bogeys in 72 holes. He was toying round with a brand new driver and woods at Bay Hill, however went again to his outdated ones on the weekend.
Tier II: The blokes who can win
Wyndham ClarkClark had struggled off the tee and on method this season till heating up at Bay Hill final week. He’ll most likely always remember the 16-foot putt that spun out of the 72nd gap at The Gamers final yr, which might have put him in a playoff towards Scheffler. He was 11 underneath on par 5s at TPC Sawgrass final yr. His recreation has been up and down for the previous a number of months, however he is tough to beat when his thoughts is in a great place.
Xander SchauffeleSchauffele, who picked up his first two main championship victories on the PGA Championship and The Open in 2024, remains to be knocking off the rust from a rib harm that brought on him to overlook eight weeks earlier than his begin eventually week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational. He hit solely 32 of 56 fairways at TPC Sawgrass final yr however remained within the hunt till the 72nd gap by ending seventh in scrambling (16 of 20) and fifth in strokes gained: placing (1.413).
Hideki MatsuyamaThe 2021 Masters champion had three top-eight finishes in his previous 4 begins at TPC Sawgrass, together with a tie for sixth at 15 underneath in 2024. He may need gained if he hadn’t misplaced greater than a half-stroke (-.511) on the greens.
Maverick McNealyThe budding star had a breakthrough at The Gamers in 2024, tying for ninth at 13 underneath. He was 4 strokes behind Schauffele after 54 holes and carded an even-par 72 on Sunday.
Russell HenleyAs straight as Henley hits a ball and in addition to he putts — see final week’s win on the API, the fifth of his PGA Tour profession — it appears his profession outcomes at TPC Sawgrass might have been higher. He has extra missed cuts (six) than made cuts (5). He turned issues round within the majors the previous two seasons and may be able to do the identical at The Gamers.
Tommy FleetwoodTPC Sawgrass does not appear to suit Fleetwood’s eye in addition to different programs, however the Englishman has three straight finishes within the prime 35. He went into final week’s API ranked first on tour in strokes gained: method (1.178) this season.
Si Woo KimKim was heating up in his previous 4 begins on tour, and now he is heading to a course the place he gained in 2017 and has 4 top-25s in 9 occasions. He tied for sixth at 15 underneath final yr, carding an 8-under 64 with seven birdies and an eagle on Sunday.
Daniel BergerBerger has performed lights-out since coming back from a again harm that sidelined him for greater than 18 months. He has a great monitor document at The Gamers, tying for thirteenth at 6 underneath in 2022 and for ninth at 8 underneath in 2021.
Laurie CanterFew golfers on the planet have been as sizzling as Canter, a former LIV Golf competitor who paid a advantageous to return to the DP World Tour in 2024. This yr, he completed third within the Hero Dubai Desert Basic, gained a playoff on the Bahrain Championship and misplaced a playoff to complete second on the South African Open. He is the primary LIV Golf participant to qualify for The Gamers.
Sepp StrakaThe Austrian-born Straka captured his third PGA Tour victory on the American Categorical in January. He tied for sixteenth at 10 underneath at The Gamers final yr and largely averted errors (4 bogeys and one double-bogey in 72 holes), however his putter did not cooperate a lot.
Brian HarmanCan the 2023 Open Championship winner discover magic once more at TPC Sawgrass? Final yr, he tied for second at 19 underneath after opening with an even-par 72. He led the sector in strokes gained: method (2.252) and hit 60 of 72 greens.
Shane LowryThe Irish golfer has performed effectively this season, ending solo second on the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am. He had top-20 finishes in three of his previous 4 begins in Ponte Vedra Seashore and practically aced the long-lasting seventeenth gap within the closing spherical final yr (he made one in 2022).
Sam Burns“Bermuda Burns“ usually heats up when the tour reaches its Florida Swing. He is nonetheless searching for his first top-25 end at TPC Sawgrass however made the lower in every of his previous three begins.
Patrick CantlayAfter three straight missed cuts at The Gamers, Cantlay tied for nineteenth at 8 underneath in 2023. He tied for 68th at 2 over with just one sub-par spherical final yr. The California native had two top-five finishes on the West Coast swing on the American Categorical and Genesis Invitational.
Sahith TheegalaTheegala is not very correct off the tee, however he finds myriad methods to get well and get his ball on the inexperienced. Final yr, he tied for ninth at 13 underneath, main the sector in strokes gained: placing (2.099). He made greater than 360 ft of putts.
Min Woo LeeAfter tying for sixth at 8 underneath in his Gamers debut in 2023, Lee needed to make a 60-foot birdie putt on the seventeenth gap — the second-longest putt on that gap within the ShotLink period since 2003 — to make the lower final yr. He tied for 54th at 2 underneath.
Min Woo Lee from 60 ft …
The second longest putt made on No. 17 since 2003 💪 pic.twitter.com/YNsSAYz4Ma
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 15, 2024
Jason DayOne of Day’s greatest PGA Tour victories got here on the 2016 Gamers Championship, when he defeated Kevin Chappell by 4 strokes. His final top-10 end within the occasion was a tie for eighth at 12 underneath in 2019. Day is working with swing coach Colin Swatton once more, who helped him ascend to No. 1 on the planet in 2015.
Tony FinauFinau has putted higher this season and picked up three top-25s on the West Coast swing, together with a tie for fifth at 8 underneath on the Genesis Invitational. His finest end at The Gamers was a tie for nineteenth at 6 underneath in 2023.
Sungjae ImThe South Korean golfer has made 4 straight cuts at The Gamers, together with a tie for sixth at 8 underneath in 2023. Within the third spherical final yr, he caught a horrible break when his method shot on the par-4 seventh gap gave the impression to be spinning again within the gap, however was denied by his personal pitch mark.
Unluckiest break of the week? 😮
Sungjae Im’s method would’ve gone in had it not hit his personal pitch mark. pic.twitter.com/n9YCQmDJKK
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) March 16, 2024
Harris EnglishEnglish has performed effectively this yr, claiming his fifth PGA Tour victory on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open on Jan. 25. It was his first win since present process hip surgical procedure in February 2022. He overcame his TPC Sawgrass demons in 2024, ending a streak of seven straight missed cuts with a tie for nineteenth at 9 underneath.
Adam ScottFew golfers within the area have performed TPC Sawgrass as a lot (or effectively) because the 2004 Gamers Championship winner. He has recorded 10 top-25s in 23 begins; his final top-15 was a tie for twelfth in 2019.
Justin RoseThe Englishman has a good monitor document with six top-25s in 20 begins at TPC Sawgrass, together with a tie for sixth in 2023. Final yr, he missed the lower after hitting two pictures into the water on the seventeenth gap and carded a quadruple-bogey 7.
Michael KimKim has resurrected his profession with a red-hot begin this season, ending within the prime 25 in 4 of his first seven begins, together with a tie for second on the WM Phoenix Open. Final yr, he carded a 4-under 68 within the first spherical at The Gamers. However then he hit solely six of 14 fairways and posted an 8-over 80 to overlook the lower.
Tier III: If all the things goes proper
Christiaan BezuidenhoutGiven his placing prowess, the South African golfer may be a sneaky choose to win The Gamers. He tied for thirteenth in every of his final two begins at The Gamers. In 2024, he ranked fourth within the area in strokes gained: method (1.744) and twenty ninth in placing (.464).
Jordan SpiethSpieth remains to be making his means again from wrist surgical procedure and had encouraging outcomes on the WM Phoenix Open (tie for fourth) and Cognizant Basic within the Palm Seashores (tie for ninth). He missed the lower on the 2024 Gamers Championship, hitting solely 13 of 28 fairways within the first two rounds.
Keegan BradleyThe U.S. Ryder Cup group captain has performed fairly effectively this season, tying for sixth on the Sony Open in Hawaii in January and ending solo fifth on the API. He completed solo fifth at 9 underneath within the 2022 Gamers, then had back-to-back missed cuts. He misplaced greater than 3½ strokes to the sector in placing in 2024.
Corey ConnersThe Canadian golfer hits loads of fairways and greens, however he has struggled at occasions along with his putter this season. He was solo third on the API and performs effectively on tough golf programs. He tied for thirteenth at 11 underneath in 2024.
Cam DavisThe Australian golfer stepped up his recreation earlier than a missed lower on the Genesis Invitational. He tied for sixth on the 2023 Gamers, then missed the lower after carding a 10-over 82 within the second spherical final yr. He was seven over on Holes 4-8.
Aaron RaiRai, who has climbed to twenty fifth within the OWGR, is probably finest recognized for carrying two gloves on the course. He tied for fourth on the Mexico Open and made the lower in his first two begins at The Gamers.
Matt FitzpatrickThe 2022 U.S. Open champion has struggled for a lot of the previous two seasons, partly due to surprisingly inconsistent iron play. One in every of his finest finishes got here in final yr’s Gamers Championship, the place he was solo fifth at 16 underneath. He was second within the area in strokes gained: placing (1.824) and hit 39 of 56 fairways.
Viktor HovlandThe 2023 FedEx Cup champion has been trying to find solutions in his recreation for a lot of the previous two seasons. He is nonetheless one of the crucial proficient golfers on the planet however hasn’t but put all of it again collectively. He had back-to-back top-10 finishes on the Gamers earlier than tying for 62nd at 1 underneath in 2024.
Tom KimThe TGL famous person was compelled to tug out of final yr’s Gamers Championship due to sickness. He was 5 over by way of eight holes within the first spherical.
Nick TaylorThe Canadian golfer is taking part in strong once more, successful the Sony Open in Hawaii in January and piling up three top-25 finishes since then. He tied for twenty sixth at The Gamers in 2024.
Tom HogeFor a man who’s title rhymes with bogey, Hoge’s recreation has been a pleasant match at TPC Sawgrass. He set a course document with a 10-under 62 within the third spherical in 2023, carding 10 birdies, hitting 16 of 18 greens and needing solely 27 putts. He tied for third at 10 underneath.
Will ZalatorisIt has been a protracted street again from surgical procedure to restore two herniated discs in Zalatoris‘ again in April 2023. There have been indicators that he is near returning to his world-class kind; he tied for twelfth on the American Categorical and for twenty fourth on the Genesis Invitational. His finest end on the Gamers was solo twenty first in 2021.
Byeong Hun AnThe South Korean golfer hasn’t carried out a lot at TPC Sawgrass, however he completed within the prime 16 of two majors in 2024. He is additionally coming off a pleasant stretch on the API.
Thomas DetryThe Belgium-born former world No. 1 beginner golfer claimed his first PGA Tour victory with a seven-stroke win on the WM Phoenix Open on Feb. 9. He made his first lower at The Gamers final yr, tying for 62nd at 1 underneath.
Robert MacIntyreThe Scottish golfer has climbed to nineteenth within the OWGR, because of final yr’s wins on the RBC Canadian Open and Genesis Scottish Open. He’ll be searching for his first made lower in three begins at TPC Sawgrass.
Denny McCarthyOne of the higher putters on tour, McCarthy completed within the prime 35 in his previous two begins within the occasion. He tied for fifth on the Genesis Invitational and had two different top-20s this season.
Billy HorschelHorschel does not reside removed from TPC Sawgrass, so one would determine he’d have success on the course. He has just one top-25 end in 12 starts-a tie for thirteenth in 2015.
Lucas GloverHis lengthy historical past at The Gamers is not nice with 10 missed cuts in 17 begins. He does have a few top-10 finishes however none since 2017.
Akshay BhatiaBhatia, 23, had back-to-back top-10 finishes on the Genesis Invitational and Mexico Open earlier than struggling within the windy circumstances on the API. He missed the lower in his Gamers Championship debut in 2024.
Andrew NovakNovak would possibly spray the ball from the tee an excessive amount of to contend at The Gamers, however he has performed effectively in 2025. He was solo third on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open and tied for thirteenth on the AT&T Pebble Seashore Professional-Am and the Genesis.
Chris KirkNot a lot has gone proper thus far for the six-time PGA Tour winner this season. His finest ending heading into final week was a tie for thirty fourth on the American Categorical. He has struggled along with his irons and placing and ranked 152nd in strokes gained: complete (-.836). He tied for twenty fourth at The Gamers in 2024.
Tier IV: The lengthy pictures
Aldrich PotgieterThe 20-year-old from South Africa burst onto the scene when he tied for fifteenth on the Farmers Insurance coverage Open and misplaced to Brian Campbell in a playoff on the Mexico Open in simply his sixth PGA Tour begin as a professional. Going into final week, Potgieter led the tour in each driving distance (326.9 yards) and strokes gained: placing (1.142). His iron play and contact across the greens stays a piece in progress.
Max GreysermanThe former Duke star has been trending in the best path with 4 prime 25s in his first seven begins on tour this season. He’ll be making his debut at TPC Sawgrass.
Brian CampbellCampbell picked up his first PGA Tour victory in a playoff on the Mexico Open. He is making his Gamers Championship debut.
Nico EchavarriaEchavarria collected victories in every of the previous two PGA Tour seasons, and practically gained once more when he misplaced to Taylor in a playoff on the Sony Open in January.
Taylor PendrithAfter capturing his first PGA Tour victory on the 2024 CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Pendrith’s recreation has been trending up. His finest end in The Gamers was a tie for thirteenth at 6 underneath in 2022.
Davis ThompsonLast season, the 25-year-old tied for ninth on the U.S. Open and picked up his first PGA Tour victory on the John Deere Basic, setting the match scoring document at 28 underneath. If he will get his irons and putter dialed in, he’ll win a giant occasion quickly.
Ben GriffinGriffin had a pleasant heater towards non-elite fields, tying for fourth in each the Mexico Open and Cognizant Basic. He missed the lower in his second begin at The Gamers in 2024.
Jake KnappKnapp is ultra-talented and confirmed it by successful the Mexico Open final yr. He was forty fifth within the Gamers final yr and would possibly want one other yr to season earlier than he is a real contender.
Stephan JaegerThe German golfer missed the lower in two of his previous three begins at TPC Sawgrass. His kind has been strong to start out the season.
Matthieu PavonIt’s been a little bit of a slog thus far this season for France’s most well-known golfer, who missed the lower on the API, posting a 12-over 83 within the second spherical.
Adam HadwinBefore lacking the lower final yr, Hadwin had back-to-back top-15 finishes at The Gamers.
Taylor MooreHe already picked up a few top-10s on the American Categorical and WM Phoenix Open. He made the lower in his previous two begins at The Gamers.
Mackenzie HughesHughes‘ kind wasn’t nice till he turned it on on the API. He tied for twenty sixth at The Gamers final yr.
Doug GhimGhim, Scheffler’s former teammate at Texas, has quietly put collectively a pleasant run at The Gamers. He tied for sixth at 13 underneath in 2022 and for sixteenth at 10 underneath in 2024.
Eric ColeThe well-traveled Cole missed the lower in 2024 after tying for twenty seventh in his debut.
Tier V: Hey, miracles occur
Victor PerezRickie FowlerGary WoodlandJ.J. SpaunJ.T. PostonPatrick RodgersSam StevensJoel DahmenAlex SmalleyNick DunlapKeith MitchellCameron YoungMax HomaJhonattan VegasBeau HosslerJoe HighsmithKarl VilipsNicolai HojgaardLanto GriffinRasmus HojgaardCharley HoffmanGreyson SiggAndrew PutnamMark HubbardRyan FoxSéamus PowerSam RyderIsaiah SalindaErik van RooyenJustin LowerAustin EckroatAdam SchenkJacob BridgemanBrice GarnettMatti SchmidRyan GerardMax McGreevyKris VenturaCamilo Villegas
This listing consists of some former PGA Tour winners who clearly aren’t on prime of their video games at this level for numerous causes. Cameron Younger regarded like a future Ryder Cup participant not way back, however now he cannot make a lower on tour. He missed his third straight weekend on the Arnold Palmer Invitational after carding a 10-over 82 within the first spherical (he was 11 pictures higher within the second spherical). Younger hasn’t been correct off the tee (50.4% of fairways hit heading into final week), and he has struggled mightily along with his irons (176th in strokes gained: method at -1.018).
Homa did play on the U.S. Ryder Cup group in Rome in 2023 and the Presidents Cup final yr. Like Younger, he cannot make a lower. He has missed three straight after posting a 9-over 81 within the first spherical at Bay Hill. Homa’s final top-25 end on tour was a tie for twenty second on the Memorial Event on June 9. Homa has modified tools and swing coaches, and he is nonetheless clawing his means again.
Woodland remains to be preventing his means again from surgical procedure to take away a benign mind tumor in September 2023. The 40-year-old mentioned he is feeling higher and there have been early indicators of promise with three straight prime 25s, adopted by back-to-back missed cuts. He completed 72nd at The Gamers final yr.
There are just a few first-timers on this listing who’re arguably too proficient to not be ranked greater. Keep in mind that a first-timer hasn’t gained the Gamers Championship since New Zealand’s Craig Perks, ranked 203rd on the planet on the time, shocked the sector to assert his first and solely PGA Tour victory. Earlier than Perks, the final golfer to win The Gamers in his first strive was Hal Sutton in 1983.
Clearly, successful at TPC Sawgrass in your debut is tough, in order that’s why golfers like Highsmith and Rasmus Hojgaard aren’t ranked greater. Highsmith captured the Cognizant Basic two weeks in the past, and Hojgaard was a five-time winner on the DP World Tour.
Tier VI: Joyful to make the lower
Harry HallVictor PerezKurt KitayamaDavis RileyCarson YoungPatrick FishburnRafael CamposHenrik NorlanderKevin YuPeter MalnatiMatt KucharChris GotterupBen KohlesBen SilvermanK.H. LeeSami VälimäkiMac MeissnerChad RameyChan KimEmiliano GrilloMatt McCartyAlejandro TostiVince WhaleyChandler PhillipsLuke ListPatton KizzireHayden SpringerRyo HisatsuneAdam SvenssonC.T. PanDavid LipskyWill GordonRico HoeyJackson SuberNate LashleyDavid SkinnsFrankie Capan IIIKevin RoyBud CauleyTrey MullinaxWill Chandler
This group features a few getting old PGA Tour golfers who’re making an attempt to hold onto their playing cards, and a number of other newcomers who’re making an attempt to get extra entry to the tour.
Kitayama tied for nineteenth at The Gamers in 2024 however has struggled thus far this season, lacking three cuts in six begins. His finest end was a tie for thirty seventh on the Sony Open. Malnati, 37, has 4 missed cuts in his first seven begins and has slipped to 151st on the planet.
Kuchar, 46, is a nine-time winner on tour and an 18-time champion around the globe. However he is not taking part in as a lot golf as of late, and he missed the weekend in every of his previous 4 begins at TPC Sawgrass.
Davis Riley, 28, was a budding star after claiming victories with teammate Nick Hardy on the 2023 Zurich Basic, then on his personal eventually yr’s Charles Schwab Problem, the place he beat Scheffler and Bradley by 5 strokes. He has struggled to seek out his kind this season, withdrawing after 9 holes of the ultimate spherical of The Sentry, then lacking 4 straight cuts whereas combating a two-way miss. He performed higher in final week’s Puerto Rico Basic, an opposite-field occasion.
