Featured Groups: THE PLAYERS Championship

Webb Simpson knows what it’s like to win THE PLAYERS Championship in May. This week, the defending champ will play the first two rounds with a player who knows what it’s like to win at TPC Sawgrass in both March and May. Tiger Woods is the only two-time PLAYERS champion to win at the Stadium Course in different months, and he’ll get a chance to add another victory to his resume after the tournament’s return to March for the first time since 2006. Meanwhile, Simpson will be battling PLAYERS history – no defending champ has successfully defended. But given how he dominated last year, cruising to a four-shot win while matching the course record with a second-round 63, perhaps the confidence will spill over into a second straight win this week. Here’s a look at some of the Featured Groups (FedExCup ranking after The Honda Classic in parentheses). Four more Featured Groups will be announced on Monday at 4 p.m. ET. HOW TO FOLLOW (all times ET) TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 1-7 p.m. (Golf Channel). Saturday, 2-7 p.m. (NBC). Sunday, 1-6 p.m. (NBC). PGA TOUR LIVE: Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.- 7 p.m. (Featured Groups). Saturday, 8:30 a.m.- 7 p.m. (Featured Groups). Sunday, 8 a.m.- 6 p.m. (Featured Groups). LIVE ON TWITTER: Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m. – approx. 8:30 a.m.; Saturday, 8:30 a.m. – approx. 9:30 a.m.; Sunday, 8 a.m. – approx. 9 a.m. RADIO: Thursday-Friday, 12-7 p.m. Saturday, 1-7 p.m. Sunday, 12-6 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.COM). International subscribers (via GOLFTV): Thursday-Friday, 12:30 to 23:00 GMT. Saturday, 14:00 to 23:00. Sunday, 13:00 to 22:00. FEATURED GROUPS THURSDAY Webb Simpson (38) – In addition to his 63, he set PLAYERS records for largest 36-hole (5 shots) and 54-hole (7 shots) leads last year. Patrick Reed (52) – Due to the schedule change, he’s making his second PLAYERS start since winning the Masters last April. Tiger Woods (105) – In his 17 opening rounds at TPC Sawgrass, just one was in the 60s  — a 67 in 2013 when he won for the second time. Rickie Fowler (6) – Had three rounds in the 60s when he won in 2015; every other round since 2013 has been in the 70s. Brooks Koepka (8) – His last competitive round at TPC Sawgrass was a course-record tying 63 in Round 4 a year ago. Jordan Spieth (180) – Tied for fourth in his first PLAYERS in 2014, then missed the cut in his next three starts. FRIDAY Matt Kuchar (2) –  Two top-10s in 14 career starts; of course, one of those was his win in 2012. Phil Mickelson (9) – Won THE PLAYERS the first time it was held in May in 2007 but hasn’t had a top-10 finish since then. Rory McIlroy (15) – Missed the cut in his first three PLAYERS starts, then had top-10 finishes in the next three. Xander Schauffele (1) – FedExCup leader tied for second last year in his first PLAYERS start. Justin Thomas (5) – Feast or famine on the weekend for the former FedExCup champion – four rounds of 68 or better, and three rounds of 75 or higher. Justin Rose (11) – Reigning FedExCup champion. In 15 career starts at TPC Sawgrass, he has just one top-10 – a T4 in 2014.

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