The Players: Rory McIlroy begins title defence alongside Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama as PGA Tour reveal Featured Groups
PGA Tour have announced their two marquee groups for the first two rounds of The Players; Rory McIlroy with Xander Schauffele, Hideki Matsuyama while Scottie Scheffler is in a threeball with Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Thomas; watch The Players live on Sky Sports Golf
Sunday 8 March 2026 22:15, UK
Rory McIlroy has been grouped alongside Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama for the first two rounds of his title defence at The Players.
McIlroy became just the eighth player in history to become a multiple winner of the PGA Tour's flagship event during last year's contest, where he defeated JJ Spaun in a Monday play-off to add to his 2019 success.
The world No 2 is bidding to join Scottie Scheffler as the only back-to-back winner of The Players, although arrives at TPC Sawgrass having been forced to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational mid-tournament due to a back injury.
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McIlroy pulled out ahead of his third round after developing muscle spasms in his lower back, having first felt a twinge during his warm-up in the gym, with his mid-tournament withdrawal just the third in his professional career.
The decision is understood to have been precautionary ahead of The Players, live on Thursday from 11.30am on Sky Sports Golf, with McIlroy expected to be fit to feature alongside Schauffele and Matsuyama.
Schauffele was world No 3 when he was grouped alongside McIlroy and Scheffler early in last year's event but has since dropped down to world No 10, while Matsuyama also chases a first PGA Tour win of the season.
The first two marquee groups for The Players were announced during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational, with Scheffler confirmed to partner Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood.
The 2021 champion Thomas finished bottom of the Bay Hill leaderboard on his return to action this week, with Fleetwood ending 49th ahead of his bid to become the first English winner of The Players.
Scheffler arrives at TPC Sawgrass having finished outside the top 10 in successive PGA Tour events for the first time in a year, although has another opportunity to join Jack Nicklaus as the only ever three-time winner of The Players.
"Any time you get mentioned with somebody like Jack Nicklaus it means you're doing something right," Scheffler said. "I'm not going to step into the tournament thinking about winning - I'm going to be stepping on the first tee trying to execute and do what I normally do."
Both Featured Groups will be available to watch live on Sky Sports, with full tee times for the first and second rounds set to be announced early during tournament week.
When is The Players live on Sky Sports?
Sky Sports Golf will once again be the home of The Players, with over 40 hours of live golf across the four days and a host of extra live programming available during tournament week.
'Live from The Players' brings you the latest news from TPC Sawgrass from 1pm on Tuesday and 11.30am on Wednesday, ahead of live tournament coverage starting on Thursday.
Featured Groups will be available on Sky Sports+ throughout the week, along with Featured Holes, with bonus feeds to enjoy on top of the feeds available each week during PGA Tour coverage.
Coverage begins at 11.30am on Thursday and Friday before starting at 1pm over the weekend, with highlights and additional shows on Sky Sports Golf. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.
