Just two weeks remain until the strongest field in golf reconvenes at TPC Sawgrass, THE PLAYERS Championship sets the stage for the 2025 event by showcasing four of the biggest names in the sport who are among the favorites to create their Defining Moment en route to hoisting THE PLAYERS trophy.

Rory McIlroy

Current World No. 3 Rory McIlroy will once again return to TPC Sawgrass where he won in 2019. The Defining Moment that day for the 27-time PGA TOUR winner came at the 15th hole, where after a drive that landed in the fairway bunker, he blasted his approach to 13 feet to set up an unlikely birdie. This season, McIlroy has made two starts on the PGA TOUR highlighted by a win at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, in addition to one start on the DP World Tour at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic (T4). The Northern Ireland native will make his 15th start at THE PLAYERS this year where he looks to become the eighth player to win the event multiple times.

Jason Day

THE PLAYERS 2016 Champion Jason Day is set to make his 14th appearance at the PGA TOUR’s flagship event. In 2016 Day entered THE PLAYERS Championship with two wins on the season, notching victories at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard and the World Golf Championships-Dell Technologies Match Play. Day opened at the THE PLAYERS Stadium Course Twith a record-tying 63, followed by a 66, before going 73-71 on the weekend for 15-under 273 to win by four over Kevin Chappell to earn his 10th title. Since then, the 37-year-old has gone on to win three additional victories to become a 13-time PGA TOUR winner. This season, the Australia native has made five starts, with his best finish recorded at The American Express (T3), and looks to re-enter the winners circle in March when he returns to TPC Sawgrass.

Patrick Cantlay

Set to make his eighth start at THE PLAYERS Championship, Patrick Cantlay enters the field ranked No. 12 in the Official World Golf Ranking. In just four starts this season, Cantlay has already notched two top-5 finishes during the PGA TOUR’s West Coast Swing at The American Express and The Genesis Invitational. The 32-year-old will return to TPC Sawgrass looking to improve on his best finish (T19/2023) and in search of his ninth career TOUR title and first since the 2022 BMW Championship.

Viktor Hovland

Norweigan superstar and 2023 FedExCup Champion Viktor Hovland has committed to return to THE PLAYERS Championship. In 2023, the 27-year-old collected wins at the Memorial Tournament presented by Workday and the BMW Championship en route to winning the FedExCup, being crowned the season-long champion. The six-time PGA TOUR winner will be making his fifth consecutive career start at TPC Sawgrass after recording a career-best T3 finish in 2023. In three starts this season, Hovland’s best appearance was at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am where finished T22.