Six Australasians tackle Players Championship
Min Woo Lee – perhaps Australasia’s best chance
This week’s Players Championship at the famed TPC Sawgrass at Ponte Vedra Beach in north west Florida will see five Australians and one New Zealander facing the starter on Thursday morning US time.
The long-held discussion point of whether the event, long touted as a potential 5th major should be included in that category, raised its head again but many players feel it should stay where it is and perhaps a case of ‘if it aint broke don’t fix it’. There is little doubting the respect the event has by bothe players and golf fands generally.
The event typically brings together the strongest in the game, and much of the argument for its addition to golf’s current four majors continues but whether the argument has any legs is up for debate, and if it were to be, then the leading LIV Golf players should be included despite the event being the PGA Tour’s flagship event.
Either way, the six Australasians in this week’s event will compete for the first prize of US$4.5 million from a total purse of US$25 million, with a top ten finish earning US$681,000.
In terms of world ranking, Min Woo Lee heads that list, the West Australian playing the event for the 4th occasion. Lee’s finished 6th on debut in 2023 and has been 54th and 20th in his two appearances since.
Lee has played very well in recent starts, including a runner-up finish at Pebble Beach and a 6th place finish at Bay Hill last week suggesting he is a genuine contender for a high finish this week.
Jason Day is the next highest-ranked Australian in this week’s field, and as a former winner, he deserves respect, but his most recent form, including consecutive missed cuts in his last two starts, is somewhat of a concern.
In 16 starts in this event, Day has the win in 2016 when playing some of the best golf of his career and three other top tens so his record at The TPC Sawgrass is mixed to say the least.
Ryan Fox will play his 4th Players Championship with a best of 20th last year. Fox’s form in his now third season on the PGA Tour in 2026 is trending in the right direction with four solid finishes to date this season and a top ten or better is not beyond the 37 year old.
Adam Scott won this event 22 years ago, but with just three other top-ten finishes in a total of 23 starts, his record has not been that stunning.
The 45-year-old is, however, playing some fine golf in 2026, including a 4th place at Riviera and an 11th place at the Arnold Palmer Championship last week.
Karl Vilips will play his second Players Championship, the US-based West Australian missing the cut on debut last year and coming off the back of two consecutive cuts in 2026, his chances of a good week appear slim.
Cam Davis has slumped in world ranking from a best of 38th 18 months or so ago to a current 179th, with not one top ten in his last twelve months.
Davis will play this event for the 6th occasion, but with four missed cuts in those five previous starts, there is not a lot to get excited about for the Seattle based Sydney golfer.
It is hard to go past Lee as the leading Australasian but the ever-improving Ryan Fox might just spring a surprise.
