The Players Championship: McIlroy, Scheffler and Schauffele stage the kind of showdown golf needs
They arrived at the famed island green — No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass — at 10:30 a.m. ET, the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 ranked players in the world staging a head-to-head-to-head showdown at the so-called "fifth major." It was a rare must-see moment for a divided sport that has spent the last few years with its best players spread around the world, rarely getting together to stage what professional sports are really about — the best facing the best to see who's actually the best.
But there was Scottie Scheffler (No. 1), Rory McIlroy (No. 2) and Xander Schauffele (No. 3) standing on a tee box together in the second round of The Players Championship, giving the thousands of fans surrounding them at 17 a glimpse of what golf should be on a week-in-week-out basis.
First up was McIlroy, then Schauffele and then Scheffler. They would all leave with par, but not before McIlroy nearly holed his tee shot.
On the micro-level, the three were battling in the biggest tournament outside of the four majors. McIlroy would take the solo lead one hole later — part of a five-birdie, no-bogey first nine that bested Scheffler and Schauffele by three strokes.
On the macro, it was the one millionth reminder that golf needs to get its you-know-what together. Because while Scheffler, McIlroy and Schauffele are ranked 1-2-3, respectively, are they really the best three golfers in the world? Bryson DeChambeau or Jon Rahm might have something to say about that, were they a part of the 144-player field in Ponte Vedre, Fla., this weekend. But they're not because they're in Singapore about to tee it up in LIV Golf's fourth tournament of the season.
Whose fault is that? Well, DeChambeau and Rahm did take the bag to leave, but they took it for a reason and that reason prompted the PGA Tour to make some long overdue changes — namely increase its purses, particularly for "elevated" events. So they weren't all wrong. But the reality now is what it is and what it is is a sport that doesn't have its best players playing against one another outside of four times a year, and that's got to change, lest golf creeps more and more into the "enduring but increasingly irrelevant" tier of sports.
It's clear golf fans will tune in when the best players play together. This year's ratings for signature events are up dramatically year over year, per Nielsen. The Pro-Am at Pebble Beach was up 47%, the Genesis 6% and the Arnold Palmer 22%.
The TPC should see a similar increase, especially if the current leaderboard holds.
Sitting at the top with the clubhouse lead is Min Woo Lee at 11-under. He represents golf's new-age, a 26-year-old who's grown up in the age of social media, an arena where golf is actually thriving, maybe more than any other sport in the world. Lee may not be on the popularity level of McIlory, but if you were betting on the futures market of golf, that's where the smart money would go.
McIlroy, despite two bogeys in his final four holes, is just two back. He won Friday's three-player showdown, carding a 68 to Scheffler's 70 and Schauffele's 71.
Scheffler, as always, is lurking at 5-under. Schaueffele, at 2-under, looks like he'll make the cut by a stroke.
If you're a golf fan, this is what you want, though it would be even better if everyone were there.
Maybe next year, though at the glacial pace reunification talks are moving, don't hold your breath.
This story will be updated.
-
The Players Championship first and second round tee times, how to watch: Scottie Scheffler eyeing three-peat at TPC Sawgrass
Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele will be paired up for the first two rounds this week in Florida.Yahoo Sports - 4d -
It's not quite a Tiger-like vibe, even if crowds at Players Championship love big names
The Players Championship paired the world's top three players -- Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy and Xander Schauffele -- for two days. But it didn't elicit a Tiger buzz.Yahoo Sports - 3h -
Rory McIlroy, golf's most consistent player for 15 years, seeking second Players title | D'Angelo
A 68, that included a bogey on his final hole of the day has Rory McIlroy squarely in the chase for his second Players Championship victory at 9-under.Yahoo Sports - 2h -
UT golf star Luke Potter apologizes for heckling Rory McIlroy at The Players in Florida
University of Texas golf star Luke Potter apologized after heckling Rory McIlroy from the sidelines of The Players at TPC Sawgrass.Yahoo Sports - 5h -
2025 Players Championships odds, picks: Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy hold as favorites at PGA Tour flagship
The biggest event of the PGA Tour's season takes place this week at TPC SawgrassCBS Sports - 1d -
Rory McIlroy mum on video of him taking phone from University of Texas player heckling him
Rory McIlroy shot a 67 at The Players ChampionshipABC News - 22h -
2025 Players Championship: Scottie Scheffler three-peat may be most impressive feat of exceptional run
Scheffler became the first to defend a Players title last season; now, he aims for rarified air at TPC SawgrassCBS Sports - 2d -
2025 Players Championship picks, odds, field: Surprising predictions from golf model that's nailed 13 majors
SportsLine's model simulated the 2025 Players Championship 10,000 times and revealed its surprising PGA Tour golf picksCBS Sports - 21h -
2025 Players Championship one and done picks, sleepers, rankings: PGA predictions, expert golf betting advice
Mike McClure locked in his Players one and done picks and PGA Tour golf predictions for the Players Championship 2025 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FloridaCBS Sports - 2d
More from Yahoo Sports
-
What UCLA coach Mick Cronin said about Wisconsin star John Tonje after Badgers' big win
Wisconsin’s basketball’s most important player added another signature performance to his 2024-25 campaign on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Josh Hart says Knicks are ‘moving on’ from Draymond Green’s comments about Karl-Anthony Towns
Ahead of the Knicks-Warriors game on Saturday, Josh Hart was asked about Draymond Green's comments about Karl-Anthony Towns and was civil but insightful.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
How to watch Ohio State vs Penn State hockey Saturday: Time, TV channel for B1G semifinal
Ohio State and Penn State face off in a Big Ten Hockey Tournament semifinal matchup. Here's how to watch, and stream the game Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Late late show from Las Palmas secures draw and vital point in La Liga relegation fight
Two goals in the last five minutes gave Las Palmas a 2-2 home draw with Alaves and a valuable point in its fight against relegation from La Liga on Friday. Alaves went ahead in the sixth minute ...Yahoo Sports - 14m -
Late late show from Las Palmas secures draw and vital point in La Liga relegation fight
Two goals in the last five minutes gave Las Palmas a 2-2 home draw with Alaves and a valuable point in its fight against relegation from La Liga on Friday. Alaves went ahead in the sixth minute ...Yahoo Sports - 14m
More in Sports
-
Bruno hits back at Ratcliffe's 'overpaid' comments
Bruno Fernandes has hit back at Sir Jim Ratcliffe's suggestion that some Manchester United players are overpaid by telling the British billionaire "the club agrees to do the contracts."ESPN - 8m -
What UCLA coach Mick Cronin said about Wisconsin star John Tonje after Badgers' big win
Wisconsin’s basketball’s most important player added another signature performance to his 2024-25 campaign on Friday.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Josh Hart says Knicks are ‘moving on’ from Draymond Green’s comments about Karl-Anthony Towns
Ahead of the Knicks-Warriors game on Saturday, Josh Hart was asked about Draymond Green's comments about Karl-Anthony Towns and was civil but insightful.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
How to watch Ohio State vs Penn State hockey Saturday: Time, TV channel for B1G semifinal
Ohio State and Penn State face off in a Big Ten Hockey Tournament semifinal matchup. Here's how to watch, and stream the game Saturday.Yahoo Sports - 11m -
Late late show from Las Palmas secures draw and vital point in La Liga relegation fight
Two goals in the last five minutes gave Las Palmas a 2-2 home draw with Alaves and a valuable point in its fight against relegation from La Liga on Friday. Alaves went ahead in the sixth minute ...Yahoo Sports - 14m