The second round of the 52nd Players Championship begins Friday at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, with leaders at five under par after the opening day. Key groups include Rory McIlroy with Xander Schauffele and Hideki Matsuyama, and Scottie Scheffler paired with Justin Thomas and Tommy Fleetwood. Coverage airs on Golf Channel and streams on ESPN+ starting early morning.
The Players Championship, often called golf's fifth major, continues with Round 2 on March 13, 2026, at the Stadium Course of TPC Sawgrass. After Thursday's first round, which included a 21-minute rain delay, Maverick McNealy, Sahith Theegala, Sepp Straka, Lee Hodges, and Austin Smotherman share the lead at five under par. Smotherman has a 14-foot putt remaining from his first round to potentially reach six under. Justin Thomas carded a four-under 68, highlighted by birdies on his first three holes, placing him tied for second despite recent recovery from back surgery. Scottie Scheffler sits at even par after a 72, while defending champion Rory McIlroy follows an opening 74.
Tee times for Round 2 start at 7:40 a.m. ET from both the first and 10th tees. Notable morning groups from the 10th tee include Xander Schauffele, Rory McIlroy, and Hideki Matsuyama at 8:52 a.m., as well as Sahith Theegala, Rickie Fowler, and Jordan Spieth at 8:40 a.m. Afternoon pairings from the first tee feature Scottie Scheffler, Tommy Fleetwood, and Justin Thomas at 1:42 p.m., and Akshay Bhatia, Brooks Koepka, and Tony Finau at 1:18 p.m.
Television coverage on Friday runs from 1-7 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, with PGA Tour Live streaming on ESPN+ beginning at 7:30 a.m. ET, including main feed, marquee group, featured groups, and featured holes coverage of Nos. 16 and 17. Radio broadcasts are available on SiriusXM channel 92 from noon to 7 p.m. ET. The tournament features a $25 million purse, with the winner earning $4.5 million, and includes 123 players, among them 46 of the top 50 in the world rankings.
