Golf - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Players set for Monday playoff of Rory McIlroy vs. J.J. Spaun

Rory McIlroy had every reason to think he would be leaving the PGA Tour's premier event with the gold trophy and a big payoff Sunday.

By DOUG FERGUSON / The Associated Press March 16, 2025

AP photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson / Rory McIlroy acknowledges the gallery after making a putt on the 18th hole of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during Sunday's final round of The Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

J.J. Spaun leads at Players Championship after windy Saturday

J.J. Spaun watched his 25-foot putt swirl 360 degrees around the cup and drop for par, a fitting end to a wild, windy, round-wrecking Saturday.

By DOUG FERGUSON / The Associated Press March 15, 2025

AP photo by Julia Demaree Nikhinson / J.J. Spaun watches his chip shot on the second hole of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during the third round of The Players Championship on Saturday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

The Players Championship might have a wild weekend in store

The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass can be daunting in any conditions. And now the wind is on its way to The Players Championship this weekend.

By DOUG FERGUSON / The Associated Press March 14, 2025

AP photo by Chris O'Meara / Justin Thomas celebrates after making a birdie on the 17th hole of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during the second round of The Players Championship on Friday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Thomas tied the tournament's scoring record for lowest round with a 10-under-par 62.

Chattanooga’s Stephan Jaeger off to strong start at Players

Slight misses can turn into big numbers at TPC Sawgrass, and Thursday's opening round of The Players Championship was no exception.

By DOUG FERGUSON / The Associated Press March 13, 2025

AP photo by Chris O'Meara / Chattanooga resident Stephan Jaeger, a former Baylor School and UTC standout, putts on the 14th green of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. Jaeger opened The Players Championship with a 4-under-par 68 and was two shots behind the co-leaders.

The Players Championship has baffled some of golf’s greatest

The Players Championship is hard enough for PGA Tour veterans. Tackling the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is astronomically tougher for newcomers.

By DOUG FERGUSON / The Associated Press March 12, 2025

AP photo by Chris O'Meara / Justin Thomas chips onto the 11th green of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during a practice round Wednesday in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. The Players Championship tees off Thursday at the course, which has hosted the PGA Tour's premier event since 1982.

Tiger Woods faces another lost year on the links after latest injury

Golf without Tiger Woods was inevitable simply because of age. Injuries have sped up the process for the 15-time major champion.

By DOUG FERGUSON / The Associated Press March 12, 2025

AP photo by Charlie Riedel / Tiger Woods walks on the 18th hole at Augusta National Golf club during the weather-delayed second round of the Masters on April 8, 2023.

Tiger Woods says he ruptured his Achilles tendon, an injury that will keep him out of the Masters

Tiger Woods had a less invasive surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon on Tuesday, which will keep him out of the Masters and leaves in question whether he can play in any other major championship the rest of the year.

By Doug Ferguson March 11, 2025

FILE - Tiger Woods walks to the green on the fifth hole during final round at the Masters golf tournament at Augusta National Golf Club Sunday, April 14, 2024, in Augusta, Ga. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

Golf roundup: Russell Henley’s fifth PGA Tour win his biggest yet

Russell Henley faced one shot he hardly ever practices.

By The Associated Press March 9, 2025

AP photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack / Russell Henley holds the championship trophy after winning the PGA Tour's Arnold Palmer Invitational Sunday at Bay Hill Club in Orlando, Fla.

Tiger Woods won’t compete in next week’s Players Championship

Tiger Woods is not in the field for The Players Championship in the final year of his exemption for the tournament from winning the 2019 Masters.

By DOUG FERGUSON / The Associated Press March 8, 2025

AP photo by Phelan M. Ebenhack / Tiger Woods tracks his shot from the 14th fairway at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club during the final round of the PNC Championship on Dec. 22 in Orlando, Fla.

Golf roundup: Joe Highsmith a cut above for first PGA Tour victory

Joe Highsmith had to do a lot of work Friday just to get to the weekend at PGA National. And then he really got down to business.

By The Associated Press March 2, 2025

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