Scheffler paired with Fowler, Thomas at Players Championship

Scottie Scheffler will start his protection on the Gamers Championship paired alongside fellow Individuals Rickie Fowler and Justin Thomas for the primary two rounds.

Coming off a dominating victory on the Arnold Palmer Invitational, the place he beat your complete subject by 2 strokes Sunday, Scheffler is the primary defending champion to reach at TPC Sawgrass because the top-ranked participant on this planet since Rory McIlroy in 2020. The occasion was finally canceled that yr due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Scheffler will start his quest for a repeat within the afternoon wave Thursday, teeing off in at 1:40 ET in one of many marquee pairings launched Monday. The trio will then tee off at 8:35 a.m. on Friday. Fowler gained the Gamers in 2015 whereas Thomas claimed the trophy three years in the past.

Thursday’s afternoon wave will embrace different marquee teams comprising defending U.S. Open champion Wyndham Clark taking part in with fellow former champions Collin Morikawa and Brian Harman, whereas younger American stars Tony Finau and Will Zalatoris will play with former Open champion Shane Lowry.

McIlroy is coming off a disappointing Sunday at Bay Hill, the place he stumbled to a final-round 76. Relatively than seize his alternative to reclaim the No. 1 rating, McIlroy noticed the space between him and Scheffler develop with a tie for twenty first.

The 2019 champion completed tied for thirty third finally yr’s Gamers. He’ll tee off at 8:35 a.m. on Thursday in a featured group together with Jordan Spieth and Norway’s Viktor Hovland.

Additionally teeing off within the morning wave of the opening spherical would be the group of Patrick Cantlay, 2004 Gamers champion Adam Scott and rising Swedish star Ludvig Åberg.

They are going to all be trying to get off to a quick begin to put stress on Scheffler, the +500 pre-tournament favourite at DraftKings and +550 favourite at BetMGM.

“Everyone, I assume, now could be type of trying up at me on the prime of the rankings and attempting to take me down, so with the intention to keep up there, you bought to place in numerous work,” Scheffler mentioned Sunday.