The Tour is at TPC Sawgrass for its marquee event THE PLAYERS Championship, and three major storylines are brewing after a busy week in the world of golf. From fan-focused innovations to pace-of-play reforms and the latest on Tiger Woods’ health (which isn’t good), here are three big things I’m watching as we head into the first round.
#1: Fan Forward Initiative Enhances Golf Coverage
Commissioner Jay Monahan emphasized the TOUR’s ongoing commitment to fans through the Fan Forward Initiative, a data-driven effort to improve the golf experience for both viewers and spectators.
The initiative, shaped by extensive fan polling, focuses on four key areas: increasing golf coverage per minute, creating more dramatic moments, offering deeper insights into players, and giving each event a distinct identity.
As a result, the TOUR has implemented Live Drone tracing technology, increased walk-and-talk interviews, and introduced AI-powered commentary on TOURCAST. The Friday cut line drama is also getting more attention, with new data tools tracking cut line probabilities in real time.
For in-person attendees, improvements include better WiFi, easier navigation, and more flexible ticketing options. “We’re focused on creating a consistently excellent experience for our fans,” Monahan said Tuesday.
#2: PGA TOUR Takes on Pace-of-Play Concerns
In response to player and fan feedback, the PGA TOUR is addressing slow play with new policies designed to speed up rounds. Three key changes are in the works:
- Publicly releasing pace-of-play statistics later this season to highlight how speed impacts performance.
- Testing penalty strokes for slow play on the Korn Ferry Tour and PGA TOUR Americas.
- Allowing distance measuring devices at six PGA TOUR events between the Masters and PGA Championship to reduce time spent calculating yardages.
By sharing competitive data and implementing rule changes, the TOUR hopes to create a faster, more engaging product for fans.
#3: Tiger Woods Undergoes Achilles Surgery
Fifteen-time major champion Tiger Woods is facing another setback after undergoing surgery Tuesday to repair a ruptured left Achilles tendon sustained during training at home. The procedure, performed by Dr. Charlton Stucken at the Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, was described as minimally invasive, and Woods is now recovering at home in Jupiter, Florida.
A timeline for his return remains unclear, but Woods is expected to miss the Masters (April 10-13). The injury marks another chapter in his long history of physical challenges, including multiple back surgeries and the leg injuries sustained in his 2021 car accident.
Woods, 49, last played a TOUR event at The Open in July 2024, where he missed the cut. He has not competed in a PGA TOUR event this season, partly due to the passing of his mother in February.
While Achilles injuries can take months to heal, golf legend Bernhard Langer returned three months after a similar surgery last year, albeit using a cart. It’s unlikely Woods would follow that path.
Honorable Mention: Featured Groups at THE PLAYERS Championship
With Scottie Scheffler looking to defend his title and Rory McIlroy seeking his second victory at TPC Sawgrass, here’s a look at the most notable groupings for the first two days.
- Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Xander Schauffele (Thursday 1:29 p.m. ET, No. 1 tee) – Scheffler, the two-time defending champion, is joined by world No. 2 McIlroy and Olympic gold medalist Schauffele.
- Ludvig Åberg, Hideki Matsuyama, Justin Thomas (Thursday 8:24 a.m. ET, No. 1 tee) – Åberg, coming off his first PGA TOUR win, plays alongside 2021 PLAYERS champion Thomas and former Masters winner Matsuyama.
- Collin Morikawa, Adam Scott, Tommy Fleetwood (Thursday 1:40 p.m. ET, No. 1 tee) – Morikawa, a runner-up last week, will compete with Scott, the 2004 PLAYERS champion, and Fleetwood, who continues his hunt for a PGA TOUR victory.
- Wyndham Clark, Jordan Spieth, Jason Day (Thursday 8:46 a.m. ET, No. 10 tee) – Clark, who lost to Scheffler by one stroke last year, plays with Spieth and 2016 PLAYERS champion Day.
- Russell Henley, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland (Thursday 8:35 a.m. ET, No. 10 tee) – Henley, coming off a win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, is paired with Lowry and world No. 7 Hovland.
