TEE TIMES at the 2023 Players Championship... "not missing LIV players"

 PGA Tour : Players Championship Tee Times

Cam Smith is the Players Championship defending champion, he is not allowed to play this year, nor are all his colleagues who jumped to LIV for a 7 or 8 figure gift from the Saudi PIF.

Twenty players now with LIV will not be allowed at TPC Sawgrass including the top 3 here last year, Paul Casey and Anirban Lahiri joining Smith.

I tweeted this week about how exciting the PGA Tour is this year for fans, sponsors and TV alike, with the world's top players in contention at the new designated $20,000,000 events, and it will get stronger in 2024 with several more no cut events, which will ensure the top players will be action all four days. 

There will be some, as I've chronicled from the 80-125 rank and file that will not see it this way, but they still will be rewarded by playing their way in, and for their ability just look at their career earnings....

I also had some negative reaction from fans that all of our former stars and favorites at LIV are now playing in obscurity with no major TV coverage and most major media outlets declining to pay their staff to attend and report. 

Here's what the players are saying.

Mac Hughes : I really don't think anybody cares much about those guys anymore to be honest with you. This is our flagship event this week, I'm happy to be part of it, I'm happy to be part of such a strong Canadian contingent on the PGA Tour.

I knew Adam (Svensson) could win and he has, I knew Nick Taylor could win and he did and has been playing great this year, Adam Hadwin has been a great player out here for years, Corey Connors leads the way, Taylor Pendrith can and will win, we're all here with a chance to win every week.

Corey Connors : I hate to say it but those guys have almost been forgotten. They made their choice for the guaranteed money knowing all the consequences and to be honest I don't see or hear much about their events.

It's just two different things now. They are doing theirs and we are here, It's our crown jewel and its going to be great."

Here are the Canadian TEE TIMES for Thursday Tee Times

712am 10th  Taylor Pendrith, Tommy Fleetwood, Callum Tarren

734am 1st     Nick Taylor, Corey Connors, Kevin Kisner

756am 1st     Adam Svensson, Joel Dahmen, Robert Streb 

818am 1st     Mac Hughes, Brian Harman, Russell Henley 

840am 10th   Adam Hadwin, Patrick Rodgers, Greyson Sigg

Notables:

756am 10th  Jon Rahm, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler

1234    1st   Matthew Fitzpatrick, Shane Lowry, Viktor Hovland

1256    1st   Max Homa, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth

Weather :

Mainly sunny Th/Sat/Sun light winds from W 10-12mph, mid 70's f*. 75% chance of rain on Friday.

Purse:

$25,000,000 designated full field event (148) with cut after 36 holes.  with $4,500,000 to the winner.

Bryan Angus