❚ Among those to watch in The Players is Masters champ Patrick Reed, above. Plus, By the numbers and key pairings

Buckle up. The group of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler — all past winners of The Players Championship — headlines Thursday’s first day of the PGA Tour’s flagship event

(1:52 p.m. ET). Another trio of Players champions — Jason Day, Henrik Stenson and Sergio Garcia — are grouped

(1:41). Reigning Masters champion Patrick Reed is off with Jon Rahm and Hideki Matsuyama (1:30). Friday’s Golf Channel coverage features FedExCup champions and major winners Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth (1:52 p.m.). Defending champion Si Woo Kim is off with past Players champions Adam Scott and Martin Kaymer (1:41). Major champions and three of the game’s longest hitters, Bubba Watson, Dustin Johnson and Brooks Koepka, are grouped (1:30).