Johnson, defending champ Day in marquee Players groups
DEFENDING champion Jason Day plays with past champions Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson, while world number one Dustin Johnson tees it up with Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas in Thursday’s opening round of The Players.
Day, the world number three, won last year’s event by four strokes after opening with a course-record 63.
The Australian helps kick off the tournament in the morning wave on Thursday with fellow top 10 players, Sweden’s Stenson (7) and Rickie Fowler ( 9), teeing off at the 10th tee at 8:16 AM (1216 GMT) in the so- called ‘ fourth major’ of the season.
Another glamour group follows them to the tee 11 minutes later as world number five Jordan Spieth, number four Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and five- times major winner Phil Mickelson set off on the revamped Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
Johnson, whose run of three victories in his previous three starts ended with a tie for second at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship, hopes to get started on a new winning streak when he tees off at 1: 52 PM from the first tee in the afternoon wave.
World number two McIlroy, the FedExCup champion, celebrates a return to competition after a month off to get married.
They are Masters Spain and Adam Scott of Australia Matt Kuchar, international of Briton Rose, German Ka y me r an d Rahm.
The elite Players will see changes at the permanent site championship, in c lu di n g a drivable par - fou r 12th hole, where eagles are possible if on e risks the danger posed by a water hazard left of the green.
There is also a new hazard between the sixth and seventh, and subtle changes to several holes, including expanded greens and the removal of rough to promote creative recovery shots. — Reuters new preceded by groupings of champion Sergio Garcia of former wi n ne r s and and an tr i o Justin Martin Spaniard Jon fi e ld at T he numerous o f the