Why winning Players would be 'up there' for Fitzpatrick

"March is going to be major."

The inference in the PGA Tour's tagline for this week's Players Championship at Sawgrass could not be clearer.

A concerted effort continues to be made by the tour to lean into the banner of golf's unofficial 'fifth major' and further amplify its flagship event.

The star-studded field - albeit missing ineligible LIV Golf players - and lucrative prize money underlines the prestige of a tournament set up in 1974 in an attempt by the American-based tour to create its own blue-riband event.

The iconic setting of a course where the jewel of the island 17th hole dazzles in its crown adds to the allure.

So there is little wonder the world's leading players are desperate to add the Players title to their CVs, even if - like England's Matt Fitzpatrick - they have already landed major titles and starred in memorable Ryder Cup victories.

"It'd be right up there in terms of my career highlights," Fitzpatrick told BBC Sport.

"It's not the same as winning a major but it's the next best thing.

"It's the biggest PGA Tour event of the season so to win would mean a hell of a lot - no doubt about that."

As well as the history and the hype, the unpredictability of the tournament sets it apart from the rest.

No player has lifted the trophy more than three-time champion Jack Nicklaus, who won three of the first five events in its formative, nomadic years.

Since the Stadium Course at Sawgrass became its permanent home in 1982, Nicklaus' tally remains untouched.

This week, though, offers an opportunity for defending champion Rory McIlroy, who is battling a back injury, and world number one Scottie Scheffler - in a pack of two-time winners alongside Fred Couples, Steve Elkington, Hal Sutton, Davis Love III and Tiger Woods - to equal the record.

Scheffler is the only player to win the Players back-to-back, a fact which Fitzpatrick points to when outlining what makes the event so special.

The 2022 US Open champion has a mixed record on a course which requires clarity of thought and precision, with its seemingly-omnipresent water and sand ready to mete out severe punishment.

In the past five years, Fitzpatrick has earned two top-10 finishes - ninth in 2021 and fifth in 2024 - but has missed the cut on the other three occasions.

"I like the golf course, it's a great golf course," said Fitzpatrick.

"It's a really good test and offers a different variety of shots, which really makes you think.

"It's interesting there has only been one repeat winner and if you look at the results of a lot of players it is up and down. It really tests all aspects of your golf."

Fitzpatrick's game is generally in a good place and the reason why he has been backed to be among the contenders.

The 31-year-old Yorkshireman finished 2025 with a stylish victory at the DP World Tour Championship, using that momentum to make an encouraging start to 2026 which so far sees a top-10 finish at the Phoenix Open as the high point.

Going into last weekend's Arnold Palmer Invitational - the final event before the Players starts on Thursday - the statistics illustrated where Fitzpatrick's game was at.

He was ranked in the top 20 for total strokes gained - the analytic tool used to determine a player's scoring against the rest of the tour - and sitting fifth from tee to green.

Those figures were hit by a poor finish at Bay Hill, though, where five bogeys in the final eight holes dropped Fitzpatrick down to 41st on the final leaderboard.

There was a positive to take. His putting - which had let him down on the PGA Tour's west coast swing in January and February - was largely improved.

Speaking before Bay Hill about his prospects at the Players, Fitzpatrick said: "I feel my game is heading in the right direction, I played pretty well on the west coast, I just didn't really make any putts.

"Hopefully over the next few weeks I'll be getting on greens which I'm a little more comfortable with and have some good results.

"My driving and approach play has been solid. If I can make a few more putts then I've got a chance."