The world’s very best players will descend upon the iconic TPC at Sawgrass to go to battle for the biggest prize fund in tournament golf at the 47th edition of the PLAYERS Championship. World No.1 Rory McIlroy will be targeting a defence of his crown after sealing the US$15 million event in 2018 while three European Tour stars make their debut on the Stadium Course this year.
Erik Van Rooyen
World Ranking – 42
The South African star makes his maiden appearance at this week’s PLAYERS Championship after enjoying the best 12 months of his career. After the WGC-Mexico Championship in 2019, Van Rooyen found himself 149th in the Official World Golf Ranking while he now sits in 42nd following a string of good results. The 30 year old picked up his first European Tour win at last year’s Scandinavian Invitation and has finished inside the top ten in his last seven worldwide events, including a tied third at the WGC-Mexico Championship where he tied the course record of 62 in the second round.
Christiaan Bezuidenhout
World Ranking – 49
Another South African who has been climbing up the OWGR is Christiaan Bezuidenhout. The 25 year old has booked his spot in the PLAYERS Championship after making his way into the top 50 that started with a huge leap after winning his first European Tour title at the Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters hosted by the Sergio Garcia Foundation last year. Bezuidenhout came close to a second triumph earlier this season but narrowly missed out on the Omega Dubai Desert Classic title to Lucas Herbert before going on to win the Dimension Data Pro-Am, which was co-sanctioned by the Challenge Tour and Sunshine Tour.
Jazz Janewattananond
World Ranking – 40
The Thai star spends his time between the European Tour and Asian Tour and has won four times on the latter since January 2019. Those four wins, including back-to-back victories at the BNI Indonesian Masters and Thailand Masters, has seen the 24 year old rise to 40th in the OWGR and secure a maiden berth at the PLAYERS Championship. Janewattananond, who finished tied 14th on his PGA Championship last season, credits his upturn in form to a two-week stint as a monk in his native Thailand at the end of the 2016 golf season. The youngster is also a winner on the MENA Tour having won the Mahasamutr Masters in 2017.
