Six Canadians set to compete at THE PLAYERS Championship for 2026 PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Six Canadian golfers will compete in the PGA TOUR’s THE PLAYERS Championship, which returns to the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass from March 10 to 15. The event features 123 players, including Corey Conners of Listowel, Ont., Mackenzie Hughes of Dundas, Ont., Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., A.J. Ewart of Coquitlam, B.C., and Sudarshan Yellamaraju of Mississauga, Ont. The field includes 47 of the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking and competitors from 24 countries. Conners, Canada’s highest-ranked player in the field, is known for his consistency on the PGA TOUR. A two-time winner on the tour, he has established himself as a regular contender in major events and aims to build on a strong start to the season. Pendrith, who claimed his first PGA TOUR title in 2024, returns to TPC Sawgrass after a successful campaign. As one of the longest hitters on the tour, he has climbed the FedExCup standings and remains a frequent top performer. Taylor, the first Canadian to win the RBC Canadian Open since 1954, is back in the field after his 2023 victory. A five-time PGA TOUR winner, he has been a reliable force for Canada in recent years. Hughes, a two-time PGA TOUR champion, returns to THE PLAYERS after a strong start to the season. Known for his putting skills, the Dundas native has consistently contended in high-stakes events and will aim to navigate the challenging Stadium Course. Two Canadians will make their THE PLAYERS debuts this week. Ewart, a PGA TOUR rookie and former standout at Barry University, earned his spot as part of his first full season on the tour. Yellamaraju, another rookie, will also compete for the first time after securing PGA TOUR status.#canada #tpc_sawgrass #the_players_championship #corey_conners #mackenzie_hughes
Canadians Tracker: Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith Have Early Tee Times at The Players Championship The Players Championship began at TPC Sawgrass with six Canadian golfers competing for their first career victory in the $25 million event. Mackenzie Hughes, Taylor Pendrith, Nick Taylor, Corey Conners, Sudarshan Yellamaraju, and A.J. Ewart all started their rounds, with Hughes and Pendrith teeing off early in the morning. Both players managed to stay under par initially before finishing at 2-over for the day. Hughes opened with a bogey on the first hole but rebounded with an eagle on the par-5 11th. He returned to even after the front nine with a birdie on the 1st hole, though bogeys on holes 3, 4, and 18 left him at 1-over. Pendrith had a more steady start, birdying the first and 12th holes to sit at 2-under. A triple-bogey on the 15th disrupted his rhythm, followed by two more bogeys on the back nine, ending his round at 3-over. Taylor, who played in the afternoon group, struggled early with a double-bogey on the first hole. He recovered with a birdie on the 11th but faced setbacks with a bogey on the 14th and a double-bogey on the final hole, finishing at 3-over. Conners, who teed off shortly after Taylor, started strong with a birdie on the 10th and maintained a solid pace, finishing at 3-under. Sudarshan Yellamaraju and A.J. Ewart began their rounds in the final group, with play suspended due to darkness. Yellamaraju posted a par on the opening hole and remained steady until a double-bogey on the 5th, though he recovered with a birdie on the 14th. Ewart started with a par but fell to 5-over after 17 holes. The tournament’s leaderboard showed Corey Conners in the top 10 after his 3-under performance, while five players were tied at -5.#tpc_sawgrass #the_players_championship #corey_conners #mackenzie_hughes #taylor_pendrith
Canada's Conners in the mix after opening round of The Players Championship Corey Conners of Canada found himself in contention after a solid opening round at The Players Championship on Thursday, finishing tied for 10th at three under par. The tournament, held at TPC Sawgrass, saw five golfers share the early lead after shooting five under par, with Conners’ performance reflecting his consistent form throughout the season. Conners, known for his strong ball-striking, carded a 3-under 69 in the first round. The course, which he described as one of his favorites on the PGA Tour, presented challenges, particularly with the greens. Despite a bogey on the island-green par-3 17th hole, Conners managed to birdie his opening hole, the par-4 10th, and added birdies on holes 1, 2, and 7. His round was a microcosm of his season, with his iron play excelling but his putting struggling. The first round was delayed for 21 minutes due to a passing storm that made the course unplayable, affecting several players. Conners’ tee time was delayed by 30 minutes, but he remained focused, finishing the day with a score that left him two strokes behind the early leaders. The co-leaders, including Austin Smotherman, were still completing their rounds when the session was suspended. Maverick McNealy, Lee Hodges, Sepp Straka, and Sahith Theegala all shot 5-under 67s, setting the tone for a competitive leaderboard. Conners’ performance highlighted his strengths and weaknesses: he finished third in strokes gained on tee-to-green and sixth in approach shots, but his putting was a concern. He missed seven putts of less than 15 feet, including two within eight feet, which could have moved him closer to the lead if converted.#tpc_sawgrass #the_players_championship #corey_conners #austin_smotherman #maverick_mcnealy
