LPGA Tour purses keep getting bigger.

THE PLAYERS Championship invites local Northeast Florida artists to audition for the honor of performing the National Anthem for their Military Appreciation Ceremony.

Women Veterans Recognition Week kicks off Monday with a proclamation in City Hall and ends with a star-studded gala.

Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau will be the in the same place next week, when they head to Augusta National for the Masters.

Golden anniversary. Platinum finish. And history. How’s that for a Players Championship?

Plenty to do outdoors...

Xander Schauffele started the day with a four-shot deficit.

Ponte Vedra senior golfer Nancy Cox is volunteering for the third year as a standard-bearer at TPC Sawgrass

The second round of The Players Championship is almost in the books at TPC Sawgrass. Friday’s round was suspended due to darkness at 7:30 p.m. and will pick back up at 7:40 a.m. on Saturday morning. Only one group remains to finish. Here are some of the sights, sounds and notables from Friday.

Players on the PGA Tour board of directors are moving closer to meeting with the Saudi leader behind rival LIV Golf.

Attendees were embracing athleisure-inspired styles on the green and were eager to speak to News4JAX about their looks.

The Players Championship has partnered with Nemours Children’s Health to host the Kid Zone and Autograph Zones.

Students from a Jacksonville charter school took part in a special event at the Players Championship Friday aimed at promoting and encouraging literacy.

Jack Nicklaus, 84, who won the first Players Championship 50 years ago, made a surprise appearance on the first tee on Thursday.

Enjoy food from Bonefish Grill and a glass of wine from Meiomi Wines, the official wine of the PGA TOUR, in a beautiful garden setting.

The Players Championship would not be possible without the support from the local community who volunteers each year at TPC Sawgrass.

The first round of The Players Championship is in books. Some sights and sounds from Thursday at TPC Sawgrass.

Nemours Children’s Health celebrated its partnership and work with The Players Championship during a special ceremony Thursday morning.

Friday is cut day at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy share the first-round lead after carding 7-under 65s on Thursday. Here’s a look at when golfers tee off Friday as cut day looms at the Stadium Course.

It’s a Ponte Vedra specialty that impacts so much of Northeast Florida -- Golf’s “Fifth Major” is celebrating its 50th edition. The Players Championship began on March 12.

Tiger Woods has never done it.

Cayden Ingram had the unique opportunity to sit inside the ropes on 17 during Wednesday's practice round at The Players Championship and was surprised with meeting PGA Tour golfer Jordan Spieth.

Rickie Fowler signed young fans’ merch — even a few foreheads — at The Players Championship this week.

Sports Anchor and Reporter Alessandra Pontbriand shared some of the best bites at The Players Championship! The Players features a variety of local eats and treats you can try when you are enjoying your day on the green!

The Fan Shop is a massive, air-conditioned store under a 37,000-square-foot tent. The shop offers thousands of apparel and accessories, including its 50th anniversary collection.

Billy Horschel lets K9s for Warriors walk inside the ropes during Tuesday's practice round at The Players

The 50th Players Championship kicked off Tuesday in full red, white and blue fashion with its annual Military Appreciation Day.

Jay Monahan pulled up a chair at TPC Sawgrass and talked about the state of golf, something he’d done in a far more biting tone in recent years.

This year’s program will include complimentary ticket packages, fan shop discounts, and a job fair.

In 2008, the Jim and Tabitha Furyk Foundation spearheaded the creation of the These Kids Can Play event, aiming to offer children grappling with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions a safe haven to relish The Players Championship.

It’s the golden anniversary of The Players Championship, one of the most iconic events in golf.

Not long after Lee Smith arrived in Ponte Vedra Beach as the new executive director of The Players Championship, he found himself in a conversation with a local real estate agent when the conversation shifted to his line of work.

Lee Smith was announced as The Players’ new executive director on Tuesday morning, stepping into a role previously held by Jared Rice.

The final Match Play could be the last chance for some players to get into the Masters.

With The Players Championship coming to a close on Sunday with a dominant performance by Scottie Scheffler, let’s take a look at some of the more memorable moments and superlatives of the event.

The pressure didn’t get to Scottie Scheffler.

A long day at The Players Championship has ended with Masters champion Scottie Scheffler in the lead.

Saturday at TPC Sawgrass is generally the best day of the tournament. It’s always packed with more casual fans than any other day of the event. What should you know before heading out?

Storms have interrupted The Players Championship.

Jon Rahm, the top-ranked golfer in the world, withdrew from The Players Championship shortly before his second-round tee time on Friday.

Jon Rahm is out of The Players Championship.

If you’re going to The Players, here’s a quick list of need-to-knows for Friday’s second round.

The TPC Sawgrass is one of the most unpredictable courses in golf.

In honor of The Players Championship, our anchors took part in the second annual Morning Show Golf Championship – this year taking on the greens at Top Golf.

The first round of The Players Championship tees off Thursday morning. Here are five tips to make your visit to TPC Sawgrass as smooth and enjoyable as possible.

The bad news for area golf fans — no Tiger Woods at The Players Championship.

It’s getting down to crunch time at TPC Sawgrass.

A local charity helping veterans transition back into society got a big boost from The Players Championship golf tournament. Five Star Veterans Center on Friday received a grant.

The gift will ensure funding for the complete redesign and expansion of Nemours Cancer and Blood disorder center.

Episcopal Children’s Services held an event to celebrate the grand opening of a new playground at the Northside Early Head Start Center in Northwest Jacksonville.

Xander Schauffele and Collin Morikawa are playing the Valspar Championship.

For the first time in 17 years – The Player Championship is stretching into Monday.

Normally, it's the final round of The Players Championship, but weather postponements made Sunday cut day at TPC Sawgrass. The tournament had nearly a dozen golfers in the field with local ties to the area. How did those local golfers fare?

Fans who want to attend Monday's action at The Players Championship don’t need to look far for tickets.

The longest week at The Players Championship is moving closer to a conclusion.

The longest week at The Players Championship is moving closer to a conclusion.

The rain finally went away and then The Players Championship really got tough.

Bad weather pushed back The Players Championship, with a Monday finish now a certainty.

Rain has made The Players Championship a mess, interrupting the first and second rounds. So, what does that mean for fans who bought tickets for those rounds?

The weekend looms at The Players Championship and the first round is still not completed.

Two days of bad weather and a miserable forecast for the rest of Friday has forced the postponement of The Players Championship, with a Monday finish now a certainty.

Tommy Fleetwood and Tom Hoge share the lead after a long and wet start to The Players Championship.

The first round of The Players Championship hit some speed bumps Thursday, with storms causing a four-hour weather delay.

As the weather caused a delayed start and a suspension in play for the first round of The Players Championship on Thursday, the tournament’s executive director asked fans for patience.

The start of The Players Championship has been delayed an hour Thursday morning because of thunderstorms and heavy rain overnight. That might just be the beginning of additional breaks in the action on the way because of the weather.

If you are going out to watch The Players Championship this week, don't forget your rain jacket. But if you're willing to stick it out, here are the best places to watch.

The Players Championship tees off Thursday morning at TPC Sawgrass without the two biggest attractions in the sport, but there's no shortage of storylines as the Stadium Course awaits the best field in golf.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of The Players Championship moving into it’s permanent home at TPC Sawgrass. In 1982, Jerry Pate fired a final round 67 to beat Brad Bryant and Scott Simpson by two strokes, taking home $90,000 and a set of wet clothes after he dove into the water at 18 in celebration of his win.

The Players Championship offers the richest prize in golf.

Vic Micolucci highlights some of the local cuisines at The Players.

Vic Micolucci gives News4JAX Insiders a look at the popular gear you can purchase at The Players.

Tuesday was Military Appreciation Day at The Players Championship.

While golfers will try and avoid those bogeys at TPC Sawgrass when The Players Championship begins Thursday, babies who are born in local hospitals during the event will get special recognition from the tournament.

The Players Championship tees off Thursday at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. Here’s a look at the tee times for the first and second rounds of the tournament.

The featured nonprofit for this year’s Military Appreciation Day at The Players Championship is Northeast Florida Women Veterans.

47 of the top 50 players in the World Golf Rankings will descend on TPC Sawgrass to compete for one of the biggest championships in golf. It's the week of The Players, and there are some changes this year.

After a start and stop and then limited crowds, The Players Championship is back to doing what it does best. The event at TPC Sawgrass is 30 days away and will feel normal for the first time since Rory McIlroy edged Jim Furyk by a stroke in 2019. That feels like an eternity ago.

With the area’s marquee sporting event just 50 days away, The Players was there to announce a donation of $100,000 to help revitalize the Clanzel Brown Community Center and Park in Northwest Jacksonville.

Tickets for The Players Championship are finally on sale for the general public.

Tickets for The Players Championship will go on sale next week, with newsletter subscribers getting first dibs on those the tournament announced on Wednesday morning.

A local 6-year-old who has worked hard to help create a happy Halloween for homeless children got a sweet surprise on Monday.

A $50,000 donation from The Players Championship will help Edward Waters College reinstate the school’s women’s golf program.

Then, Brian Harman shot 69 to tie for third at The Players Championship and went from No. Most curious is the case of Gary Woodland, the former U.S. Open champion and a Match Play finalist in 2015. Under the PGA Tour guidelines, he has to self-isolate for 10 days. THE BOUNCEIt didn’t take Collin Morikawa long to learn how to win on the PGA Tour. A year later, he won a playoff over Justin Thomas at Muirfield Village and a major at the PGA Championship.

It matched the most players who have had to withdraw from one tournament because of a positive test since the PGA Tour returned from the COVID-19 pandemic in June. The tour said Scott Piercy and Doc Redman also tested positive. Three players also tested positive before tournaments at the RSM Classic at Sea Island in November, and the Rocket Mortgage Classic in Detroit in early July. The positive tests follow two weeks of the Florida events on the PGA Tour allowing limited fans, with roughly 8,000 in attendance at Bay Hill and The Players Championship. Woodland, who won the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach and has been coping with a torn labrum in his hip, and Redman missed the cut at The Players Championship.

Nease High grad Tyler McCumber finished T-22 at The Players Championship on Sunday. Poston, St. Simons Island, Ga. T-35 Lanto Griffin, Ponte Vedra BeachGriffin couldn’t follow his 4-under third-round score on Sunday, grinding out a 1-over 73 day. T-41 Zach Johnson, St. Simons Island, Ga. T-58 Billy Horschel, Ponte Vedra BeachThe former University of Florida golfer was 2-over 74 on Sunday and finished 1-over 289 for the tournament.

Thomas took on every shot in The Players Championship, right down to the 5-wood that rode the edge of the lake down the left side of the 18th fairway, and closed with a 4-under 68 for a one-shot victory over Lee Westwood. He won for the seventh straight year, his 14th career title, and became only the fourth player to win a major, The Players Championship, the FedEx Cup and a World Golf Championship. “This week was huge to win a big championship like this in front of fans again, which is incredible. Thomas was four shots behind when he walked off the green on the par-3 eighth with a three-putt bogey. He was outside the cut line after nine holes Friday, made it with two shots to spare and then tied The Players Championship record with a 12-under 132 weekend.

Thomas navigated the closing nine at the Stadium Course in spectacular fashion, storming back to win The Players Championship on a postcard perfect Sunday. Thomas had a final-round 68 and finished 14-under 274 to win by a stroke over Lee Westwood. I’m so happy they’re back and I’m so happy to be The Players champion,” Thomas said. Thomas grinded his way through the front nine in the final round and made the turn at even. “That’s why he’s one of the best players in the world and will continue to be one of the best players in the world for a long time.”

That's how it was last week at Bay Hill, when DeChambeau came from one shot behind to beat Westwood with a par on the final hole at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. Westwood, who turns 48 next month, no longer has to go up a few classes to face DeChambeau, golf's fearsome heavyweight. Also four shots behind was Brian Harman, who began his day by holing a wedge for eagle and shot 69. DeChambeau can't blast away at Sawgrass because of the bending tree-lined fairways and water hazards. He also knows from recent experience — seven days ago — that it might not be easy the way Westwood is playing.

Dustin Johnson watches his tee shot on the ninth hole during the second round of the The Players Championship golf tournament Friday, March 12, 2021, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)One year later didn't make Dustin Johnson change his mind. Johnson said he didn't put forward his name to be among the maximum of four Americans who can play in the Olympics. I actually didn't really ever decide whether I was going to play or not, I just didn't sign up,” Johnson said Saturday. That's 11 days after the British Open at Royal St. George's in England, and a World Golf Championship, which Johnson has won, is the week after the Olympics. “As long as I can compete, I'll be there.”AdEven with Johnson playing, the Americans still have 10 other players among the top 15 with three months — and three majors — remaining before qualifying ends.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The Players Championship tournament partner Grant Thornton selected the Ronald McDonald House Charities Jacksonville chapter to be the charity of the day on Saturday. Ronald McDonald House of Jacksonville offers a “home away from home” for children and their families who must travel to Jacksonville for pediatric medical care. Each family receives vital services such as meals and transportation, lodging and a community of careDiane Boyle, executive director of Ronald McDonald House, said she is grateful to have the community’s support. “The Players have helped us achieve our goals by helping raise awareness of the mission and how we help families,” said Boyle. Importantly, they will see the extraordinary impacts that The Players have on the nonprofit community in Jacksonville.”AdFor more information on Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville, click here.

A student from First Tee - North Florida enjoys a day at The Players Championship. PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Thanks to sponsor Optum, The Players Championship is providing 75 tickets for participants and families from First Tee – North Florida for each day of the tournament. First Tee – North Florida is an organization for youth development serving more than 150,000 young people, teaching them life skills through the game of golf. “They teach things about the nine core values, so responsibility, courtesy, confidence. “I’m really grateful for Optum to partner up so we can get tickets,” Mombo said.

Tyler McCumber plays a shot on the 14th hole during the second round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on March 12, 2021 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Tyler McCumber had a stellar second round at The Players Championship on Friday and made the cut in his first appearance in the tournament. He’s the first Nease golfer since Jeff Klauk in 2009 to make the cut at The Players. Klauk, whose father, Fred, was the course superintendent at TPC Sawgrass, finished T-14 that year. Len Mattiace had top-five finishes in 1998 and 2000 at TPC Sawgrass, going T5 and T9, respectively in those years.

Westwood, who turns 48 next month, played well enough to win the Arnold Palmer Invitational last week at Bay Hill except that DeChambeau was one shot better in a fascinating duel of generations on a course that favors power. Ad“I think to compete in any of these tournaments against the best players in the world, you can’t have any weaknesses in your game,” Westwood said. "I wouldn’t be able to say I’m doing this better or that better. His 36-hole total of 154 was his highest ever in his 11 appearance at The Players Championship. AdFour players from the top 10 in the world missed the cut — Xander Schauffele, Patrick Cantlay, Tyrrell Hatton and Webb Simpson, whose hopes ended with one of 13 balls in the water at the island-green 17th.

Ad“I don’t think I’ve ever played it, just played it (not in a tournament),” Meyer said of the Stadium Course. So why would you not be here if you had the best facilities, best trainers, best coaches and best nutrition, all of the above. “I don’t know that [about playing overseas this year]. This year I don’t know because of COVID. I don’t know.”

If you are, just a reminder that, starting today, paid parking will be enforced in Jacksonville Beach. The paid parking program of the city of Jacksonville Beach begins March 12, 2021, and will end on Nov. 1, 2021. There are three kiosks are at the Pier lot at 503 1st Street North; three kiosks in the Latham Plaza Lot at 14 1st Street North, two kiosks in the lot at 422 1st Street North, and one kiosk is located in the lot at 450 2nd Street North. AdCity of Jacksonville Beach residents park for free if they have registered their license plates with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department. Paid parking program hours are Friday through Sunday and select holidays from 8 p.m. Friday until 2 a.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. Saturday until 2 a.m. Sunday; and 10 a.m. Sunday until midnight.

Steve Stricker plays a shot on the fifth hole during the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 11, 2021 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Steve Stricker was planning to spend the week at his winter home in Naples. John Huh took his name off the alternate list. Stricker said the flight to St. Augustine took about 30 minutes, and by that time, Rose had withdrawn. The PGA Tour had a car waiting for him to drive about 30 minutes to the course.

Tyler McCumber plays a shot on the fourth hole during the first round of The Players Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 11, 2021 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images)PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Tyler McCumber’s first round in The Players Championship was a success. McCumber, a Nease High and University of Florida graduate, shot an even-par 72 in his debut at TPC Sawgrass. “I didn’t really know what my first round at The Players would feel like, but it was pretty awesome,” McCumber said. “He came out of his office yesterday talking golf, and I said, ‘you know the rule, no golf when we’re away from the course,’” Tyler said.

Garcia thought he had plenty of time to get from the range to the 10th tee to start his round. Then he fired off a 7-under 65, capped off by a birdie-birdie-eagle finish for a two-shot lead over Brian Harman. AdWhen darkness brought the first round to a halt — 21 players didn't finish — there already were 13 scores of 80 or higher. “For some reason, it just kind of fits my eye,” said Garcia, who won The Players in 2008 and has twice been runner-up. British Open champion Shane Lowry took bogey on his final hole for a 68 and was tied with Corey Conners and Matt Fitzpatrick.

The legion of volunteers at The Players Championship are one of the most integral parts of the event. Things have changed for Nancy Nichols at The Players Championship. Now in her 45th year as a volunteer for the tournament and serving as the chairman on the gallery management committee, Nichols started out pretty basic. When the event was first played in Ponte Vedra Beach, it was called the Tournament Players Championship and held at Sawgrass Country Club. With the reduced crowds, Nichols said that there are only 451 volunteers on the course for gallery management in 2021.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Players Championship held its annual “Training U Education Forum” on Wednesday, where 50 Jacksonville-area high school student-athletes were introduced to career opportunities beyond the sports they play. Students in the forum got to hear from stars including pro golfer Harold Varner, Olympic medalist Shannon Miller and Wimbleton finalist MaliVai Washington. The Training U Forum was an open panel discussion where students learned about other job opportunities in the sports industry. The PGA also gave these student athletes the opportunity to go behind the scenes of their flagship event, The Players. Raines High School golfer Darionna May says this exposure to athletes, general managers and sports correspondents, really opened her eyes to other opportunities.