Players Championship hit by weather delay at TPC Sawgrass

Inclement weather forces suspension of first round play at PGA Tour's flagship event

Mar. 12, 2026 at 4:51pm

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The first round of the 2026 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida was delayed due to inclement weather on the morning of March 12th. Play was suspended around 12:09 PM ET after about 5 hours of action, with 20 threesomes already having teed off. The delay lasted 21 minutes before play resumed, though tee times for the afternoon wave were pushed back 30 minutes.

Why it matters

The Players Championship is one of the PGA Tour's flagship events, featuring the strongest field in golf and a $25 million purse, the second largest on Tour. Weather delays can significantly impact the tournament dynamics and leaderboard, as players face changing course conditions throughout the week.

The details

The first round of the 2026 Players Championship began at 7:30 AM ET on March 12th at the iconic TPC Sawgrass course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. After about 5 hours of play, with 20 threesomes having already teed off, a weather delay was issued around 12:09 PM ET due to a torrential downpour. Players were held in position during the 21-minute delay before play resumed at 12:30 PM ET. However, tee times for the afternoon wave were pushed back 30 minutes to account for the interruption.

  • The Players Championship first round began at 7:30 AM ET on March 12, 2026.
  • Play was suspended due to inclement weather at 12:09 PM ET on March 12, 2026.
  • Play resumed at 12:30 PM ET on March 12, 2026 after a 21-minute delay.
  • Tee times for the afternoon wave were delayed 30 minutes.

The players

Scottie Scheffler

One of the top-ranked golfers in the world who had already teed off when play was suspended.

Tommy Fleetwood

English golfer who was also among the players who had started their rounds before the delay.

Brooks Koepka

Four-time major champion who was in the field for the 2026 Players Championship.

Akshay Bhatia

Young American golfer who was one of the 60 players who had teed off prior to the weather delay.

TPC Sawgrass

The iconic golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida that has hosted The Players Championship since 1982.

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What they’re saying

“The first round of THE PLAYERS Championship resumed at 12:30 p.m., a delay of 21 minutes.”

— PGA TOUR Communications

“Tee times for the afternoon wave are delayed 30 minutes.”

— PGA TOUR Communications

What’s next

The PGA Tour will continue to monitor the weather conditions at TPC Sawgrass and provide updates on when the first round will be completed. Players will look to take advantage of any improved conditions in the afternoon wave after the delay.

The takeaway

Weather delays are a common occurrence in golf, especially at coastal courses like TPC Sawgrass. The ability of players and organizers to adapt to changing conditions will be crucial in determining the outcome of this year's Players Championship.