In addition to the historical past and the hype, the unpredictability of the match units it other than the remainder.
No participant has lifted the trophy greater than three-time champion Jack Nicklaus, who gained three of the primary 5 occasions in its formative, nomadic years.
Because the Stadium Course at Sawgrass turned its everlasting house in 1982, Nicklaus’ tally stays untouched.
This week, although, affords a possibility for defending champion Rory McIlroy, who’s battling a again damage, and world primary 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 report.
Scheffler is the one participant to win the Gamers back-to-back, a reality which Fitzpatrick factors to when outlining what makes the occasion so particular.
The 2022 US Open champion has a blended report on a course which requires readability of thought and precision, with its seemingly-omnipresent water and sand able to mete out extreme punishment.
Up to now 5 years, Fitzpatrick has earned two top-10 finishes – ninth in 2021 and fifth in 2024 – however has missed the minimize on the opposite three events.
“I just like the golf course, it is a terrific golf course,” stated Fitzpatrick.
“It is a actually good take a look at and affords a unique number of photographs, which actually makes you suppose.
“It is attention-grabbing there has solely been one repeat winner and if you happen to have a look at the outcomes of lots of gamers it’s up and down. It actually assessments all features of your golf.”
Fitzpatrick’s sport is usually in a great place and the explanation why he has been backed to be among the many contenders.
The 31-year-old Yorkshireman completed 2025 with a classy victory on the DP World Tour Championship, utilizing that momentum to make an encouraging begin to 2026 which to this point sees a top-10 end on the Phoenix Open because the excessive level.
Going into final weekend’s Arnold Palmer Invitational – the ultimate occasion earlier than the Gamers begins on Thursday – the statistics illustrated the place Fitzpatrick’s sport was at.
He was ranked within the prime 20 for whole strokes gained – the analytic device used to find out a participant’s scoring in opposition to the remainder of the tour – and sitting fifth from tee to inexperienced.
These figures had been hit by a poor end at Bay Hill, although, the place 5 bogeys within the closing eight holes dropped Fitzpatrick all the way down to forty first on the ultimate leaderboard.
There was a optimistic to take. His placing – which had let him down on the PGA Tour’s west coast swing in January and February – was largely improved.
Talking earlier than Bay Hill about his prospects on the Gamers, Fitzpatrick stated: “I really feel my sport is on course, I performed fairly properly on the west coast, I simply did not actually make any putts.
“Hopefully over the subsequent few weeks I will be getting on greens which I am a bit extra snug with and have some good outcomes.
“My driving and strategy play has been strong. If I could make a number of extra putts then I’ve acquired an opportunity.”
