Another compelling Players - but why is it unlikely to ever be a major?
It may not be a major, but the Players Championship proved the high value of top class stadium golf in Cameron Young's thrilling one-stroke victory over England's Matt Fitzpatrick last Sunday. The PGA Tour teased in its promotions for the event that March would be "major", putting the often argued status of their $25m (£18. 9m) flagship event up for further debate.
Let us be clear, it is not a major. Never has been and never likely to be. But the Players is still very, very special and the 2026 edition proved one of the best even though the tour's biggest guns Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy failed to fire.
Live text updates and radio commentary of round four from 17:00 GMT on BBC Sport website and app, and BBC Sounds. Watch highlights on BBC4 and iPlayer from 19:00 GMT on Monday, 16 March Prime among the reasons why it is such a compelling competition is the Stadium Course itself. It does what it says on the tin, delighting huge crowds with a nerve-jangling test for the best players in the world year in, year out.
"I remember when I played it, I stood on the 18th tee and was scared witless," recalled European Ryder Cup player Oliver Wilson. "You can never, ever relax on that golf course. " And so it came to pass that Young and Fitzpatrick arrived on that final tee box locked together with this prestigious title on the line.
The vast expanse of water down the left had gobbled up Young's ball less than 24 hours earlier. Fitzpatrick had his own demons given his double bogey on that same hole, also in the third round. The final day task demanded the utmost golfing courage and Young was in the mood.