The Players notebook: Rory McIlroy arrives late, PGA Tour debates relegation and Ludacris takes over TPC Sawgrass

From Rory McIlroy’s late arrival to the PGA Tour revealing big potential plans from their future, we take a look back at some of the storylines ahead of The Players at TPC Sawgrass.

Rolapp intrigues with PGA Tour relegation idea

PGA Tour chief executive Brian Rolapp offered an impressive showing during his pre-tournament press conference, where he departed to a strong round of applause after revealing plenty of new information in his 50-minute stint.

One takeaway was his reference to English football’s promotion and relegation between the Premier League and the Championship, as the PGA Tour plans to implement a similar system among six other themes to schedule changes.

Although a definitive schedule for future years appears some way from being finalised, the details discussed about the work involved gave plenty of encouragement that strong progress was being made.

A new-look schedule of 21-26 events is the current thinking for a plan he described as “not a baked cake yet”, with more Signature Events – with fields of around 120 players – and more tournaments held in big US cities.

Rolapp said he wants to “make every tournament matter”, with a “second track” of PGA Tour events running alongside the Signature Events.

There’s still plenty yet to be decided, including the format for the play-offs and how they look to attack the international market, but there were plenty of unknowns about the tour’s future answered.

McIlroy leaves it late for Players arrival

Build-up to the event has been dominated by the fitness of Rory McIlroy, so it was pleasing to see him on the grounds late on Wednesday to prepare for a potential title defence.

He may have only hit up to a six-iron during a limited range session, but McIlroy hitting a club in general is stark progress from him having to withdraw from the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Saturday.

Cameras followed McIlroy’s every move as he arrived at TPC Sawgrass around 2.20pm local time on Wednesday, then tracked his warm-up routine and his media scrum outside the press building.

McIlroy appeared cautiously optimistic about a back injury that he described as “sensitive rather than pain”, with the world No 2 planning to make a “game-time decision” on whether to tee it up on Thursday afternoon.

A nine-hole walk around TPC Sawgrass with caddie Harry Diamond, a wedge and a putter was going to be the extent of McIlroy’s remaining prep, with the five-time major winner unable to commit to being fit to tee it up.

“All indications are pointing in the right direction,” McIlroy insisted. We may have a clearer idea until he see him – hopefully – on the first tee, alongside Hideki Matsuyama and Xander Schauffele, at 5.42pm UK and Ireland time on Thursday.

Penge embraces added attention

An annual tradition at The Players is for all the debutants to speak to the media on Wednesday morning, with the 14 first-timers sat on director-style chairs on the lawn in front of the clubhouse.

Marco Penge is among those making his maiden appearance, having secured his PGA Tour card last season after winning three times on the DP World Tour season, with the Englishman of huge interest and facing more interviews than many others.

“I enjoy it,” Penge told Sky Sports about the extra attention. “When I was younger, it was everything that I dreamed of – playing at the biggest stage, at the best courses, in front of big crowds and all that stuff.

“It’s a fun moment to try and show off what you can do and prove to people what you can do. If it doesn’t go the way you want it, then it’s just a game at the end of the day. It’s wicked.”

Lowry fuelled by recent failure

A smiling Shane Lowry was caught unaware about just how good his record was at The Players when I informed him that only Scheffler had a lower cumulative score over the past five years at TPC Sawgrass.

Lowry didn’t shy away from his recent near-miss at the Cognizant Classic, where he blew a three-shot lead over the closing holes, with the Irishman keen to put himself back in contention here this week.

“I’ve obviously thought a lot about it over the last couple of weeks,” Lowry told Sky Sports. “You have to enjoy putting yourself there.

“It’s a lot of pressure when you do put yourself there, but that’s the reason we get up every morning and the reason we go to work.

“What happened, it was a bit of a disaster. But the enjoyment of being there in contention, it doesn’t get much better than that on the PGA Tour. I just need to keep putting myself there, and hopefully eventually it’ll happen at some stage.”

A ‘Ludacris’ start to Players week!

The par-three 17th has witnessed many iconic moments through the years, although Tuesday’s practice round produced an impressive performance of a different kind.

Military Appreciation Day takes place every Tuesday at The Players and finishes with a concert next to the 17th hole, with the line-up usually containing a country singer but switching this year to Ludacris.

The rapper proved a fans’ favourite from the several thousand-strong crowd as he rattled through tracks from across his lengthy career, including many of the songs he has collaborated on with other artists.

Tracks from Taio Cruz, DJ Khaled and Enrique Iglesias were among those performed during an hour-long set in the Florida sunshine, while a rendition of his parts in Justin Bieber’s song ‘Baby’ proving particularly popular.

Ludacris praised the energy coming from the crowd, telling them he had never experienced a show like that before. The atmosphere was quite something, although we’re now ready for a different kind of excitement and the tournament getting under way.

Who will win The Players? Watch throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins at 11.30am on Thursday and Friday before starting at 1pm over the weekend. Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract.

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