The PGA Tour faced a difficult decision ahead of the final day of the PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. JJ Spaun had reclaimed a one-stroke lead after initially sharing the top spot on the leaderboard on Day 1 with Camilo Villegas and Lucas Glover. The competition remained tight, with the top 21 players separated by just seven strokes—an easily surmountable margin on a course like TPC Sawgrass, where focus is key.
However, the final round brought an unexpected change due to the weather forecast. On Saturday evening, the PGA Tour announced a revised format:
> “Due to forecasted inclement weather on Sunday afternoon, final-round tee times for THE PLAYERS Championship will run from 8 to 10:01 a.m. E.T. in threesomes off Nos. 1 and 10.”
Statement on final-round tee times for THE PLAYERS Championship: pic.twitter.com/93rHThHBkF
— PGA TOUR Communications (@PGATOURComms) March 15, 2025
This alteration deviated from tradition in two key ways:
1. Instead of the usual pairings for the final round, players would be grouped in threes, as in the first two rounds.
2. Rather than all players teeing off from the first hole, some groups would start on the 10th hole of the Stadium Course.
Weather Concerns Prompt Format Change
The decision was driven by a concerning weather forecast. AccuWeather projected a 90% chance of rain, expected to last up to an hour, accompanied by wind gusts of 27 mph (44 km/h). The bigger issue was the 82% probability of thunderstorms, which posed a safety risk for players and fans alike. Additionally, a Rip Current Warning was issued for nearby beaches, highlighting the severity of the forecast.
Despite the PGA Tour’s precautionary approach, not all fans agreed with the decision. Some felt it disrupted the integrity of the competition.
Fan Reactions: Frustration Over the Format Change
Several fans criticized the decision, with one stating, “Well, that’s one way to screw up a great event.” Others voiced their frustration over the split tees, arguing it could create an unfair advantage. For instance, a player tackling the nerve-wracking 17th hole—the Island Green—under pressure for the win might have a different experience than a competitor still on the front nine. One fan bluntly called it “a complete joke.”
Additionally, the switch to three-player groups was a sticking point for some. One critic argued, “Playing in groups of 3 sucks; why don’t they ever learn regardless of the weather forecast?”
The Leaderboard and Competitive Stakes
Heading into the final day, the leaderboard remained volatile. Min Woo Lee and Akshay Bhatia, who had been front-runners on Day 2, dropped after scoring over par, while Lucas Glover recovered from a rough second round to sit three strokes off the lead at T3. The unpredictability of the competition raised concerns that altering the format could impact a thrilling conclusion.
One fan summarized the concern, stating, “Mounting any sort of comeback is going to be challenging if they’re all playing together.”
The Bigger Question: Did the PGA Tour Overreact?
The debate now revolves around whether the PGA Tour was justified in prioritizing safety or if the change unnecessarily compromised the tournament’s competitive integrity. Some argue that the decision respected the reality of the forecast, while others believe it altered the dynamics of the final day in a way that may affect the outcome.
What do you think? Did the PGA Tour make the right call, or did they overreact?