Scheffler and McIlory have both won the tournament in the past. McIlroy won The Players back in 2019, while Scheffler has won the last tournaments, with Schauffele finishing tied for second in 2024. Scheffler is the first player ever to win The Players in consecutive years, and is a favorite to win it for a third straight year.

It's a new tournament,” Scheffler said on Tuesday during a pre-tournament press conference at TPC Sawgrass. Perhaps that’s just a way for Scheffler to manage expectations—both his own and golf fans in general.