The remarkable Players Championship statistic which is bad news for Xander Schauffele’s and Rory McIlroy’s chances to win at TPC Sawgrass

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The Players Championship is on the horizon and, as always, the field is loaded with many of the best golfers in the world.

Scottie Scheffler is looking to become only the second man to win the tournament three times (alongside Jack Nicklaus) and the first to do an incredible ‘three-peat’.

However, the likes of Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy will be out to spoil the world number one’s party.

But one fascinating statistic suggests that the aforementioned trio are all unlikely to top the leaderboard at TPC Sawgrass.

• READ MORE: Xander Schauffele’s chances at the Masters assessed following his PGA Tour return at the Arnold Palmer Invitational

Key statistic proves tee times are important at Players Championship

The Players Championship field is divided into four sections ahead of the first round on Thursday: morning starters on hole 1, morning starters on hole 10, afternoon starters on hole 1 and afternoon starters on hole 10.

Those who play early on Thursday will play late on Friday and vice versa. The same applies to teeing off on the 1st or 10th hole.

While it seemingly doesn’t matter whether players start on the front or back nines, there is a clear preference when it comes to starting in the morning or afternoon.

In the last 10 years at The Players, only one man (Scheffler, 2024) has won the event after teeing off on Thursday afternoon.

The data implies that it’s crucial to get out early and put in a decent performance, which isn’t possible for Schauffele, McIlroy and several other top players this week.

Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy must overcome Players Championship trend

The top three in the Official World Golf Ranking, Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele and Rory McIlroy, are in the same featured group on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.

Of course, Scheffler proved last season that it’s possible to win in that situation and if anyone can buck the trend again, it is the best golfer on the planet.

Therefore, the unfortunate record seems more appropriate to Schauffele and McIlroy, as well as Arnold Palmer Invitational runner-up Collin Morikawa.

Some of the stars in the more favourable position of going out early in round one include Ludvig Aberg, Wyndham Clark and 2021 champion Justin Thomas.