Why can’t Rory McIlroy get a win?

FedExCup titleholder Justin Thomas and Masters champion Patrick Reed headline an always power-packed field ready to converge on TPC Sawgrass, seeking to wrest one of the game’s most revered titles away from Si Woo Kim. World No.1 Dustin Johnson returns after a three-week break, with TPC Sawgrass set to welcome each of the top 50 players in the latest rankings. Tiger Woods, meantime, ends a two-year absence from the event, hoping to add a third victory to the ones he captured in 2001 and ’13. FIELD NOTES: Japan’s Satoshi Kodaira makes his first PGA TOUR start since taking up membership after his playoff win at the RBC Heritage. Kodaira was back on the Japanese circuit last week, finishing in a share of 32nd. … Phil Mickelson is set for his 25th start at TPC Sawgrass, moving into a tie for No. 9 on the all-time list. Jay Haas holds the record for most starts with 29. … The lineup features a pair of PGA TOUR Champions members – Steve Stricker and Constellation Senior Players Championship winner Scott McCarron. … One additional berth is available for the winner of this week’s Wells Fargo Championship, if he hasn’t already qualified. FEDEXCUP: Winner receives 600 points. STORYLINES: Thomas, third behind Jason Day two years ago, seeks not only his first title at THE PLAYERS but a possible No. 1 ranking – if the takeover hasn’t already happened by then. A top-12 finish at the Wells Fargo Championship would vault Thomas past Johnson. … Reed could use a change of fortune at TPC Sawgrass, where last year’s tie for 22nd was his best finish. He’s broken 70 on the layout just once in 12 rounds. … Kim takes the torch seeking to become the first back-to-back winner at THE PLAYERS in its 45-year existence. … Just two of the past 11 winners have lifted the trophy after setting the 54-hole pace, though both have come in the past four editions – Martin Kaymer (2014) and Jason Day (2016). … A total of 69 balls found water last year at No. 17, the second-highest total since the PGA TOUR began keeping count 15 years ago. The record is 93, when the event first moved to May in 2007. … Paul Azinger (1987) is the only man to birdie No. 17 in all four regulation rounds. Rickie Fowler birdied it three times in a day, during the final round and playoff of his 2015 triumph. … This week marks THE PLAYERS’ farewell to May, returning to a March date in 2019. COURSE: TPC Sawgrass (Stadium), 7,189 yards, par 72. Carved out from 415 acres of wooded wetlands bought for $1 by then-commissioner Deane Beman, the Stadium Course has flourished into a thorough test that plays no favorites. Architect Pete Dye took pains to ensure no two consecutive holes play in the same direction, doglegs were created in both directions and both short and long holes are offered at every par. A recent tweak is a drivable par-4 at No.12, where both fairway and green slope toward a water hazard on the left. Nothing, though, is likely to ever match the drama at the iconic 17th – a nerve-wracking 137 yards over water to a green connected only by narrow rear pathway. 72-HOLE RECORD: 264, Greg Norman (1994). 18-HOLE RECORD: 63, Fred Couples (3rd round, 1992), Greg Norman (1st round, 1994), Roberto Castro (1st round, 2013), Martin Kaymer (1st round, 2014); Jason Day (1st round, 2016); Colt Knost (2nd round, 2016). LAST YEAR: Kim proved unflappable beyond his 21 years, becoming the youngest winner of THE PLAYERS with a bogey-free finale on the way to a three-shot triumph over Ian Poulter. Kim chased down faltering leaders Kyle Stanley and J.B. Holmes on the front nine, then staved off Poulter’s pursuit on the back nine. Though Kim hit only eight greens in regulation, he went six straight holes with no par putt longer than 2 feet on the way to a 3-under-par 69. Poulter closed with a 71, taking full advantage of regaining full TOUR status when a clerical oversight was discovered. Louis Oosthuizen shared runner-up honors after a 73, one shot ahead of Stanley (75) and Rafa Cabrera Bello (70). Holmes endured a nightmare, carding 84 to fall the way to 41st. It was the worst round by a 54-hole leader in tournament history – by five strokes. HOW TO FOLLOW TELEVISION: Thursday-Friday, 1-7 p.m. ET (Golf Channel). Saturday-Sunday, 2-7 p.m. (NBC). (Golf Channel / NBC Sports LiveExtra simulcast stream) PGA TOUR LIVE: Wednesday, noon-2 p.m. (preview show). Thursday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. (featured groups), 9 a.m.-7 p.m. (17th hole), 1-7 p.m. (featured holes). Saturday-Sunday, 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m. (featured groups), noon-7 p.m. (17th hole), 2-7 p.m. (featured holes). RADIO: Thursday-Friday, noon-7 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 1-7 p.m. (PGA TOUR Radio on SiriusXM and PGATOUR.com).

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In Gee Chun rallied after losing the rest of her once-sizeable lead, overcoming a bogey-filled front nine to win the Women’s PGA Championship on Sunday.

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The PGA of America, Ryder Cup Europe and the PGA TOUR jointly announced today that both the Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup have been rescheduled and will now be played one year later than originally planned. The 43rd Ryder Cup, scheduled for Sept. 22-27, at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, has been rescheduled for Sept. 21-26, 2021. Likewise, the Presidents Cup, initially slated for Sept. 30-Oct. 3, 2021, at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, North Carolina, will now be played Sept. 19-25, 2022. The decision to reschedule the Ryder Cup was based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and in conjunction with the state of Wisconsin and Sheboygan County, with the health and well-being of all involved as the top priority. “Unlike other major sporting events that are played in existing stadiums, we had to make a decision now about building facilities to host the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits,” said PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh. “It became clear that as of today, our medical experts and the public authorities in Wisconsin could not give us certainty that conducting an event responsibly with thousands of spectators in September would be possible. Given that uncertainty, we knew rescheduling was the right call. We are grateful to PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan and our partners at the TOUR for their flexibility and generosity in the complex task of shifting the global golf calendar. “As disappointing as this is, our mandate to do all we can to safeguard public health is what matters most. The spectators who support both the U.S. and European sides are what make the Ryder Cup such a unique and compelling event and playing without them was not a realistic option. We stand united with our partners from Ryder Cup Europe, the NBC Sports Group, Sky and our other broadcast partners around the world. We look forward to delivering the Ryder Cup’s renowned pageantry, emotion and competitive drama to a global audience in 2021.” Guy Kinnings, Europe’s Ryder Cup Director, said: “The Ryder Cup is rightly celebrated as one of the world’s greatest sporting occasions, made special and totally unique in our sport by the fervent atmosphere created by the passionate spectators of both sides. “While that point is significant, it is not as important as the health of the spectators which, in these difficult times, is always the main consideration. We considered all options including playing with a limited attendance but all our stakeholders agreed this would dilute the magic of this great occasion. “We therefore stand beside our partners at the PGA of America in the decision to postpone the Ryder Cup for a year and join with them in extending our thanks to the PGA TOUR for their willingness to move the dates of the Presidents Cup. “We also thank NBC, Sky and our many broadcast partners around the globe, in addition to the worldwide partners of this great event, whose support and commitment are second to none.” With the decision to play the 2020 Ryder Cup in September 2021, all subsequent Ryder Cups after Whistling Straits will also shift to odd years: 2023/Marco Simone Golf and Country Club (Rome, Italy); 2025/Bethpage Black (Farmingdale, New York); 2027/Adare Manor (County Limerick, Ireland); 2029/Hazeltine National Golf Club (Chaska, Minnesota); 2031/Europe (to be determined); 2033/The Olympic Club (San Francisco); 2035/Europe (to be determined); 2037/Congressional Country Club (Bethesda, Maryland). With the momentum of the successful 2019 Presidents Cup played in Melbourne, Australia, the 14th playing of the Presidents Cup will now be hosted for the first time in the Southeast United States at Quail Hollow Club in 2022. “These two premier international team events are lifted by the spirit of the fans,” said Monahan. “With the uncertainty of the current climate, we fully support the Ryder Cup’s decision to delay a year in order to ensure fans could be a part of the incredible atmosphere in Wisconsin, and the delay of this year’s Presidents Cup was the right decision in order to allow for that option. We are thankful that our global partners, our friends at Quail Hollow Club, our long-time annual title sponsor in Charlotte and all associated with the Presidents Cup and the Junior Presidents Cup have approached this change with a unified, positive spirit. We are confident the move will give us even more runway as we bring the Presidents Cup to Charlotte in 2022.” Additionally, as a result of the Presidents Cup date change, the Wells Fargo Championship will be played at its traditional venue at Quail Hollow Club in 2021, at TPC Potomac in 2022 during the Presidents Cup year and will return to Quail Hollow in 2023. Presidents Cup 2022 qualifying will be determined at a later date. The Ryder Cup, which began in 1927, brings together the finest tour professionals from the United States and Europe. “While it is disappointing that the Ryder Cup won’t be played this year, the decision to reschedule is the right thing to do under the circumstances,” said U.S. Ryder Cup Captain Steve Stricker. “At the end of the day, we want to stage a Ryder Cup that will rival all other Ryder Cups in my home state of Wisconsin, and now we have the opportunity to showcase the event as it was meant to be seen.” Pádraig Harrington, Captain of the European Ryder Cup Team, said: “Rescheduling the Ryder Cup was never going to be an easy decision given the many factors to take into consideration. But I believe it is the right assessment given the unprecedented circumstances we are facing at this time. “When you think of the Ryder Cup you think of the distinctive atmosphere generated by the spectators, such as around the first tee at Le Golf National two years ago. If that cannot be responsibly recreated at Whistling Straits in September, then it is correct that we all wait until it can be. “I know, right now, that September 2021 feels like a long time away. But it will come around quickly and I guarantee that the European players and I will be ready when it does.” For Ryder Cup qualifying, both the United States and European teams will revisit their respective selection processes in the near future. Tickets purchased for the 2020 Ryder Cup via rydercup.com will be automatically valid for the corresponding day(s) in 2021. In the coming weeks, the PGA of America will contact those who secured tickets via rydercup.com to facilitate refunds for those unable to attend in 2021. Further details regarding this process are available on the Ryder Cup website. Those who have purchased tickets and hospitality packages on the secondary market must contact that specific site directly. The PGA of America will be unable to process refunds for those purchases. In a corresponding decision, the PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe also announced that the Junior Ryder Cup will be rescheduled for Sept. 20-21, 2021 at Blue Mound Golf & Country Club in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It was originally scheduled for Sept. 21-22, 2020.

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