The most important stats for the Players Championship

A strong combination of accuracy and distance off the tee can give players a massive advantage at TPC Sawgrass. Finding the fairway is crucial, but McIlroy and Scheffler have shown over the last few years that pulling out driver and cutting off the doglegs with their length can be a winning formula.

1. Min Woo Lee
2. Michael Thorbjornsen
3. Sudarshan Yellamaraju
4. Jordan Smith
5. Collin Morikawa

Approaches from 150-175 yards

Because TPC Sawgrass isn't a long golf course by PGA Tour standards, mid-iron play is always crucial at the Players Championship. The average approach distance at TPC Sawgrass is 164 yards, per Ron Klos of Betsperts, so players need to be on point from 150-175 yards to give themselves ample scoring chances.

1. Si Woo Kim
2. Andrew Novak
3. Ryan Gerard
4. Emiliano Grillo
5. Sahith Theegala

Left rough tendency

Avoiding the water hazards at the Players Championship is critical. There's water in play on 17 of the 18 holes at TPC Sawgrass, and a majority of them are located on the left side. Missing left here can lead to big numbers and a short week, so players who rarely pull the ball have a better chance of staying out of the drink. 

1. Max McGreevy
2. Joel Dahmen
3. Haotong Li
4. Tommy Fleetwood
5. Collin Morikawa

Based on these important stats and the top-ranked players in each, Kim and Morikawa seem like great bets to contend for a win at the 2026 Players Championship.