McIlroy grouped with Rahm, Scheffler in Sawgrass

The Players Championship will play host to an intriguing battle for the World No. 1 spot as Rory McIlroy, Jon Rahm and Scottie Scheffler have all been grouped together for the opening two rounds around the famous course at Sawgrass.

McIlroy, who won the event in 2019, arrives at Sawgrass after a second placed finish in the Arnold Palmer Invitational, having earlier won at the Dubai Desert Classic in January.

2021 US Open champion Rahm has begun the season in stunning form, racking up three wins in five starts and rising to the top of the world rankings.

Joining them is 2022 PGA Tour player of the year Scottie Scheffler, who recently made it back to back wins at the WM Phoenix Open. The trio tee off early on the 10th hole on Thursday, at 7.56am (12.56pm Irish time.)

Shane Lowry, meanwhile, has been grouped alongside Ryder Cup teammates Matt Fitzpatrick and Victor Hovland, the former having won the US Open at Brookline last summer.

Lowry, who finished the 2022 season with victory at the PGA Championship at Wentworth but has made a patchy start to 2023, tees off at 12.34pm (5.34pm Irish time) on Thursday.

The other Irish entrant in the field, Seamus Power, has been grouped Chris Kirk and 2011 PGA Champion Keegan Bradley. The group gets underway at 8.18am (13.18 Irish time) for their opening round.

The tournament, for so long dubbed the 'fifth major', boasts 19 of the world's top 20, LIV Tour member Cameron Smith the only absentee.