The Players Championship is 'special but not likely to become fifth major'

Fitzpatrick bogey 'gifts' Players Championship to Young

It may not be a major, but the Players Championship proved the high value of top class stadium golf in Cameron Young's thrilling one-stroke victory over England's Matt Fitzpatrick last Sunday.

The PGA Tour teased in its promotions for the event that March would be "major", putting the often argued status of their $25m (£18.9m) flagship event up for further debate.

Let us be clear, it is not a major. Never has been and never likely to be.

But the Players is still very, very special and the 2026 edition proved one of the best even though the tour's biggest guns Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy failed to fire.