Golf news live as marquee group headlines Players Championship pairings

Marquee group for Players Championship

The pairings have been announced for The Players Championship, with three American Ryder Cup stars featuring in the marquee group.

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Justin Thomas, Scottie Scheffler and Rickie Fowler will all play together in rounds one and two. They'll tee off at 1:40 local time (5:40pm UK time) on Thursday and 8:35 local time (12:35pm UK Time) on Friday.

Rory McIlroy has been paired with Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Viktor Hovland in another eye-catching trio. Shane Lowry, Will Zalatoris and Tony Finau will also play together.

LIV Golf stars 'want' PGA Tour return

According to Steve Stricker, LIV Golf stars want to make a return to the PGA Tour ahead of a proposed deal between the two rival tours.

"I know the guys, some of them on the LIV tour want to come back and play out on the regular Tour," he said at last week's Cologuard Classic. "I know that for a fact, and so it's kind of a wait-and-see game, especially for us out here."

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Anthony Kim remains level-headed

Anthony Kim shot a superb six-under-par 65 at LIV Hong Kong on Sunday, his best round to date since making his comeback to the sport this month. Despite the positive signs, Kim is keeping a level head ahead of his venture to the Asian Tour this week.

"It's just one round of golf," he said after his 65. "But I played the right way. I didn't do anything extraordinary. I just played like I know how to play. The scores were what they are... I just kept doing what I've been working on the last two months."

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Anthony Kim endured a chastening LIV Golf debut (Francois Nel/Getty Images)

McIlroy gives brutally honest verdict on iron play

Rory McIlroy struggled from the fairway to green at Bay Hill last weekend, it what will no doubt be cause for concern with the Masters right around the corner.

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Alluding to his issues on Sunday, he said: "Another great week off the tee. I feel like I found a good feeling with the putting the last two days as well. It's just the iron play that's let me down.

"It's sort of been the same story for the last few weeks, struggling with a left miss with the irons. It's hard because the longer clubs, the woods, feel so good but the irons don't feel that good. I feel like I'm having to put two differing swings on the woods and the irons at the minute, which is a struggle. But everything else feels pretty good so if I can get the irons tightened up, I feel like I will be in a good spot."

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Tiger Woods OUT of Players

In case you missed it, Tiger Woods will not compete in this week's Players Championship. Woods was expected to tee it up at TPC Sawgrass as part of his one-event-per-month plan, but has opted to skip golf's 'fifth major' with the Masters right around the corner.

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(Getty Images)

Scheffler takes advantage of McIlroy advice

Following Rory McIlroy's mallet putter advice for Scottie Scheffler, the world No. 1 took full advantage on Sunday at Bay Hill, holing 16 out of 16 putts inside 15 feet in the final round thanks to his new stick in the bag.

Scheffler however believes his new-found mentality on the green more than played a part. "Yeah, I think this week I did a really good job of not letting the misses get to me.

"Teddy [Scott, Scheffler's caddie] did a really good job of keeping me in a good head space and we stayed positive out there and I hit a lot of good putts, a lot of good putts this week."

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Scottie Scheffler was presented with the iconic red cardigan after winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational on Sunday (Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images)

Paul Casey heaps praise on DeChambeau

Paul Casey sang the praises of his captain, Bryson DeChambeau after the Crushers claimed the team title in Hong Kong on Sunday.

"Well, what a great group of guys. We've got something -- we spoke briefly about it after Jeddah, that we've got something that you can't measure, and I firmly believe that.

"I've had some experience with team golf. Bryson has been a bloody good captain. And I think part of being a good captain is letting guys do what they do best in order to -- go do what you need to do in order to play the best golf. He doesn't necessarily try to control us. You get what you get. We've had some great results."

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Paul Casey sang the praises of Bryson DeChambeau (Getty Images)

Mickelson's playing future in doubt?

Phil Mickelson may well have done his future playing on the LIV Golf circuit no favours following his tough week in Hong Kong. It has been no secret that the former PGA Tour star has struggled for form since the Saudi switch, having recorded just three top-10's since joining in June 2022.

Last month a report from Mickelson's biographer, Alan Shipnuck claimed the star's next contract with the LIV setup - with his current deal set to run out at the end of 2025 - could well be a non-playing one.

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Mickelson carded three double-bogeys on his woeful day (Getty Images)

Mickelson's endures tough week in Hong Kong

Phil Mickelson may well have thought he had turned a corner in Jeddah earlier this month when landing his best LIV Golf finish to date, but he was brought crashing back down to earth in Hong Kong last week.

Mickelson finished joint-second-last at Hong Kong Golf Club, after failing to recover from a dismal 10-over-par 80 in his opening round. The six-time major winner now only has one more event in Miami before heading to next month's Masters.

Phil Mickelson endured a nightmare start in Hong Kong (Getty Images)

Scheffler wins the Arnold Palmer

Scottie Scheffler landed his first victory of 2024, after the world No. 1 cruised to his second Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. Scheffler showed exactly why he is the best golfer on the planet, storming to a five-shot victory in Florida, in perfect preperation for this week's Players and next month's Masters.

The only question mark surrounding Scheffler's form in recent months had been his putting, but he put a stop to that problem last week. The former Masters champion ended the week fifth in strokes gained on the green, and may well have Rory McIlroy to thank, who instructed him to make the move to a mallet putter ahead of his title win.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - MARCH 10: Scottie Scheffler of the United States reacts after making birdie on the 15th hole during the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard at Arnold Palmer Bay Hill Golf Course on March 10, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images) (Brennan Asplen/Getty Images)

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Welcome along to daily live golf blog! There is plenty to get stuck into following a busy weekend across both LIV Golf and PGA Tour, so be sure to follow along throughout the day.