THE PLAYERS Championship is one of the most prestigious tournaments in professional sports and is the signature event of the PGA TOUR. Known for having the strongest field and the largest purse in golf as well as the iconic 17^th Island Green at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, this tournament draws spectators from across the world. However, THE PLAYERS is more than just a golf tournament – for the Jacksonville region, it’s a global awareness builder, a business driver and a community service engine that has supported Northeast Florida for 50 years.

As professional golf has become a global sport, the interest and allure of THE PLAYERS has grown exponentially. The tournament’s stature as a premiere event brings golf fans and business leaders from around the world to St. Johns County every year. 2024 brought THE PLAYERS’ largest audience to date with 50 million hours of consumed broadcast content and the first-ever sellout crowd on Saturday..

“It takes a lot of work by a great group of people for THE PLAYERS to happen,” said Lee Smith, executive director of THE PLAYERS. “Year-round, around 50 PGA TOUR employees focus solely on THE PLAYERS and this number multiplies as the tournament approaches. On top of that, the tournament is supported by 2,000 volunteers who contribute more than 66,000 hours before, during and after the tournament to make it a success”.

THE PLAYERS brings global companies to Northeast Florida in the form of sponsorships, hospitality and relationship building. With proud partners like Optum, Morgan Stanley and Comcast Business and a host of Fortune 1000 companies that entertain clients in a variety of settings, global business gets done at THE PLAYERS. The tournament is also a great venue for regional and local companies to showcase their products and services to a global audience.

Above all, THE PLAYERS is an event that gives back to the community. “One of our obligations on an annual basis is to continue to expand the community profile in and around Northeast Florida. We take that seriously and we want to expand that into a larger audience,” added Smith. THE PLAYERS gives back to the community through multiple philanthropic programs, such as the Red Coats Community Grants and THE PLAYERS Grants, Chip in for Charity and more. These programs support organizations at various levels, from large endowments to smaller, impactful donations to community nonprofits. Since the start of THE PLAYERS, more than $100 million has been donated to worthy causes across Northeast Florida.

Despite its success, THE PLAYERS is not resting on its laurels. Year after year, it continues to look for ways to improve and innovate. THE PLAYERS benefits from being located at the home of the PGA TOUR and the tournament looks to leverage technology to improve the fan experience.  Starting in 2025, a groundbreaking broadcast innovation that translates the broadcast into multiple languages in real time will roll out in combination with a new state-of-the-art media and production building. “This is not only a sports league,” says Smith, “but we are turning it into a technology and innovation hub as well.”

From community support and involvement to global interest and audiences, THE PLAYERS is an annual highlight for both Northeast Florida and professional golf. The tournament continues to drive economic growth to the Jacksonville region and will serve as a conduit to business growth around the world for years to come.