THE PLAYERS Field Updates: 2019 champion Rory McIlroy

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL - MARCH 17: Rory McIlroy of Northern Ireland holding THE PLAYERS Championship trophy on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 17, 2019, in Ponte Vedra Beach . (Photo by Chris Condon/PGA TOUR)

With the strongest field in golf set to reconvene next week at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, 2019 PLAYERS Champion Rory McIlroy is the latest to join the championship commitment list.

McIlroy’s victory at TPC Sawgrass marked the championship’s return to March for the first time since 2006. In what was his 10th career start at THE PLAYERS, McIlroy’s 16-under total bested Jim Furyk by one stroke and eclipsed his career-best 72-hole score at TPC Sawgrass by seven.

The win was one of three titles McIlroy claimed during the 2019 season, which concluded with him lifting his second career FedExCup title as the PGA TOUR season’s champion.

The 20-time PGA TOUR winner will arrive at TPC Sawgrass having already visited the winner’s circle during the 2021-22 season. He claimed the CJ CUP @ SUMMIT in his season debut in October in his first of two starts before adding a T10 in his most recent appearance at The Genesis Invitational.

Currently ranked No. 5 in the Official World Golf Ranking, McIlroy will return to action at this week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard before making the short drive north to TPC Sawgrass for THE PLAYERS.

Players have until 5 p.m. ET on Friday, March 4 to commit to the championship.