The Players: PGA Tour stars ready for major test at TPC Sawgrass as 'fifth major' debate splits views within sport

The Players may not hold the official major status many debate it could, but the PGA Tour’s Flagship Event is expected this week to provide – once again – one of the highlights in the golfing calendar.

Rory McIlroy returns as defending champion after his play-off victory over JJ Spaun, following on from Scottie Scheffler's back-to-back wins the previous two years, leaving both with the chance to join Jack Nicklaus as the only three-time champion in the event's history.

FedExCup champion Tommy Fleetwood is among a strong contingent looking to end the long wait for a first English winner of The Players, while two-time major champion Collin Morikawa aims to follow early-season PGA Tour success with another title.

The tournament has regularly been labelled as an unofficial 'fifth major' because of its strength of field, iconic host venue and huge prize money on offer at TPC Sawgrass, with that discussion reignited by the PGA Tour's promotional video ahead of this year's contest.

"March is going to be major," was the tagline used by the PGA Tour, fuelling the fresh conversation about whether it could be classified alongside The Masters, PGA Championship, US Open and The Open amongst men's golf's traditional majors.