Dustin Johnson will be hoping to keep his incredible run of form going at the Players Championship this week Photo: AFP

Dustin Johnson and defending champ Jason Day placed in marquee Players Championship groups

Defending champion Day plays with past champions Fowler and Stenson, while Johnson tees it up with McIlroy and Thomas

Published: 11:34am, 9 May 2017

Defending champion Jason Day plays with past champions Rickie Fowler and Henrik Stenson, while world number one Dustin Johnson tees it up with Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas in Thursday’s opening round of The Players.

Day, the world number three, won last year’s event by four strokes after opening with a course-record 63.

The Australian helps kick off the tournament in the morning wave on Thursday with fellow top 10 players, Sweden’s Stenson (7) and Rickie Fowler (9), teeing off at the 10th tee at 8.16am (local time) in the so-called ‘fourth major’ of the season.

Another glamour group follows them to the tee 11 minutes later as world number five Jordan Spieth, number four Hideki Matsuyama of Japan and five-time major winner Phil Mickelson set off on the revamped Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

Rickie Fowler and Jason Day will group up for the opening round of the Players Championship. Photo: AP

Johnson, whose run of three victories in his previous three starts ended with a tie for second at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship, hopes to get started on a new winning streak when he tees off at 1.52pm from the first tee in the afternoon wave.

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They are preceded by groupings of Masters champion Sergio Garcia of Spain and former winners Adam Scott of Australia and Matt Kuchar, and an international trio of Briton Justin Rose, German Martin Kaymer and Spaniard Jon Rahm.

Sweden’s Henrik Stenson is a past winner of the Players. Photo: AFP

The elite field at The Players will see numerous changes at the permanent site of the championship, including a new drivable par-four 12th hole, where eagles are possible if one risks the danger posed by a water hazard left of the green.

There is also a new hazard between the sixth and seventh, and subtle changes to several holes, including expanded greens and the removal of rough to promote creative recovery shots.

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