Russell Henley Calls Players Championship a Major—Joining Chamblee, Disagreeing With McIlroy
Russell Henley, the defending champion at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, has already made waves at Bay Hill this week – and not solely with his golf game. The five-time PGA Tour winner ignited a debate Tuesday by stating his belief that the Players Championship should be considered a major championship.
Henley’s assertion, made during his pre-tournament press conference, comes as the PGA Tour actively seeks to elevate the profile of its flagship event. While not a universally held opinion – Rory McIlroy recently voiced his disagreement – Henley’s stance is shared by some within the golf world, including Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee.
“I mean, I think it’s a major,” Henley explained. “It’s our home tournament. I don’t realize the statistics on like when they say ‘best field in golf’ or whatever, but it is. And the history with that tournament. I mean, I’ve always considered that a major in my mind. It’s just such a tricky golf course and it rewards great shots, typically. It visually is very intimidating, and I feel like if you have a good week there you’ve done a lot of really good things. You look at the past champions and… it hasn’t really favored any one player. People typically don’t win it back-to-back unless you’re Scottie [Scheffler].”
Henley’s conviction stems from a deep respect for the tournament’s challenge and pedigree. He believes TPC Sawgrass demands a complete skillset and consistently produces unpredictable results, making a victory there particularly significant. He added, “It’s a tournament I always look forward to. I love the challenge of it. I consider it a major.”
The discussion surrounding the Players’ major status isn’t new. The PGA Tour recently released a promotional video framing March as “major” season, further fueling the debate. Chamblee has been particularly vocal, arguing that the Players boasts the deepest and most competitive field in golf, and that its difficulty – only one player has successfully defended their title in its 50-year history – surpasses that of the traditional majors.
However, McIlroy, a two-time Players champion himself, offered a dissenting opinion at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. While acknowledging the tournament’s importance, he expressed a preference for maintaining the traditional four-major structure. “Look, I’d love to have seven majors instead of five, that sounds great. But I’m a traditionalist, I’m a historian of the game. We have four major championships,” McIlroy said.
He did concede that the Players possesses a strong identity, perhaps even stronger than the PGA Championship. “It’s the Players. It doesn’t need to be anything else. Like I would say it’s got more of an identity than the PGA Championship does at the minute,” McIlroy stated. “So like from an identity standpoint, I think the Players has got it nailed. It stands on its own without the label, I guess.”
Henley’s own experience at the Players is mixed. While he has never won the tournament, his best finish came in 2022, when he tied for 13th. Last year, immediately following his victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, he finished tied for 30th at TPC Sawgrass.
The timing of Henley’s comments is noteworthy. He returns to Bay Hill as the defending champion, having secured his first-career Signature PGA Tour win at the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational with a final score of 11-under 277. He edged out Collin Morikawa by one stroke, sealing the victory with a dramatic chip-in eagle on the 16th hole. That win earned him a $4,000,000 prize from the $20,000,000 purse, as well as 69.4 Official World Golf Ranking points and 700 FedEx Cup points.
Henley’s recent form suggests he’s poised to contend again this year. In his most recent appearances, he finished T19 at The Genesis Invitational , T19 at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am , and T8 at The American Express . He has consistently finished in the top 20 in recent events, demonstrating a high level of performance.
As Henley prepares to defend his title, his advocacy for the Players Championship adds another layer of intrigue to the upcoming tournament. Whether his view gains traction remains to be seen, but his voice adds to the ongoing conversation about the evolving landscape of professional golf and the significance of its most prestigious events. The 2026 Players Championship is scheduled to begin on at TPC Sawgrass.