The 2014 Players Championship was a golf tournament in Florida on the PGA Tour, held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, southeast of Jacksonville. It was the 41st Players Championship.

Martin Kaymer opened with a 63, led after each round, and won his first Players, one stroke ahead of runner-up Jim Furyk. It was the first to feature an eight-figure purse, with a winner's share of $1.8 million.

With defending champion and world number one Tiger Woods out of competition due to back surgery in late March, four entered this Players Championship with an opportunity to ascend to the top of the world rankings. World number two Adam Scott needed a 16th-place finish, third-ranked Henrik Stenson a top-six finish, number four Bubba Watson a solo runner-up, and fifth-ranked Matt Kuchar a win. They finished at T38, T34, T48, and T17, respectively, and Woods remained number one.

Due to 82 players making the halfway cut (top 70 and ties), a second cut was initiated after the third round.

This was the first year for the new playoff format, a three-hole aggregate beginning on the 16th hole, which was not necessary. After a 90-minute rain delay late in the final round, Kaymer finished with a par in near-darkness. If he had bogeyed the final hole, the playoff would have begun on Monday morning.

Kaymer was the fourth European to win the Players, following Sandy Lyle, Sergio García, and Henrik Stenson. A month later he won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst and became the fourth to win the Players and a major in the same calendar year, joining Jack Nicklaus (1978, Open), Hal Sutton (1983, PGA), and Woods (2001, Masters).

Venue

This was the 33rd Players Championship held at the TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course and it remained at .

Course layout

Source:

Field The field consisted of 144 players meeting the following criteria:

1. Winners of PGA Tour events since last Players Woody Austin, Bae Sang-moon (2), Jonas Blixt (2,8), Steven Bowditch (2), Jason Dufner (2,4,8), Ken Duke (2), Harris English (2,8,12), Matt Every (2,8,12), Bill Haas (2,7,8), Chesson Hadley, Russell Henley (2,8), J. B. Holmes (3), Dustin Johnson (2,6,8,12), Zach Johnson (2,8,12), Matt Jones (2,8), Chris Kirk (2,12), Matt Kuchar (2,5,6,8,12), Phil Mickelson (2,4,8), Ryan Moore (2,8), Noh Seung-yul, Patrick Reed (2,6,8,12), Justin Rose (2,4,6,8), Adam Scott (2,4,6,8), John Senden (2), Webb Simpson (2,4,8), Brandt Snedeker (2,7,8), Jordan Spieth (2,8,12), Kevin Stadler (2), Scott Stallings (2), Henrik Stenson (2,5,7,8), Jimmy Walker (2,8,12), Bubba Watson (2,4,8,12), Boo Weekley (2), Gary Woodland (2,8) Jason Day (2,6,8) and Tiger Woods (2,5,6,8) did not play.

2. Top 125 from previous season's FedEx Cup points list Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Charlie Beljan, Jason Bohn, Keegan Bradley (4,6,8), Scott Brown, Ángel Cabrera, Roberto Castro, Greg Chalmers, Kevin Chappell, K. J. Choi (5), Stewart Cink (4), Tim Clark (5), Erik Compton, Ben Crane, Brian Davis, Brendon de Jonge, Graham DeLaet (8), Luke Donald (8), James Driscoll, Ernie Els (4,8), Derek Ernst, Martin Flores, Rickie Fowler (8), Jim Furyk (8), Sergio García (8), Robert Garrigus, Brian Gay, Lucas Glover (4), Luke Guthrie, James Hahn, Brian Harman, David Hearn, J. J. Henry, Justin Hicks, Charley Hoffman, Morgan Hoffmann, Billy Horschel, Charles Howell III, John Huh, Freddie Jacobson, Martin Kaymer (4), Jerry Kelly, Jason Kokrak, Martin Laird, Lee Dong-hwan, Richard H. Lee, Scott Langley, Marc Leishman, Justin Leonard, David Lingmerth, Jeff Maggert, Hunter Mahan (6,8), Graeme McDowell (4,8), William McGirt, Rory McIlroy (4,8), George McNeill, John Merrick, Bryce Molder, Geoff Ogilvy, Jeff Overton, Ryan Palmer, Pat Perez, Carl Pettersson, D. A. Points, Ted Potter Jr., Ian Poulter (6,8), John Rollins, Andrés Romero, Rory Sabbatini, Charl Schwartzel (4,8), Kyle Stanley, Brendan Steele, Kevin Streelman (8), Steve Stricker (8), Chris Stroud, Brian Stuard, Daniel Summerhays, Josh Teater, Michael Thompson, Nicholas Thompson, Cameron Tringale, Bo Van Pelt, Camilo Villegas, Johnson Wagner, Nick Watney, Lee Westwood (8), Charlie Wi, Mark Wilson Bob Estes, David Lynn, Scott Piercy, and Chez Reavie did not play.

3. Top 125 from current season - Medical Extension Briny Baird, Jonathan Byrd, Retief Goosen, Kevin Na, Shawn Stefani

4. Major champions from the past five years Darren Clarke, Louis Oosthuizen (8), Yang Yong-eun

5. Players Championship winners from the past five years

6. WGC winners from the past three years (WGC-HSBC Champions winners from 2011–12 only if PGA Tour members)

7. The Tour Championship winners from the past three years

8. Top 50 from the Official World Golf Ranking Thomas Bjørn, Jamie Donaldson, Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño, Stephen Gallacher, Thongchai Jaidee, Joost Luiten, Hideki Matsuyama, Francesco Molinari Victor Dubuisson and Miguel Ángel Jiménez did not play.

9. Senior Players champion from prior year Kenny Perry

10. Web.com Tour money leader from prior season Michael Putnam

11. Money leader during the Web.com Tour Finals John Peterson

12. Top 10 current year FedEx Cup points leaders

13. Remaining positions and alternates filled through current year FedEx Cup standings Russell Knox, Will MacKenzie

Tiger Woods (2001, 2013) was recovering from back surgery. This was the third time the defending champion did not compete,following 1998 (Steve Elkington, sinus surgery) and 1983 (Jerry Pate, neck).

Round summaries

First round Thursday, May 8, 2014

Martin Kaymer tied the course record by shooting a nine-under-par 63. His round included nine birdies including seven on the front nine (his second nine), setting the nine-hole record with 29 (−7). Russell Henley was two strokes back and Bae Sang-moon was three back.

PlacePlayerScoreTo par1 Martin Kaymer 63 −92 Russell Henley 65 −73 Bae Sang-moon 66 −6T4 Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño 67 −5 Sergio García Justin Rose Jordan Spieth Scott Stallings Brian Stuard Lee Westwood Gary Woodland

Second round Friday, May 9, 2014 PlacePlayerScoreTo par1 Martin Kaymer 63-69=132 −122 Jordan Spieth 67-66=133 −113 Russell Henley 65-71=136 −8T4 Jim Furyk 70-68=138 −6 Sergio García 67-71=138 Justin Rose 67-71=138 Lee Westwood 67-71=138 Gary Woodland 67-71=138T9 Bae Sang-moon 66-73=139 −5 Scott Brown 68-71=139 Brian Davis 72-67=139 Bill Haas 68-71=139 Matt Jones 70-69=139 George McNeill 71-68=139 Kevin Na 70-69=139 Geoff Ogilvy 69-70=139 Charl Schwartzel 72-67=139 John Senden 70-69=139

Third round Saturday, May 10, 2014 PlacePlayerScoreTo parT1 Martin Kaymer 63-69-72=204 −12 Jordan Spieth 67-66-71=204 T3 Sergio García67-71-69=207 −9 John Senden 70-69-68=207 T5 Matt Jones 70-69-69=208 −8 George McNeill 71-68-69=208 Gary Woodland 67-71-70=208T8 David Hearn 70-71-68=209 −7 Francesco Molinari 72-70-67=209 Justin Rose 67-71-71=209 Lee Westwood 67-71-71=209

Final round Sunday, May 11, 2014 Champion(c) = past champion PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ($)1 Martin Kaymer 63-69-72-71=275 −13 1,800,0002 Jim Furyk 70-68-72-66=276 −12 1,080,0003 Sergio García (c) 67-71-69-70=277 −11 680,000T4 Justin Rose 67-71-71-69=278 −10 440,000 Jordan Spieth 67-66-71-74=278T6 David Hearn 70-71-68-70=279 −9 313,000 Rory McIlroy 70-74-69-66=279 Francesco Molinari 72-70-67-70=279 Jimmy Walker 75-68-71-65=279 Lee Westwood 67-71-71-70=279 Leaderboard below the top 10PlacePlayerScoreTo parMoney ($)T11 Brian Davis 72-67-73-68=280 −8 240,000 Gary Woodland 67-71-70-72=280T13 K. J. Choi (c) 74-70-72-65=281 −7 187,500 Chris Kirk 71-73-70-67=281 George McNeill 71-68-69-73=281 Steve Stricker 71-70-71-69=281T17 Russell Henley 65-71-80-66=282 −6 135,333 Justin Hicks 73-70-71-68=282 Morgan Hoffmann 71-70-70-71=282 Matt Jones 70-69-69-74=282 Matt Kuchar (c) 71-71-69-71=282 Brian Stuard 67-76-69-70=282T23 Marc Leishman 70-72-74-67=283 −5 96,000 Hideki Matsuyama 70-71-72-70=283 Daniel Summerhays 74-68-69-72=283T26 Kevin Chappell 72-68-75-69=284 −4 69,500 Bill Haas 68-71-72-73=284 Billy Horschel 72-70-75-67=284 Zach Johnson 69-71-72-72=284 Ryan Moore 70-74-67-73=284 John Senden 70-69-68-77=284 Brendan Steele 69-73-75-67=284 Bo Van Pelt 71-70-70-73=284T34 Erik Compton 72-70-74-69=285 −3 52,750 Russell Knox 72-72-73-68=285 Scott Langley 71-72-72-70=285 Henrik Stenson (c) 71-70-70-74=285T38 Ángel Cabrera 70-74-71-71=286 −2 38,000 Stewart Cink 70-70-70-76=286 Luke Donald 73-69-75-69=286 Jamie Donaldson 74-67-74-71=286 Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño 67-77-72-70=286 Charley Hoffman 77-67-71-71=286 Justin Leonard (c) 68-73-70-75=286 Kevin Na 70-69-76-71=286 Rory Sabbatini 71-73-69-73=286 Adam Scott (c) 77-67-69-73=286T48 Charlie Beljan 73-69-73-72=287 −1 24,072 Steven Bowditch 72-72-71-72=287 Jason Dufner 69-74-72-72=287 Martin Flores 70-71-74-72=287 Retief Goosen 72-70-75-70=287 J. J. Henry 74-70-72-71=287 Jeff Maggert 72-71-74-70=287 Pat Perez 68-73-75-71=287 Charl Schwartzel 72-67-77-71=287 Brandt Snedeker 75-69-67-76=287 Bubba Watson 69-72-70-76=287T59 Dustin Johnson 68-74-72-74=288 E 22,000 Ryan Palmer 71-73-71-73=288 John Peterson 73-69-72-74=288T62 Scott Brown 68-71-77-73=289 +1 21,500 Graeme McDowell 69-71-77-72=28964 Freddie Jacobson 70-70-75-75=290 +2 21,200T65 Richard H. Lee 71-71-76-73=291 +3 20,800 Ian Poulter 74-69-72-76=291 Scott Stallings 67-77-71-76=29168 Bae Sang-moon 66-73-79-74=292 +4 20,40069 Geoff Ogilvy 69-70-76-78=293 +5 20,20070 Brendon de Jonge 69-74-75-76=294 +6 20,00071 Kyle Stanley 73-69-76-77=295 +7 19,800T72 Ernie Els 68-76-75=219 +3 19,400 John Huh 69-72-78=219 Noh Seung-yul 76-68-75=219T75 Jonas Blixt 71-72-77=220 +4 18,900 John Merrick 72-71-77=220T77 Stuart Appleby 71-73-77=221 +5 18,400 Rickie Fowler 71-72-78=221 John Rollins 73-71-77=221T80 Joost Luiten 68-72-82=222 +6 17,900 Chris Stroud 76-67-79=22282 Jeff Overton 70-72-83=225 +9 17,600CUT Keegan Bradley 72-73=145 +1 Derek Ernst 76-69=145 Lucas Glover 75-70=145 Chesson Hadley 73-72=145 Charles Howell III 71-74=145 Will MacKenzie 73-72=145 Phil Mickelson (c) 75-70=145 Carl Pettersson 74-71=145 Ted Potter Jr. 73-72=145 Johnson Wagner 73-72=145 Charlie Wi 76-69=145 Jason Bohn 74-72=146 +2 Jonathan Byrd 72-74=146 Roberto Castro 72-74=146 Graham DeLaet 69-77=146 Ken Duke 72-74=146 Robert Garrigus 75-71=146 James Hahn 70-76=146 Brian Harman 74-72=146 Thongchai Jaidee 73-73=146 Jerry Kelly 78-68=146 Martin Laird 76-70=146 Kevin Stadler 72-74=146 Camilo Villegas 70-76=146 Luke Guthrie 73-74=147 +3 Kenny Perry 77-70=147 Josh Teater 71-76=147 Michael Thompson 71-76=147 Cameron Tringale 77-70=147 Aaron Baddeley 73-75=148 +4 Harris English 73-75=148 Stephen Gallacher 70-78=148 David Lingmerth 71-77=148 Bryce Molder 77-71=148 Michael Putnam 75-73=148 Webb Simpson 75-73=148 Kevin Streelman 69-79=148 Boo Weekley 75-73=148 Thomas Bjørn 73-76=149 +5 Greg Chalmers 74-75=149 Darren Clarke 76-73=149 Brian Gay 70-79=149 J. B. Holmes 76-73=149 Shawn Stefani 75-74=149 Yang Yong-eun 75-74=149 Jason Kokrak 70-80=150 +6 Andrés Romero 76-74=150 Nick Watney 71-79=150 Ben Crane 76-75=151 +7 Hunter Mahan 73-78=151 D. A. Points 75-76=151 Nicholas Thompson 77-74=151 Tim Clark (c) 71-81=152 +8 Louis Oosthuizen 77-75=152 James Driscoll 75-78=153 +9 Matt Every 76-77=153 William McGirt 72-81=153 Patrick Reed 74-79=153 Mark Wilson 79-74=153 Woody Austin 78-76=154 +10WD Briny Baird 77 +5 Lee Dong-hwan 78 +6

Scorecard Final round Hole123456789101112131415161718Par453444435 454344534 Kaymer −12−13−13−13−13−13−13−13−14−14−15−15−15−15−13−13−13−13 Furyk −7−8−8−9−9−10−10−10−10−11−11−11−11−11−11−12−12−12 García −9−10−10−10−10−10−10−10−11−11−10−11−11−10−10−10−10−11 Rose −7−8−8−9−9−9−9−9−10−9−8−7−7−7−8−8−9−10 Spieth −12−13−13−14−13−13−13−12−12−11−11−11−11−10−9−10−10−10 Hearn −7−8−8−8−8−9−9−9−10−10−10−10−10−9−9−9−9−9 McIlroy −2−2−2−2−2−3−3−4−4−5−6−7−7−6−6−7−8−9 Molinari −8−9−9−9−9−10−9−9−9−10−11−11−11−10−10−10−10−9 Walker −2−3−4−5−5−4−5−5−6−6−8−8−9−9−9−10−10−9 Westwood −7−7−7−7−7−7−8−7−8−8−9−9−9−10−9−9−9−9 Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par {|class="wikitable" span = 50 style="font-size:85%; |-