The Players Championship record which Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler could break this weekend

It’s been a difficult Players Championship for world number one Scottie Scheffler and number two Rory McIlroy.

Both superstars just made the cut, shooting one over par over their first two rounds. Scheffler has been out of sorts of late and looks completely out of control of his swing. Meanwhile, McIlroy has been battling a back injury, which hampered his preparation.

Despite their poor play through 36 holes, both Scheffler and McIlroy can make Players Championship history over the weekend.

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Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy can pull off the biggest two-day comeback in The Players’ history

Even though they are 12 shots back entering the weekend, it’s hard to count out either player to win this tournament. Both can get hot and shoot a low score on Saturday to get right in the mix.

And if either were to fight back and win, it would break the record for the biggest two-day comeback in The Players Championship’s history.

The current record is held by Raymond Floyd, who overcame a seven-stroke deficit in 1981.

While many fans remember the dramatic final-round comebacks of the modern era, Floyd’s victory remains the gold standard for a mid-tournament turnaround.

In 1981, the tournament was still played at Sawgrass Country Club, the year before it moved to its permanent home at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course. After 36 holes, Floyd sat seven strokes behind the leader, Barry Jaeckel.

Floyd chipped away at the lead over the weekend and eventually entered a three-man sudden-death playoff against Jaeckel and Curtis Strange. He won with a par on the first playoff hole.

That’s the accomplishment Scheffler and McIlroy need to better to win this week.

Scottie Scheffler already had a Players comeback

This feat will be a little less daunting for Scheffler, who had a massive comeback of his own back in 2024. This event concluded with a historic performance by Scheffler, who overcame a five-stroke deficit on Sunday to become the first player to ever defend a title at TPC Sawgrass.

Entering the final round trailing Xander Schauffele, Scheffler’s bid seemed unlikely as he battled a lingering neck injury that had hampered his ball-striking earlier in the week.

However, the world number one delivered a clinical final-round 64, the lowest closing round by a winner in tournament history. The turning point arrived early with an eagle on the par-four fourth hole, holing out from 92 yards.

From there, Scheffler dismantled the back nine with three birdies in a four-hole stretch, showcasing the tee-to-green dominance that defined his 2024 season.

While Scheffler posted 20-under in the clubhouse, the drama shifted to the chasing pack. In a heart-pounding finish, Wyndham Clark, Brian Harman, and Schauffele all had opportunities to force a playoff.

Clark’s final putt on the 18th lipped out, circling nearly the entire cup before staying out. Scheffler’s five-shot final-day comeback remains the largest in the Stadium Course era, cementing his legacy as one of the most resilient champions in golf history.

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