Higgo, will be playing in the prestigious event that many golfers consider to be another major, for the first time.

With a purse of $20 million, it is the richest of any golf tournament.

Higgo told OFM Sport that playing in the Players is special.

“It means a lot,” said Higgo.

“I played in the junior Players here four years ago. When I played in that, I thought that it would be nice to play in the actual event.

“But now as a player on the PGA Tour, it's like it's our tournament. There is no Pro-Am this week. As the name says, it's the players week. It is our biggest event, it's the one we all want to win and obviously the purse is massive as well.

“I think it means a lot and I would say that it is equal to a major. Especially now taking a walk around and seeing how everyone is preparing. It does feel like a major’s week.”

In 2021, Higgo announced himself as the hottest property golf by winning the Palmetto Champions on the PGA Tour, as well as, the Open de Portugal, the Gran Canaria Lopesan Open and the Canary Islands Championship on the European Tour. He also made the cut at the US Open and Open Championship, while finishing in a tie for 64th at the PGA Championship.

The other South Africans playing this week are Louis Oosthuizen, Erik van Rooyen, Garrick Higgo, Branden Grace, and Charl Schwartzel.

Higgo and Van Rooyen are in the same grouping for the first round and they will be on the 1st tee at 14:40 on Thursday (South African time).

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport