The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, delayed opening spectator gates for Saturday's third round due to a police manhunt for a suspect accused of fatally shooting two people in a nearby drugstore parking lot.[1][2]

St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick said during a news conference early on March 14, 2026, that deputies responded to reports of shots fired at a Walgreens parking lot, approximately one mile from the course, around 10:30 p.m. on March 13.[1][3] He stated two victims had been shot multiple times and died from their injuries, describing the incident as a domestic violence situation. The victims' identities were not released, but Hardwick said the suspect knew both.[1][2]

Law enforcement tracked 32-year-old suspect Christian Barrios to the grounds of TPC Sawgrass, site of the PGA Tour headquarters, using K-9 units. Hardwick said Barrios made contact with groundskeepers and security personnel and picked up then dropped a PGA Tour radio.[1][3]

Barrios allegedly stole a black BMW from the property and fled. Nassau County Sheriff's Office deputies pursued the vehicle, which crashed in woods, after which Barrios fled on foot. He was taken into custody just before 8 a.m. on March 14, according to Nassau County authorities. Charges were pending, and Hardwick described Barrios as having a lengthy criminal history.[2][3]

Tournament organizers cited "operational considerations" for the gate delay but confirmed tee times for the third round remained unchanged.[1][4]

The Players Championship is the PGA Tour's flagship annual stroke-play event, contested over 72 holes on the 7,273-yard Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, designed by Pete Dye and opened in 1980. The course is renowned for its par-3 17th hole, an island green.[4][5] The 2026 edition runs March 12-15.[4]

Sources

1. Fox News Digital, "The Players Championship delayed opening the gates to Saturday’s third round after a manhunt...", March 14, 2026, https://www.foxnews.com/sports/players-championship-manhunt-delay
2. Nassau County Sheriff's Office, "Suspect in custody following pursuit near TPC Sawgrass", March 14, 2026, https://www.nassauso.com/news
3. St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, "Sheriff Hardwick news conference on Walgreens shooting", March 14, 2026, https://www.sjso.org/news-releases
4. PGA Tour, "The Players Championship official tournament page", Accessed March 2026, https://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/the-players-championship
5. Wikipedia, "The Players Championship", Accessed March 2026, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Players_Championship