Are you ready for the so-called “fifth major?” Do you buy any of that? I don’t, but there is no denying that the money and exposure of the Tour’s signature non-major event makes this a special weekend, maybe the biggest non-major weekend of the regular season. I tend to look at the Players as a sort of All-Star weekend — comparing it to basketball days of yore, it meant something when Magic, Michael or even Scottie Pippen rose up and dominated the All-Star event to win the MVP. It’s kind of a nice thing to have as part of an overall resume. But the Players has its share of dud winners, and dud competitions, mainly because… at the end of the day, it ain’t a major.

HERE IS THE LINK TO ONLINE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP COVERAGE

That said… sure we’ll be watching, a lot of it online thanks to the expanded major-like extra coverage of the Players event. Not only will there be the online simulcast of the Golf Channel and NBC coverage, but the Tour’s Live@ production returns, with coverage of everyone’s favorite island green hole, No. 17, as well as No. 13. There’s also going to be “featured groups” coverage online, just like majors like the Masters do it. And, we recently got confirmation from PGA Tour reps that in addition to Comcast subscribers, live simulcast coverage online on Thursdays and Fridays will be available also to subscribers of Verizon FiOS, Cablevision (optimum) and suddenlink. If you aren’t one of those systems’ subscribers, go to pgatour.com anytime this weekend and follow the links to live coverage. You can also try the main window at Golfchannel.com, I’ve been using that one and have loved that it remembers my Comcast signin so the live TV just opens up.

I’m even not going to criticize the online commercials, except for just once. Please, PGA, can’t you not hit us with 7 ads every time we log on? Several of which are repeated because that’s all the inventory you have? #endrant.

Want more cool online stuff? Try the online map feature, which I will let the PGA press release explain:

Live Maps, available for download through livemaps.pgatour.com, features a Google map of the course that allows fans to track their favorite player from their mobile device, find the best viewing spots on the course, locate the nearest concessions, restrooms and more based on their GPS location.

We checked out Live Maps a bit last year when it was still kind of in “beta,” and found it compelling. You get a pretty cool picture (literally) of where everyone is and what they are doing. If they ever link it to live video windows… that’s nirvana.

There is also the PGA’s mobile app, but I am not recommending that unless you have Apple devices. The Android platform is hit or miss, and still has lots of forced crashes. I have no confidence that it will be fixed anytime soon, but am ready to be corrected, PGA. Try typing pgatour.com into your mobile device browser and see how you do. Let me know in the comments of any wins or fails.

As far as the golf goes — I am still waiting for the guy who cost me the Masters fantasy pool, Jason Dufner, to step forward this year. C’mon Duf. The laying-down thing was funny. But wouldn’t you rather be known for your golf? Tiger the bad dropper will be there, along with everyone else who is healthy and qualified. Fore, everyone.

THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

(all times Eastern)
TV COVERAGE
Thursday, May 9 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 7 p.m.; 9 p.m. — 12 a.m.
Friday, May 10 — Golf Channel, 1 p.m. — 7 p.m.; 9 p.m. — 12 a.m.
Saturday, May 11 — Golf Channel, 12 p.m. — 2 p.m.; NBC, 2 p.m. — 7 p.m.
Sunday, May 12 — Golf Channel, 12 p.m. — 2 p.m.; NBC, 2 p.m. — 7 p.m.

RADIO
SIRIUS XM (Satellite)
12 p.m. — 7 p.m., Thursday-Sunday. The live broadcasts are also available to subscribers on the SiriusXM Internet Radio App and online at SiriusXM.com.

ONLINE
The PGA’s Live@ is back! Here’s the monster schedule:

LIVE@ SCHEDULE: FOLLOW A GROUP

Thursday, 5/9: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Starting at 8:39 a.m, watch the group consisting of Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy and Steve Stricker. Starting at 1:39 p.m., watch the group consisting of Sergio Garcia, Luke Donald and K.J. Choi.

Friday, 5/10: 8:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Starting at 8:39 a.m., watch the group consisting of Tiger Woods, Matt Kuchar and Brandt Snedeker. Starting at 1:39 p.m, watch the group consisting of Ernie Els, Dustin Johnson and Billy Horschel.

Saturday, 5/11: 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Groups to be determined

Sunday, 5/12: 9:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
Groups to be determined

LIVE@ SCHEDULE: FEATURED HOLES

Thursday, 5/9: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Friday, 5/10: 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Saturday, 5/11: 12-7 p.m.

Sunday, 5/12: 12-7 p.m.

PGA SHOT TRACKER
Get another online fix via Shot Tracker for the TPC.

FACEBOOK PAGE
You can follow the Players on the PGA Tour Facebook page this weekend.

TOP TWITTER FEEDS TO FOLLOW

Geoff Shackelford — well known golf writer. If you’re not following Geoff you are missing the online boat.
Golf Channel — official Golf Channel feed
@PGATOUR — official PGA Twitter feed
@StephanieWei — great golf writer who is a Twitter fiend. Now leading the Wei (hah!) with Google+ Hangouts during most tourneys.
Doug Ferguson is the lead golf writer for AP. Good Twitter insights that often aren’t part of your wire-service lead.
Matt Ginella is a former Golf Digest writer now at Golf Channel. Your guide to the best golf course reviews, evar. Plus great columnist-type commentary on a regular basis.

WHAT’S THE COURSE LIKE?
Here is everything you ever wanted to know or see about TPC Sawgrass.

WHO WON THIS THING LAST YEAR?
Kooch! Aka Matt Kuchar.