Eye-watering $35 cocktails at The Players have golf fans calling for tournament boycott

The bars have officially opened at The Players Championship in the Sunshine State of Florida and golf’s unofficial ‘fifth major’.

Fans have already packed out TPC Sawgrass for the first three days of practice as Rory McIlroy faces a race against time to be fit for the defence of the title he won for a second time last year.

Alongside the majors, The Players is one of the most attended on tour as the best players on the planet battle it out for the $4.5 million prize.

However, unlike the Masters, staying hydrated will come at a price.

Fans stunned by refreshments price list

Front Office Sports’ David Rumsey has been behind the ropes and in the stands ahead of the tournament and took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a glimpse of the refreshment prices.

Various assortments of whiskey-based cocktails start at $14 and go all the way through to vintage offerings that check in at just under $50.

For those spectators who prefer drinking wine by the glass, prices start at $12.50 for a chardonnay or cabernet sauvignon, and rise to $14.50 for a mimosa.

Beer-goers are no exception, with non-alcoholic beers costing $9.50 and international beers coming in at $11.50.

But it’s the cocktails that have got fans talking.

For The Players’ signature cocktails using Bushmills, prices begin at $15, while a ‘Sawgrass Splash’ in a special souvenir cup takes the price up to $19.

Canned cocktails are a more ‘reasonable’ $13.

But for those who want the Stanley 1913 souvenir cocktail, expect that to set you back $35 dollars, with refills costing $19.99.

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Don’t forget bottled water, which comes in at a measly $4.75 per bottle with weather temperatures expected to be in the high 70s.

Fans have been left unimpressed by the extortionate prices and flocked to social media in droves to complain.

“5 dollars for a bottle of water is utter insanity,” one fan posted to X, seemingly unaware that attending most sporting events comes at a premium these days.

“So I get a water and a coffee for just under $10,” a second wrote.

“How is it $9.50 for a non alcoholic beer?” a third commented.

“Michelob Ultra is just over $24 (£17.87) for 24 bottles at Walmart and probably less at wholesale.

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“Yet they are charging $10.50 (£7.82) per bottle! I wish people would completely boycott the concessions…but they won’t. Outrageous prices and totally unnecessary,” a fourth fumed.

A $25 million purse is on offer, with the top five all receiving at least $1 million, while finishing in the top-40 will net players a six-figure pay day.

Defending champion McIlroy and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler are both out to join the legendary Arnold Palmer as a three-time Players Champion.

McIlroy has not been seen out on the course and was not due to arrive at the course until later on Wednesday, having not hit a ball since his withdrawal at Bay Hill on Friday.

He is underdoing treatment on a back injury that threatens his tee time alongside Xander Schauffelle and Hideki Matsuyama.

While Scheffler, champion in 2024 and 2025, is alongside Tommy Fleetwood and Justin Thomas when play gets underway on Thursday.

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