Police have launched a manhunt for a suspect who fled onto TPC Sawgrass after he allegedly shot and killed two people in a drugstore parking lot near the PGA Tour course, causing chaos and delays at the 2026 Players Championship in Florida.
Deadly Shooting Creates Tense Situation Hours Before Players Championship Third Round
The shooting happened late on Friday night near the famous TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Authorities said the suspect opened fire at around 10:30 p.m. in the parking lot of a Walgreens located roughly a mile from the course. Two people were hit and later died at a hospital from multiple gunshot wounds.
Police identified the suspect as 32-year-old Christian Barrios. According to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, the incident is believed to be linked to a domestic dispute. Officials said the suspect personally knew the victims.
Barrios fled the scene after the shooting and ran toward TPC Sawgrass. Police responded with K-9 units and multiple patrol vehicles. Officers tracked him onto the property of TPC Sawgrass, creating a tense situation near the venue just hours before the third round of the tournament was scheduled to begin.
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Authorities said the suspect briefly came into contact with tournament personnel and even picked up a PGA Tour radio before dropping it while trying to escape. The strange moment added to the confusion as police worked quickly to secure the area.
Shooting Incident Delays Gate Opening
The shooting incident forced organizers of the Players Championship to delay the opening of fan gates on Saturday morning. Police temporarily prevented fans who had planned to arrive early for the third round from entering while they continued their search for the suspect.
Tournament officials later announced that public gates would open at 9 a.m. local time instead of the usual earlier entry. Tournament officials also delayed the opening of hospitality areas, where fans gather for food and drinks, until 11 a.m. Despite the disruption, officials started the third round on schedule at 8:15 a.m., allowing play to continue while security teams carried out operations nearby.
With such a large crowd expected over the weekend, authorities moved quickly to ensure the safety of players, staff, and fans. Police maintained a heavy presence around the course while the search continued.
According to officials, the suspect later stole a black BMW during his escape. Law enforcement officers pursued the vehicle before forcing it to crash in a wooded area in Nassau County, north of Jacksonville.
Barrios reportedly fled on foot into nearby woods after the crash, but officers eventually caught him around 8 a.m. Saturday morning, and he was taken into custody without further incident.
Main Photo Credit: © Jeff Romance-Imagn Images
