The Players Championship delayed gate opening Saturday after police pursued a suspect, 32-year-old Christian Barrios, into TPC Sawgrass grounds. Authorities were called to a Walgreens parking lot near Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, around 10:30 p.m. Friday after two people were fatally shot in what St. Johns County Sheriff Rob Hardwick described as a domestic violence incident.
Barrios was tracked by canine units into the PGA Tour headquarters area and allegedly interacted with course personnel, including groundskeepers and security. He later stole a black BMW, fled into the woods, and was apprehended just before 8 a.m. by Nassau County authorities.
Victim identities remain undisclosed. Law enforcement confirmed Barrios has a lengthy criminal history. The tournament’s tee times remained unchanged despite the delay.