Hughes' closing 71 ensures top-20 showing at THE PLAYERS

Mackenzie Hughes' first trip to the cauldron that is TPC Sawgrass ended with a top-20 showing, as the young Canadian's closing 71 was good enough to net a 16th-place finish.

The 26-year-old turned in a sizzling 5-under 67 in his first-ever competitive round at THE PLAYERS Championship, going bogey-free to hold the co-lead after 18 holes.

Pete Dye's penalty-filled course would show its teeth to the PGA Tour rookie on Friday and Saturday, as Hughes would shoot rounds of 75 and 74 to sit at even-par for the championship heading into Sunday, nine shots off the pace.

Hughes would card five birdies and four bogeys in firm conditions on the final day, moving nine spots up the leaderboard to net $152,250 and sit 22nd on the PGA Tour money list and 17th in FedEx Cup standings for the 2016-17 season.

It's another positive showing for Hughes who continues to prove he's more than capable of playing with the best the Tour has to offer.