Previewing The Players Championship
The TPC Sawgrass has been a staple on the PGA Tour schedule since it hosted its first Players Championship in 1982. The Pete Dye designed course is one of the most innovative and unique courses not just on tour but in the United States. The famous par 3 17th hole is an island green that has swallowed many golf balls, and tournament hopes over the years.
The unique design of the course, coupled with the names the event has been able to attract, has quickly turned The Players Championship into the unofficial “fifth major” of the season. That will be the case again this week as all 50 of the top 50 golfers in the world will descend on Ponte Vedra Beach.
One of the biggest story lines going into the week, is that not a single pro golfer has been able to really get comfortable on the course. Sure there are several golfers that live in the area and play it year round, but it is set up completely different during tournament time.
“The problem is that the course is completely different when we play it,” Billy Horschel told reporters on Wednesday. “The greens aren’t tournament speeds. The rough isn’t tournament rough. It’s all a little bit different.”
Horschel is one of several players that call the TPC Sawgrass home year round. While there are some players who have shown signs of success over the years, no single golfer has really been able to break through. Since 1982, only four golfers have won at the TPC Sawgrass more than once. Here is a look at how some of our local golfers have done over the years.
Tiger Woods- Since Woods won here in 2001 he only has one top 10 finish, an eighth place finish in 2009. The Jupiter Island resident has never really gotten comfortable on the course. If there is a piece of good news for Woods heading into The Players Championship, it’s that he has already won three times this season.
Lee Westwood- Westwood has had a pretty good stretch as of late with three top 10 finishes in his last three events, including a tie for eighth at the Masters. While the Old Palm resident has had a little more success than Woods has seen lately he still hasn’t dominated this course with only three top 10 finishes in 10 appearances at The Players.
Luke Donald- The Bears Club resident has been one of the more successful golfers at the TPC Sawgrass without getting a win. In his eight trips to The Players Championship, Donald has made seven cuts and has three top-5 finishes. His game translates well to this course and he is coming off a third place finish at the RBC Heritage.
Rory Mcllroy- Mcllroy finished 10th last weekend at Quail Hollow for his third straight top 25 finish. The Palm Beach Gardens resident hopes that he can transfer his recent success to the TPC Sawgrass course where he is 0-for-3 with no sub-par rounds in three appearances.
One thing is for certain going into this weekend at The Players Championship. There will be no shortage of excitement. For complete coverage of The Players Championship, visit www.pgatour.com.
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