This week marks a special week for me. It is the first week that I get to write for The Sand Trap, and it is also time for the Player’s Championship! That is right, this tournament has been my favorite tournament since I can remember, and it is no different this year. The Masters is right around the corner, but as most people know, the PGA players treat The Player’s Championship as the “unspoken” 5th major.
The field at the Player’s Championship never lacks for star power, and this year is no different. The top 50 players in the world will come together for the first time in 2005, and they’re all looking to keep that ranking going into The Masters. After this week, the top 50 will all be exempt for the first major of the year, just two short weeks away. You can bet they will all be pushing that much harder to do well this week.
Vijay Singh hit a 7-iron into the water at the 18th hole and Kenny Perry walked away with a two-shot victory at the Bay Hill Invitational. All was not lost for Singh, as he reclaimed the #1 spot in the world over a struggling Tiger Woods, who finished at -1 after an unusual – and lengthy – week.
After Saturday, one thing is for sure… things will be busy on Sunday. From the 
Charles Howell III and Stephen Ames caught a bit of fire on Friday as the rains went away and the sun came out at the Bay Hill Invitational. Among the 30 players able to complete their second rounds, they sat atop the leaderboard after 1½ rounds (or so) of play. Each fired rounds of 71, 68 and sit comfortably at -5.
Arnold Palmer’s famous umbrella came out once again, but this time the man beneath it was not smiling. No, sir, the first round of Arnold’s tournament was rained out.
Vijay Singh lipped out no more than a three foot putt on the second playoff hole and the Irishman Padraig Harrington has captures his first victory on the PGA Tour four days shy of St. Patrick’s Day. Harrington, who started the day 8 back of the leaders and finished more than 90 minutes before 
The windy conditions made it difficult for players to go low in the third round of the Honda Classic. However, Geoff Ogilvy overcame an eight-stroke deficit to join Brent Wetterich at –12 to sit atop a crowded leaderboard. Lee Janzen, who bogeyed the last hole to shoot 72, is in a tie for third with Pat Perez at -11. Ogilvy fired a third round 64, while Wetterich followed his opening 66s with a 72. Ogilvy is looking to win his second tournament of the year, after 
Half of the field got a break and the other half was dealt some serious pain. Players who teed off Thursday morning in cold, wet conditions at the Honda Classic played the afternoon on Friday… just as the winds started gusting to 30 MPH. Nine of the top twelve players after two rounds had the easier go: Thursday afternoon and Friday morning.