Yesterday, Erik touched on The Players Championship in an article that asks whether this illustrious tournament should be considered golf’s fifth major (it shouldn’t). Regardless of your own opinion, you’re still in for a real treat because the tournament draws many big names who consider this a big tournament.
It all started back in 1974 when Jack Nicklaus won the event, known then as the Tournament Players Championship. He won again in 1976 and 1978. While there has never been a repeat winner of The Players Championship, Jack is one of only four players with multiple wins on the Stadium Course. The course doesn’t have a preferred style of player but it is called by many the “second shot course.”
Purchased in 1978, the TPC at Sawgrass became the first “Stadium Course” specifically built to allow spectators easy viewing at a PGA TOUR event. The course now plays host to over 40,000 rounds a year in addition to 40,000 people per day during the tournament. Famed architect Pete Dye (with much help from his wife Alice) built the Stadium Course at Sawgrass with a very hands-on approach and it is quite possibly his most famous design. The course features firm, small, undulating greens. Approach shots come from angled fairways. The course is understandably called a “second shot course” by many.
The most famous hole measures only 138 yards – the par-three 17th. This hole, originally designed to have a small lake beside it, saw too much sand removed during the construction of the other holes. The island green was born not by design, but by mistake. The hole is loved by few and has changed the final standings of many tournaments rather quickly. It’s estimated that 120,000 to 150,000 balls are recovered from the water each year.
Some fun facts about the tournament include a course-record 63, co-held by Fred Couples and Greg Norman. Greg tied that record and set the tournament record of 264 en route to his win in 1994. Brad Faxon has made a record 13 straight cuts at the event and Tiger Woods has made all nine of his possible cuts here. In 2004 we watched Adam Scott become the youngest winner of The Players Championship while last year we watched Fred Funk become the oldest winner.
Moving into the Big Five, Tiger Woods holds the only win of the group from back in 2001 when Vijay Singh finished runner up. However, Phil Mickelson’s is the only other player of the five to ever hold or share the lead (after the first round in 2000 – he finished tied for 28th). Phil’s best finish is a tie for third back 2004, while Ernie Els finished T8 way back in 1996 and Retief Goosen’s best finish came last year in a tie for 12th. All of these players have a final-round average above par and with their play of late, don’t bet too much on seeing these guys at the top of the leaderboard.
This year’s purse is $8 million with $1,400,000 going to the winner. The Players Championship will be held at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. From March 20 – March 26, 2006 it can be seen on ESPN and NBC plus heard on XM Radio on at the following times:
Thu, 3/23 11:30am-6pm ET ESPN Fri, 3/24 11:30am-6pm ET ESPN Sat, 3/25 2pm-6pm ET NBC Sun, 3/26 1:30pm-6:30pm ET NBC
Thu, 3/23 12pm-6pm ET XM 146 Fri, 3/24 12pm-6pm ET XM 146 Sat, 3/25 12pm-6pm ET XM 146 Sun, 3/26 1pm-7pm ET XM 146
Photo Credit: © BBC Sport.
“Jack is one of only four players with multiple wins on the Stadium Course”
Please note that Nicklaus never won at the Stadium Course (where the event is played today). Nicklaus won the event when it was played at Sawgrass Country Club (or something like that).
Jerry Pate won the first championship at the Stadium Course in 1982.
Elkington, Couples, and Sutton have won the tournament twice at the Stadium Course. Not even Tiger has done that.