THE PGA Players Championship

Originally known as the Tournament Players Championship, the inaugural event in 1974 was played at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia before moving to the Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas in 1975 and Inverrary Country Club in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1976. Beginning in 1977, the event relocated to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, first being played at Sawgrass Country Club's Oceanside Course (a combination of the "East" and "West" 9-hole courses). Since 1982 it has been played across the road from Sawgrass Country Club, on the Stadium Course at the "Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass" (usually referred to as the TPC at Sawgrass)

The Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass, colloquially known as TPC at Sawgrass. Has two individual courses, the Stadium Course and the Valley Course. Opened in 1980, but as mentioned before did not host the Players Championship till 1982 as the Stadium course was still in its design phase, it was the first of several Tournament Players Clubs to be built. In addition to annually hosting The Players Championship, the PGA Tour's flagship event It is also home to the PGA Tour headquarters

The Stadium Course was designed in 1980 by noted golf course architects Pete and Alice Dye, and is known as one of the most difficult golf courses in the world. Constructed specifically to host The Players Championship, it employs a distinctive "stadium" concept: like in other sports, fans at the TPC sit in "stands" made of raised mounds of grass. It is known for its signature hole, the par-3, 132-yard 17th, known simply as the "Island Green", one of golf's most recognizable and difficult holes.

The 17th, known simply as the "Island Green", although it is technically a peninsula. While some may consider it gorgeous to view, the hole has been known to scare even the top professional golfers. It measures only 132 yards (121 m) from tee to green (requiring only a pitching wedge for most pros), but consists of nothing but an undulating, 78-foot (24 m)-long green and a tiny bunker in front of it. Save a small path to the green, the rest of the hole is completely surrounded by water, and its location amidst a canyon of trees causes the wind to swirl over the green. Club selection at 17 is a huge consideration, as there is nowhere to land the ball but on the green – or in the water. It is estimated that over 100,000 balls are retrieved from the surrounding water every year, courtesy of professionals and tourists alike trying their luck.

According to the TPC Sawgrass website, the design came by accident. The original design for the 17th was to be a simple par-3 green only partially surrounded by a lake. However, the soil surrounding the 17th consisted of sand – necessary to build a good golf course, but rare on the otherwise swampy property – and by the time the course was near completion all the sand had been dug from the area, leaving a large crater. Alice Dye suggested the Island Green concept, remembering another course with a similar green; Pete was not thrilled at the idea but went ahead with it, in the process creating one of golf's most recognizable holes. So there you have it people that slate Dye for the creatin of such a hole it was done due to the surroundings and against his own prinicples.

Yet despite all this the 2 most significant dramas at 17 in my mind are 1) Fred Couples Par 3 made by holing his second tee shot after putting his first in the water! and 2) The seagull that picked up the ball flew off with it and dropped it in the lake.

The Players Championship also receives a 5-year exemption on the PGA Tour, a three-year invitation to the Masters Tournament, three-year exemptions for The Open Championship and for the U.S. Open, and an exemption to the PGA Championship for that year.

The Players Championship can be further distinguished from the "Majors" in that it is owned and administered by the PGA Tour. In contrast, The Masters is owned by the Augusta National Golf Club; the U.S. Open by the United States Golf Association (USGA); the British Open by The R&A, an offshoot of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews; and the PGA Championship by the Professional Golfers' Association of America (PGA of America).

Notable tee times for viewers of this event are: The threeball consiseting of Tiger Woods, Martin Kaymer and Matt Kuchar. Bubba Watson and Luke Donald are paired together for the first 2 rounds and that will give a contrast of styles. The other 3 ball that will no doubt appear largely on the coverage for the first 2 days is last weeks winner Lucas Glover, Ernie Els (will he have thebelly putter out there!) and Paul Casey.

Notable stayaways Worlds No1 Lee Westwood who is not a fan of the course, and World No6 Rory Mcilroy who has never made a cut at Sawgrass.

So who do we think will do well here, many will root for Donald, but his record at Sawgrass is pretty average but he is having a big year, Tiger is returning from injury and looking like his game is starting to come together would there be a better PGA event to announce his return! Garcie has won here back in 2008 and has the ball striking to tear the place apart provided he settles on the greens, Young guns Fowler and Mannasero are teeing up together with ALavro Quiros so could one of those tear up the title run in, whoever takes the title it promises to be an exciting 4days of golf over what can only be described as the Marmite Course of the PGA Tour you either love it or you hate it!

Tiger woods off to a shocker 5 over par after 5. In last place of all
players out on the course. Odds now 66/1 to win.

Brian Davis 4 under after 7 leads.

Jason Dufner -4 10
Brian Davis -4 9
Y.E. Yang -3 9*
Lucas Glover -3 7

A lot of guys on 2 under.

here is leader board at the moment. Tiger still 5 over joined stenson and Ames.

TW at 5-over through 7???

I know he's got a few issues with swing and body but that's taking it a bit far.

Will he be in the top 10 in next weeks OWGR?

What a rudey poo start!!!!!!!

Yes but he not last anymore Stephen Ames now 6 over.

if you log on to the pGA tour you are able to watch the 17 th hole live .

Just in case anyone has any spare time on their hands.

I've merged the other topic with this one. No point in having multiple threads about the same thing

Those left knee and achillies problems just won't go away!!!!!

I see tiger has thrown in the towel.

Brian Davis -5 11
Lucas Glover -5 9
Jason Dufner -4 11
Y.E. Yang -4 10*
Rory Sabbatini -4 8*
Bryce Molder -3 12
Padraig Harrington -3 10
Matt Kuchar -3 9
Martin Kaymer -3 9
Jonathan Byrd -3 8*


new leader board a few from last week carrying their form through to this week.

Tiger withdraws citing left knee and achillies problems. was +6 through nine holes.

Tiger has withdrawn? GMac has just tweeted that Tiger has just limped past him in the lockerroom when he should still be out there

plugster. why are you creating a duplicate thread each time?

LJ - I'm doing my best to keep merging them - no need to comment on it every time.

Plugster - please add to existing topics on the subject rather than create a new one each time

LJ


I guess tiger did his bit for timmy finchem and got the owgr up. Probably already agreed he could quit after nine.

Is it possible Plugster can't see the sticky threads?

Great to see some action on this topic anyway. Looking forward to getting home and watching some of this, especially now that Sky won't have much of Tiger to show repeatedly. On the downside, of course, they'll be talking about little else beside his withdrawal.

What time does the sky coverage start?

McLaren wrote:What time does the sky coverage start?

6pm SS2

McLaren wrote:LJ


I guess tiger did his bit for timmy finchem and got the owgr up. Probably already agreed he could quit after nine.

Perhaps he needs more human growth hormone... although it might be hard to get now his doctor is in jail.

Careful with "allegations" like that LJ .. have you ever considered joining the Boxing forum?

Davie wrote:Careful with "allegations" like that LJ .. have you ever considered joining the Boxing forum?

No. Apprarently you're not allowed to use teeth or pull hair in that game. No fun there.

LJ

That is about as close to the mark as saying gabgy logan was pumping alan shearer or that ryan giggs was boning imogen thomas.

... and just as unfounded - best not to propagate that sort of rumour

You have to wonder if Tiger was UK based would his story have ever made the press. As a fan I kind of wish that was the case.

I'm taking out a superinjunction on my affair with Mac.

A tweet from mcilroy, did he just slate mr harmon?

McIlroyRory Rory Mcilroy
If I'm too young to know if I like a course or not Butch is too old to coach...... #patronising #stuckinhisoldways

I saw that Mac, but I didn't hear what Harmon said so it's difficult to know if Rory's being over sensitive.

Sounds like a fair shot at Harmon in my opinion - and I like him as a rule, but if he made that sort of remark, young Rors is quite entitled to take the shot

Who woke GMac up??

First time in weeks I haven't had an outside bet on him

Luke is handily placed after 1 round, but my outside bet (Bill Haas) has a lot to do

Certainly tougher scoring this afternoon on the TPC, had a few little side bets this week, had a dip on Glover to go back to back, Stricker to finish top10 again! Even got DJ to win it so heres hoping they come in.

As for Rory and Butch, I think it's a little petty, Butch is allowed his opinion as is Rory I seem to remember Rory slating some pro's via his twitter feed last year and earlier this year but when someone does it back he doesnt like it. Really just cannot warm to Rory despite him being everyones darling

Don't really see the problem there... Harmon's entitled to his opinion, McIlroy's entitled to have a go back. The tone of it suggests to me they'll both take it in fairly good spirits, the only worry will be if others take it too seriously, which they shouldn't.

Rory seems incredibly immature, cant help but think some years in a US uni away from the limelight might have helped him gain some crucial life experiences.

McLaren wrote:Rory seems incredibly immature

That might have something to do with the fact that he's 21 years old ffs

McLaren wrote:Rory seems incredibly immature, cant help but think some years in a US uni away from the limelight might have helped him gain some crucial life experiences.

Because the people in american colleges are very grounded realistic people?

I can see Luke Donald winning The Players. Playing very solid at the moment.

Certain pro's tweeting, they must know all their comments are going to get scrutinised, so why consistently come out with controversial comments all the time?

I think a few of them want to be heard too much, and some comments come across as "look at me"

JPX

I actually welcome the chance to hear their tweets no matter how controversial, it reveals a bit more about who these people are. Sadly for mcilroy he is not the sharpest and it shows.

Oh yes, totally agree McLaren, that's why I said on certain pros.

One or two of them could do with some media management training.

JPX wrote:One or two of them could do with some media management training.

Which I suspect is what Mac thought Rory might have received as part of a US College Golf programme?

SmithersJones wrote:

JPX wrote:One or two of them could do with some media management training.

Which I suspect is what Mac thought Rory might have received as part of a US College Golf programme?

Well you never know he might have done, you cant help but think an education would not have hurt is development. Maybe reading and thinking about issues would have provided with some crucial skills needed to gain better insights into subjects.

Just because someone makes a controvertial statement on Twitter it doesn't mean they need media training or should have experienced a US Collegiate education. At the very least it's a little bit interesting and shows a bit of personality.

Look at those players who have grown up with media training (Woods being a prime example) and you can see how boring, uninspring and lacking in spontaneity or anything interesting their interviews and communications are.

Look at the difference between the Europeans who didn't go to American colleges and the largely college golf system educated American players (in general) , the Europeans have a lot more insightful things to say while the majority of Americans just interview by a media defined template. Perhaps because the Europeans don't have this guarded and contrived media led approach, hence they appear more laid back, with more humour, banter and interesting things to say.

No wonder people on the outside of the game see golf as a pretty dreary sport if people are forced to moderate what they say for an insipid media.
I'm not Yank bashing, but while the college system might be good for your game, it doesn't appear to do a great deal for your personality.

Must agree with s_r there. I do think sometimes that the tweeters could be a little less controversial but in general the likes of poults, gmac, donald etc are much more interesting than the american counterparts. Makes it much easier to like them

Well said s_r

the likes of Donald etc come acrosss perfectly nice guys, but by what I know of their twitter updates they're interminably dull. And Woods etc are even worse, to the extent of being insultingly boring. You might not like what McIlroy says, but at least he's voicing an opinion. Maybe I'm missing the point as a non-twitterer, but McIlroy's stuff seems a lot more interesting than a lot of the "played a practice round this morning" tedium

Depends what you're interested in hearing I suppose.

I want to know golf related info, not tabloid gossip type comments that come across as immature sometimes.

Luuuke's looking good. Am I right in thinking he'll go to no.1 with a win here?

I couldn't care less how educated someone is but they should be grown up enough to rise above criticism as by choosing their careers they have put themselves open to comments such as butch's and a greater man would respect its just an opinion instead of writing about how he is a bitter old man. Butch has earned the right to speak his mind by forging the careers of many mulitle tour and major winners, such as Norman, Woods, Watney, Johnson, Scott to name just a few. So im afraid all Rory did was come across as an arrogant brat, that needs to listen to these guys and think maybe he has a point.

Yes it's Rorys choice to play in whatever event he chooses but for my mind he does not play enough events to show the world he can compete in the big ones regularly and from what I hear his management team, chubby specifically have told him the same thing.

A better response from Rory would've been to say "well thats butches opinion i'll prov him wrong" I personally think butch was spot on.

As for Tiger yes he comes across as a bit dull but even when he had it put to him by the press that Poulter said he didn't think Tiger wold finish T5 at the masters, Tiger simply said thats his opinion and lets wait see what happens and smiled for the media. A safe response yes but one that showed the media he's not bitter about criticism levied at him daily and low and behold he went and finished 4th, proved his point and proved poulter wrong.

Just finished watching last nights footage that I sky+ Saw the interview with Lucas Glover what a thoroughly decent bloke. Kept it simple and just seems to accept whatever happens on the course and moves on. Hopefully he can go back to back he deserves it way he's playing. God to see my 2 favourites up there in Donald and Stricker both great examples of golf swing and professionalism who both prove a great wedge game and putting stroke can make up for any lack of distance for example both in the top 10 par 5 scoring average for year despite being way down in the 100's region for driving distance!

Maverick wrote:I couldn't care less how educated someone is but they should be grown up enough to rise above criticism as by choosing their careers they have put themselves open to comments such as butch's and a greater man would respect its just an opinion instead of writing about how he is a bitter old man. Butch has earned the right to speak his mind by forging the careers of many mulitle tour and major winners, such as Norman, Woods, Watney, Johnson, Scott to name just a few. So im afraid all Rory did was come across as an arrogant brat, that needs to listen to these guys and think maybe he has a point.

Yes it's Rorys choice to play in whatever event he chooses but for my mind he does not play enough events to show the world he can compete in the big ones regularly and from what I hear his management team, chubby specifically have told him the same thing.

A better response from Rory would've been to say "well thats butches opinion i'll prov him wrong" I personally think butch was spot on.

As for Tiger yes he comes across as a bit dull but even when he had it put to him by the press that Poulter said he didn't think Tiger wold finish T5 at the masters, Tiger simply said thats his opinion and lets wait see what happens and smiled for the media. A safe response yes but one that showed the media he's not bitter about criticism levied at him daily and low and behold he went and finished 4th, proved his point and proved poulter wrong.

A bit dull??????
Woods makes Andy Murray and the terminally dreary Steven Gerrard look like David Niven.

Couldn't careless your opinion of him SR. Better a dull calculated response than a childish backlash like Rors who has done nothing but show the world 4 rounds continually are beyond him and I'm not even a tiger fanatic!

Four rounds are certainly no more elusive for Rory than they are for Woods at present (or for the last 19 months)
I'm no Rory fan but all this talk of sanitising what him and other pro's are or should be able to say is all a bit silly. Golfers are boring enough without a simpering Guardian like editorial carried out on their Twitter responses.
Saying that I'd love to see how many 606V2 ers would simply let a very public and unfounded criticism of them go without a quick response. He's done nothing wrong and at the very least has helped to give golf and golfers a little bit of attitude.

I'm not defending Tigers golf either, for one that seems decreed as the chosen one or rightful OGWR No1 he is doing his best imitation of a very plainly poor pro. As for guarding their responses I'm not saying he shouldn't have retorted but what he should have done is be more professional and measured in his response. There's enough attitude in todays world without people resorting to personal slants against each other, Butch clearly said last night about golfers who say Sawgrass doesn't fit their eye after only 2 attempts. Are simply not giving themselves chance to get to know the course better to stand a chance of winning or making a cut there, by simply stating he won't play after 2 poor years there its like Rory has said he can't play the course! Well if he is as good as he thinks he is and others do he should be playing the big events regardless of the course.

One thing even you SR cannot slate Tiger for is stating a course doesn't suit him! A good pro would adapt their game to any course the big events are played on simple as that.