In 1974 he started The Players Championship, the most iconic tournament organized by the PGA Tour, called the ‘Fifth Grande’. The first winner was none other than Jack Nicklaus, although that first edition took place in Atlanta Country Club and did not reach its permanent headquarters, the Stadium Course of the TPC Sawgrass (owned by the PGA), until 1982. held annually in March, we are talking about one of the most anticipated tournaments of the American circuit calendar.
Unfortunately, for the second consecutive year, no Spanish golfer participates. Sergio García is the only one of ours who has won The Players (2008); He has also reaped a couple of seconds. The Castellón, in fact, was the second European player who triumphed in the house of the PGA Tour after Sandy Lyle (1987).
Yesterday Sunday, after finishing the Arnold Palmer, it was announced that Scottie Scheffler, Rory Mcilroy and Xander Schauffele will be in the same game on Thursday and Friday. Recall that a year ago, the current number one in the world became the first player who successfully defended his title. To do this, he signed a final round of 64, thus winning a blow precisely to Schauffele and Wyndham Clark in a huge end. Schauffele has not yet won at the TPC Sawgrass, but has achieved two seconds (2018, 2024). Mcilroy scored the triumph in the 2019 edition.
This week the golf returns to a memorable field, just what PGA Deane Beman commissioner wanted when he decided to create the TPC Sawgrass. The idea was to have a permanent headquarters that at the same time was spectacular, as with Agusta National and the Masters.
Putting some data, it should be noted that for the third year the winner will pocket 4.5 million dollars. In addition, the tournament has the largest PGA Tour awards: 25 million. These figures have grown in the last editions, which has led Scheffler to become the player who has earned the most money in this tournament with only four participations: 9,046.2 billion; It is followed by Sergio García, with 5,948,528 million. In addition, the Spanish is the one who accumulates the most rounds below 70 strokes in The Players: 29 in total.
Today, Jack Nicklaus is still the one who has raised the trophy (3). With two are Steve Elkington, Hal Sutton, Fred Couple, Davis Love III, Tiger Woods and Scottie Scheffler. Those who have played the tournament more times have been Jay Haas, Davis Love III: 29.
Hole 17, the dream of any golfer, deserves its own section. Input, since 2003, a total of 1,029 balls have gone to the water. In the first round of 2007 they went to Lake 50 and that year the 93 record was also reached between the four days of competition. Who has made more Birdies in ‘The Island’ is Bernhard Langer, with 26. You have to start highlighting that the player who has sent the water in this hole since 2003 is Aaron Baddeley, with 13.