The Players Championship

[tuq]

Not sure whether to start this here or in Sports (maybe I should create a pointer there, if it will create more traffic here).

The Player's Championship, now just called "The Players", is among my favorite 2-3 weekends of the year. Maybe even used to be even higher when it was in March, as it was the first meaningful weekend in golf since the previous September, but the move to May is a smart move for multiple reasons.

Has anyone in this forum been to the event and what are your stories? I LOVE the course, it's loaded with interesting holes down the stretch. In fact, 16-18 may be the best risk/reward stretch on the PGA Tour. Also, loved Fat Hal Sutton's Monday push as well as Fred Funk's run a couple of years ago - maybe old guys play better on Monday.

Any stories about playing the course or being there for the event are welcome. I love this event.

[esad]

Believe it or not I really don't like this course that much. It seems very artificial and I guess I prefer courses that seem more natural.

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In fact, 16-18 may be the best risk/reward stretch on the PGA Tour.

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I really don't understand why people say this. Perhaps it's because NBC repeats it ad-nauseum throughout the weekend.

16 is a risk/reward hole. 17-18 are not risk/reward holes. The Pros play for par on 17-18 all four days. Whenever they are interviewed that's what they say.."If I par 17-18 every round I'd be happy."

A risk/reward hole is a hole were you risk a possible bogey or worse to get an under par score. "Possible" is the key word here.

16 is an r/r hole because if you go for the green in two you get can an eagle or birdie, but if you push it into the water you can still get up and down for par. It might be tough but you can do it.

17-18 are not r/r holes because if you hit it in the water on 17 on your tee shot or your second shot on 18 then you are pretty much guaranteed at least bogey. Pros shoot for the biggest part of the green on 17 for a reason, they know the secret to a good round is avoiding the big number. The only time they will go for the flag is if in the last round they have to make a couple of birdies. Same for 18, they'll only go for the flag if they have to. At 16 they'll go for it every round if they hit a good enough tee shot.

17 at TPC is like 12 at Augusta. Same basic hole, but you never hear people going on and on about how's it a r/r hole. They always say "Get your par and get out."

I really wish they would stop over-hyping the importance of these last two holes. I think they are a couple of the worse holes on the course. The course actually has quite a few more interesting holes that get little airtime.

[K-Slay]

I don't think the definition of "risk/reward" is as strict as you put it. I think 16-18 are risk/reward. If you hit good golf shots you're rewarded, both on the card and against the field, and if you don't hit good shots there is considerable risk of bogey +.

[tuq]

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I really wish they would stop over-hyping the importance of these last two holes. I think they are a couple of the worse holes on the course. The course actually has quite a few more interesting holes that get little airtime.

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OK, now I think you're just playing devil's advocate.

17: as players will tell you, this is an EASY hole in practice. How hard is it for a pro to hit a huge green from 140 yards? The beauty of the hole is the mental test it provides. Come the weekend, that island green gets smaller and smaller in some of their eyes. If this wasn't the case you wouldn't have some famous meltdowns there, like Lenny Mattiace a few years ago, or Oberholser a year or two ago.

18: this hole reminds me of a par-4 version of 18 at Pebble Beach, except way, way harder in relation to par. This is a wonderful finishing hole. Try to bite off as much of the hazard as you can, knowing that if you get too greedy or come over the top you're destined for a huge score (remember Goosen standing on the railroad ties hazard border last year to hit his second shot, then going on to birdie the hole?). Of course, the thought of a huge score leads to them bailing out to the right, into some really thick rough. Don't have the stat handy but I think the average score from that rough is at least bogey. This hole has also led to some memorable recent finishes, such as Fat Hal Sutton calling his shot a few years ago against Tiger, Adam Scott winning after pulling his second shot into the water, Perks' chip-in, and Fred Funk spiking his hat on the green.

I don't really think this course has any uninteresting holes, they're all very thoughtfully designed, but had to take issue with your comment.

[TripleH68]

I played the course once, mind you when my handicap was around 18-20.

On number 17 I hit two into the drink. Went to the drop area. Splash. Then hit the green and made the putt for 8.

I am a fan of the hole. And can tell you from firsthand experience that when the wind is blowing, as it often does in Florida, look out.

As for the course as a whole, I was sort of neutral on it. It is a real shotmakers course. Target golf I guess you would say. Really difficult to enjoy unless you are a single digit handicap. A little like Muirfield Village in Ohio.

[limon]

whos gonna win? you can get a. scott at 30-1 and p. harrington at 40-1...these are steals. anthony kim was around at 100-1 and its a steal.

[tuq]

limon,

Who knows. Picking a winner (well, a non-Tiger winner) in a golf field is obviously a crapshoot. Perks, Ames, Funk (accomplished but old and that course is a meal for him) are all recent WTF winners.

I do know I love this event so much that I'll probably be working from home and soaking in the 14 or so hours of coverage on Thursday and Friday.

[Gary Stevenson]

yea i love watching this tourney, there is almost always big drama on sunday and usually a tight race. hopefully i'll make it down there someday

[ligastar]

Going to miss coverage of The Players. [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Instead, will be playing 99 holes in Myrtle over 4 days (Thur - Sun). [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

I'll go out on a limb and say an American or Australian will win. What are the sportsbook odds of this happening?

[AggieAce]

I'm being taken to the TPC by our FedEx rep on Friday. With any luck we'll end up in the FedEx tent, which is between 17 & 18 and has free beer.