The TPC at Sawgrass is one of the game’s great tests. Everyone knows the famed island green 17th stands out, but it is simply a great hole among many terrific tests on one of golf’s most notable courses.
And World No. 1 Rory McIlroy is trying to defend after holding off Jim Furyk last year to win at Sawgrass. He’s just part of a star-studded field that is always among the best in golf every year.
Here’s who and what to pay attention to at the PLAYERS Championship:
The course
Pete Dye’s diabolical Sawgrass is perhaps the great architect’s crowning achievement. Dye, who passed away earlier this year, will surely be celebrated at this year’s tournament. After all, it was Dye and his wife, Alice, who crafted the 17th hole, and devised Sawgrass out of nothing more than a swamp. It is now one of the most recognizable courses played on the PGA Tour and Dye will certainly be spoken of regularly on the telecast this week.
Rory McIlroy
He already has a win this season, and has placed in the Top 10 at every tournament he’s played this year. Once again the best in the world, there’s really little that will hold McIlroy back if he’s driving the ball well.
Tommy Fleetwood
He finished in a tie for fifth at last year’s PLAYERS and continues to demonstrate why he’s likely the best player tipping it up on the European Tour regularly. He’s lacking a win on the PGA Tour, but given his ability, one has to expect that’ll come soon. Could it be this week? A long, straight driver of the ball and an exacting iron player, Fleetwood would seem more than a match for Sawgrass.
Adam Scott
A resurgent Scott won the PLAYERS 16 years ago. He seems to have found his form again after winning in Australia and in Los Angeles earlier this year. Once again, one of the game’s great ball strikers, the only question with Scott is his putting.
No Tiger—
“Back just not ready. Not concerning long term—just not ready.”That’s what Tiger Woods’ agent, Mark Steinberg, told ESPN on Friday when telling the sports network the former Players Championship winner wouldn’t be playing at Sawgrass this week. Woods said his back was stiff when playing the Genesis in Los Angeles, and is offering no timetable for his return.
Dark horse: Lee Westwood
He has 44 professional wins, including two on the PGA Tour, and is approaching birthday 47. But Westwood has rebounded well, playing strong golf since late last year. Westwood has several Top 10 finishes at Sawgrass, and remains one of the game’s great iron players. The only question is whether his short game will hold up to the test Sawgrass has for it.
