A lot can happen in a year.
It was 12 months ago when The Players was cancelled after the first round—marking the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Well, we’ve come full circle, or at least the Earth has, and we’re back looking forward to watching golfing greatness. Regardless of whether you think it’s “The Fifth” major as sometimes called, The Players is without question the most prominent PGA Tour event of the year. The home of some of golf’s most unforgettable moments, from Gary Koch’s “better than most” call to Hal Sutton’s “be the right club today!” pronouncement, this is a big-time tournament on a golf course that sets a grand stage. So let’s tee off and see what to expect come Thursday.
Stadium Setup
As has been the case since 1987, The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass will host the event. The par-72 layout tips out just over 7,200 yards, not making it overly long. But length has never been what has made it difficult over the years. Gusting Florida winds and a sea of water hazards make The Stadium Course a delight to watch when it’s a fright to play—especially if the greens get a little brown and crunchy.
Fielding the Best
It’s been said a hundred times, but this is statistically the most talented field compiled all year, so it’s must-watch golf. Pretty much everyone who has full PGA Tour status and is healthy will be there, as well as major champions from the past five years and the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
17th Drama
Almost as equally famous as the event itself is the par-3 17th hole featuring the infamous island green. The site of its fair share of calamity over the years, this bedeviling short hole tests players’ nerves like few others, and is particularly stressful to watch late on Sunday. With no lead ever safe and aqua carnage looming down the final stretch of holes, The Players always seems to deliver a great finish.
Faves?
Rory McIlroy is the defending champion—a title he’s held onto for two years—and he’s no doubt a favourite heading into the week. However, he’s going against the tide of history with no player having won the event back-to-back. If you’re looking for a guy who will almost certainly be around in contention come the weekend, Tony Finau is a safe bet—his 37 top-ten finishes since his last win is a tour record—by a lot (next closest are at 16). Lastly, let’s go with Collin Morikawa. The Stadium course puts a premium on controlling your golf ball, and after watching Morikawa’s exhibition of ball striking at the WGC Workday Championship, he just might be ready to make it consecutive victories.
The Players Championship runs from March 11-14.
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