Number Crunch: THE PLAYERS
 
May. 9, 2007
Print this page
Compiled by Mark Spoor
PGATOUR.com Coordinating Producer

PONTE VEDRA, Fla. -- There's one number that is so often associated with THE PLAYERS Stadium Course.

17.

However, as we all know, golf is a game full of numbers -- arguably like no other. When you talk about a tournament as big as THE PLAYERS Championship, numbers play an even bigger role.

NUMBER THAT CAN WIN YOU A BET

66What Angelo Spagnolo, a 31-year-old grocery store manager from Fayette City, Pa., made on No. 17 on June 19, 1985, in "America's Worst Avid Golfer" contest. He hit 27 balls in the water from the tee box and drop area. Rules officials finally asked him to putt around the hazard and down the narrow path that leads to the green.

NUMBERS THAT MAY BE CHALLENGED THIS WEEK

1The number of players that have birdied 18 to win -- Steve Elkington in 1991.
76.512The scoring average for the final round of THE PLAYERS in 2005, the highest scoring final round in the history of the tournament. Last year's final-round average was 75.378.
2,357,317The number of dollars Stephen Ames has made in the THE PLAYERS, the most of any player. Tiger Woods is second on that list with $2,320,992.

MORE FACTS AND FIGURES

1The number of bogeys made on 17 by tournament winners on Sunday. Steve Elkington did it in 1991. Of these winners, 13 have made par, nine have made birdie and one made bogey.
2The number of players that posted four sub-par rounds in last year's PLAYERS: Winner Stephen Ames and second-place Retief Goosen. Pat Perez posted par or better in all four rounds.
3The number of shots Al Geiberger beat second-place Dave Stockton by to win the second edition of THE PLAYERS in 1975.
4The largest stroke lead after 54 holes -- accomplished by Larry Mize in 1986 and Greg Norman in 1994.
4Number of players that have led THE PLAYERS wire-to-wire: Al Geiberger (1975), Greg Norman (1994), Steve Elkington (1997), Hal Sutton (2000).
6Fred Wadsworth (1987), Paul Azinger (1993), Rocco Mediate (1996), Tim Herron (2005).
7In strokes, the largest margin of victory in PLAYERS history, (Steve Elkington over Scott Hoch).
14The number of consecutive PLAYERS cuts made by Brad Faxon, the longest current streak.
23The number of PLAYERS cuts made by Tom Kite, the most of any player.
23The age (plus 8 months and 12 days) of Adam Scott when he won THE PLAYERS in 2004, the youngest age of any winner.
42The number of cameras NBC Sports will use to cover THE PLAYERS. That number includes 10 on the 17th hole.
63The lowest 18-hole score in PLAYERS history (Fred Couples, Round 3, 1992, Greg Norman, Round 1, 1994).
70.92Bruce Crampton's career stroke average at THE PLAYERS (12 rounds). It's the lowest stroke average of any player. Tom Lehman is second at 71.28.
73The highest starting round for a tournament winner, done by Hal Sutton in 1983.
75The yardage from the drop area to the center of the green on the famed 17th hole.