A big reason why many call TPC Sawgrass home

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Vijay Singh
Halleran/Getty Images
Vijay Singh can be found on the range at TPC Sawgrass whenever he's home.
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Apr. 29, 2009
By Ward Clayton, PGA TOUR

When fans flock to the practice area at THE PLAYERS Championship, they have a close-up view of how the world's best golfers prepare at one of the best facilities available.

The practice facility is where area PGA TOUR players hone their games year-round. When the course and clubhouse renovation was completed in early 2007, the driving range was lengthened to 340 yards; a new short-game area was created in close proximity to the clubhouse; two putting greens were built adjacent to the first and 10th tees; and a TOUR Golf Academy, with two covered hitting bays and swing technology devices, was constructed on the far right side of the teeing area, close to the fourth tee.

Another important practice area is not as visible to fans. The back tee, located at the far end of the range, and four practice greens, positioned behind a grove of trees near the ninth green, are reserved for TOUR players. The bermudagrass greens are maintained to TOUR specifics -- lower grass heights and extra rolling by the maintenance staff to keep them firmer and faster -- throughout the year for chipping, putting and bunker work. A TOUR players-only restroom and ball-storage facility is situated nearby. Fans have a view of this area by standing on mounding to the left of the fifth fairway.

"I practice at TPC Sawgrass every day that I am at home and not playing in a tournament," Ponte Vedra Beach resident Vijay Singh said. "I use the back of the range and all the greens that are available to us for the short game. The greens are very similar to the greens that I play on TOUR, not just at TPC Sawgrass, but at all the tournaments we play throughout the year."

This area alone is one good reason that so many TOUR players call this home.

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