The 17th green at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is the signature hole of Pete Dye's famous course.
May. 2, 2009
The TOUR heads to PGA TOUR headquarters in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., for THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass. Learn more about this week's host, THE PLAYERS Stadium Course.
| Fast facts |
| Course Superintendent |
Thomas R. Vlach |
| Original architect |
Pete Dye (1979) |
| Redesign |
Pete Dye (2006) |
| Par value |
72 |
| Number of TOUR events as host venue* |
36 (including 2009) |
| Course ranking |
Ranked 6 (out of 54) in difficulty on the PGA TOUR in 2008 |
| Yardage history |
7,215 (2007-present) |
| |
7,098 (2006) |
| |
7,093 (1999-2005) |
| |
6,950 (1998) |
| |
6,896 (1996-'97) |
| |
6,857 (1982-'95) |
| |
7,174 (1977-'81) |
| |
7,127 (1976) |
| |
7,160 (1975) |
| |
6,883 (1974) |
| Grass |
419 bermudagrass (tees, fairways); Bermudagrass (rough); Mini-Verde bermudagrass(greens) |
| Tournament Stimpmeter |
12 ft |
| Sand bunkers |
93 |
| Water hazards |
24 |
| Course tour |
Click here |
|
| Course record |
|
Player
Fred Couples
Greg Norman |
Year
1992
1994 |
Round
3rd
1st |
Finish
T13
Won |
|
| Holes-in-one |
| There have been 23 aces recorded at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course |
| Robert Garrigus |
13 |
2008 |
| Justin Leonard |
13 |
2006 |
| Jesper Parnevik |
13 |
2006 |
| Henrik Stenson |
13 |
2006 |
| Fred Couples |
13 |
2006 |
| Jose Maria Olazabal |
13 |
2004 |
| Miguel A. Jimenez |
17 |
2002 |
| CraigStadler |
13 |
2002 |
| Chris DiMarco |
3 |
2001 |
| Paul Azinger |
17 |
2000 |
| Joe Ozaki |
8 |
2000 |
| Ted Tryba |
8 |
2000 |
| Joey Sindelar |
17 |
1999 |
| Bob Friend |
8 |
1999 |
| Mark Brooks |
8 |
1997 |
| Fred Couples |
17 |
1997 |
| Jay Don Blake |
13 |
1996 |
| Phil Mickelson |
13 |
1995 |
| Gary Hallberg |
8 |
1994 |
| Russ Cochran |
3 |
1994 |
| Chip Beck |
13 |
1992 |
| Brian Claar |
17 |
1991 |
| Brad Fabel |
17 |
1986 |
| Jim Gallagher Jr. |
3 |
1986 |
|
| 2008 Rankings |
| Most Difficult Hole |
 |
A fantastic dogleg left awaits the players as they prepare to finish their rounds. Constant accuracy is of the utmost importance on this hole. Water guards the full length of the hole to the left, while large spectator mounds and trees line the right side. A collection of grass bunkers is situated in the front-right section of the green, while a lone maintained bunker stops shots hit left and long. This 18th has become one of the premier finishing holes in golf. There is a new spectator mound behind the green.
2008: 0 eagles, 31 birdies, 202 pars, 146 bogeys, 40 double bogeys,8 others. |
| Easiest Hole |
 |
This short par 5 will give many players an opportunity to reach the green in two shots. A fairway wood or long iron will be required for the second shot, which must carry a large, lateral, water hazard, a maintained bunker and a bulkhead. All of these obstacles are to the right of the hole and start 160 yards from the green. To the left, a cluster of oak trees blocks a clear path to the green. Players who do not choose to attempt the green in two shots must direct their second shot to the narrow area protected by a grass bunker, a water hazard and the cluster of oak trees. The green has two tiers, sloping left to right toward the water that wraps around the rear of the green. There is a new spectator mound behind the green.
2008: 5 eagles, 188 birdies, 195 pars, 35 bogeys, 4 double bogeys and 0 others. |
|
|
| PLAYERS Stadium Course |
2008 rankings | Last 25 years |
| 1 |
4 |
423 |
4.087 |
13 |
4.140 |
9 |
| 2 |
5 |
532 |
4.787 |
17 |
4.745 |
17 |
| 3 |
3 |
177 |
3.227 |
6 |
3.126 |
11 |
| 4 |
4 |
384 |
4.18 |
8 |
4.049 |
12 |
| 5 |
4 |
471 |
4.145 |
11 |
4.203 |
5 |
| 6 |
4 |
393 |
4.162 |
9 |
4.049 |
13 |
| 7 |
4 |
442 |
4.089 |
12 |
4.190 |
7 |
| 8 |
3 |
237 |
3.23 |
5 |
3.172 |
8 |
| 9 |
5 |
583 |
4.916 |
16 |
5.002 |
14 |
| 10 |
4 |
424 |
4.159 |
10 |
4.192 |
6 |
| 11 |
5 |
558 |
4.93 |
15 |
4.790 |
16 |
| 12 |
4 |
358 |
3.932 |
14 |
3.926 |
15 |
| 13 |
3 |
181 |
3.351 |
3 |
3.132 |
10 |
| 14 |
4 |
481 |
4.447 |
2 |
4.271 |
2 |
| 15 |
4 |
449 |
4.183 |
7 |
4.211 |
3 |
| 16 |
5 |
523 |
4.637 |
18 |
4.603 |
18 |
| 17 |
3 |
137 |
3.302 |
4 |
3.211 |
4 |
| 18 |
4 |
462 |
4.522 |
1 |
4.396 |
1 |
|
| Course origins |
| The PGA TOUR moved THE PLAYERS Championship from its usual March date to its present location in the schedule of May, Beginning in 2007 in order to space out the majors and prevent Vlach and staff at TPC Sawgrass from needing to overseed. The Schedule change coincided with the completion of a massive renovation project at TPC Sawgrass that brought Sub-Air Systems to each green, which were re-grassed with Mini-Verde bermudagrass, new drainage and irrigation system throughout the entire layout, and a new, gigantic clubhouse. |
| From the initial idea by former PGA TOUR Commissioner Deane R. Beman, the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass was conceived with both the players and fans in mind. With its signature island 17th hole being one of the most recognized in golf, this magnificent Pete Dye creation has captured the imagination of golf fans the world over. Jerry Pate won the inaugural event in 1982. |
| David Pillsbury, president of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties, oversees the 28-facility network, which hosted 10 PGA TOUR events in 2008, as well as three Champions Tour and one Nationwide Tour events. Pillsbury serves on the advisory council and board of trustees as immediate past chairman for The Environmental Institute for Golf, the philanthropic organization for GCSAA. --Source: Golf Course Superintendents Assocation of America |
|
| Tournament course history |
| TPC Sawgrass-Stadium Course |
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. |
1982-present |
| Sawgrass Country Club |
Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. |
1977-1981 |
| Inverrary Golf and Country Club |
Lauderhill, Fla. |
1976 |
| Colonial Country Club |
Fort Worth, Texas |
1975 |
| Atlanta Country Club |
Marietta, Ga. |
1974 |
|
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network