TPC Sawgrass a course full of both joy, heartbreak

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Eventual runner-up Paul Goydos watches play on the 17th green during the final round of the 2008 PLAYERS Championship

THE PLAYERS Championship is not a major. Now that we have that out of the way, the PGA TOUR's signature event annually has a better field than any of golf's crown jewels and unlike three of the four it is played on the same venue each year.

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The golf course alone would make THE PLAYERS a special event. From a recognition standpoint the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is on par with Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. The diabolical little 17th hole is as famous as all who play it.

From the moment you drive through the gate early in the week the tournament has a different feel. PGA TOUR players are pampered guests at every event but this week they are the hosts. Playing in THE PLAYERS comes with a sense of pride. The atmosphere is electric all week. The grandstand on the first hole is always full. Even the lesser-known players are received warmly by the gallery.

All that warm fuzzy feeling can wash away pretty quickly when the flag goes up on Thursday morning. TPC Sawgrass is hard -- really frickin' hard. In 2000 I played with Sergio Garcia in his PLAYERS debut. His first trip around the Pete Dye-layout was less than memorable. Sergio shot 82, and to make matters worse, he beat me by two that day. It was the worst round of my humble career. It may have been Sergio's too. We figured out the next day that Len Mattiace, the third member of our group, had beaten our best ball in the opening round by five shots. I am pretty sure that he hit first off of every tee.

Now, Sergio has obviously figured things out at TPC Sawgrass since then. He is the defending champion and he finished second the year before. I don't play there anymore -- not even for fun. There are few layouts on the planet that are as visually intimidating as the Stadium Course. Dye's name will be taken in vein next week as it has been so many times before by players who watch balls trickling over railroad ties into ill-conceived water hazards.

The golf course starts to ridicule you and get in your head right out of the gate. Most would say the first hole is a benign little par 4. The green sits at a funny angle, though, with a gaping bunker to the left and a run-off collection area to the right. It seems like you should be able to attack but with the greens so firm you can barely fix a ball mark. As a TOUR player you hate to play away from a flag from inside 150 yards but you better get used to it at the Stadium Course because you are going to be doing it all day.

A look at the list of champions quickly reveals that massive length is not required to prosper at THE PLAYERS Championship. On numerous occasions, Dye has said he wanted to design a golf course where approach shots were forced to be played from relatively the same place. I have often heard the Stadium described as a second-shot golf course. Whoever said that has obviously never played in THE PLAYERS with a balky driver.

Of course, THE PLAYERS should be hard. A victory or a loss at the TPC Sawgrass can be a defining moment in a career. There are so many lasting images through the years. From Jerry Pate's plunge to Hal Sutton staring down Tiger Woods, golf lore has been written at THE PLAYERS.

Along with brilliant victory, though, THE PLAYERS has scripted some of the most devastating defeats. Sean O'Hair, who won the Quail Hollow Championship on Sunday, and Len Mattice can both speak with great authority to the devilishness of the signature 17th hole. Paul Goydos can chime in on that conversation, as well.

There is nowhere to hide at the TPC Sawgrass. The Stadium is a golf course that will exploit a player's weakness and challenge his patience. Those who survive will have the honor of being introduced as a true champion, THE PLAYERS champion. It doesn't get much sweeter than that.

John Maginnes is a columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.