TOUR veterans amazed by growth of THE PLAYERS
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- When he was 10 years old, Davis Love III set up a lemonade stand in his backyard so he could pick up some spare change during the first Tournament Players Championship at the Atlanta Country Club.
About eight years later, Love and his future wife Robin had one of their first dates during what had become known as THE PLAYERS Championship and moved to the TPC Sawgrass. He went on to win the tournament in 1992 and again in 2003.
"So I've seen all the changes," Love said. "It's grown into whatever you want to call it -- it's a major championship (or) it's the most important tournament on our TOUR."
Love is playing in his 24th PLAYERS Championship this week. He's one of six players in the standout field of 145 who will have competed in 20 or more PLAYERS by week's end -- joining Fred Couples (26), Kenny Perry (21), Corey Pavin (25) and Billy Mayfair and Rocco Mediate (20 each).
Love has a unique perspective on the PGA TOUR's marquee event. Not only has he played in and won the tournament, Love is about to begin his fourth term on the PGA TOUR Policy Board that helps makes decisions about the event and the TPC.
"Going through the process of rebuilding the clubhouse, going through the redo of the golf course all the little and big things that have gone into making it a big tournament have been amazing to be a part of," Love said.
Since Love and the others first competed in THE PLAYERS, the Stadium Course has undergone several careful facelifts, including the recent installation of a sub-air system to make it play firm and fast regardless of what Mother Nature had in store. And what was a small, modernistic clubhouse has morphed into a sprawling Mediterranean Revival building that lends sophistication to the landscape.
"Condition-wise, the golf course has changed tremendously," Perry said. "(It's gone) from an overseeded Bermuda to a rye surface to now this champions Bermuda. The golf course has evolved and actually, they've added new tee boxes, they've made it longer.
"It's still pretty similar to what it was 21 years ago, though. The layout's very similar, the look, the carries, but it's beautiful. It was really kind of rough. It was kind of edgy early. Now it's really a great test of golf. It's really matured very well."
Mayfair also used the term "rough around the edges" to describe the Stadium Course in its early days. Mediate, who used to live in Ponte Vedra Beach, says he kind of liked it that way, but that now the course is perfection.
"The golf course has changed, all the surroundings, the clubhouse, the stature of the tournament keeps getting up," Mediate said. "The time of year, the golf course is spectacular. It doesn't get much better. ...
"It plays beautifully. It's probably most of our favorite event.
Perry's best memory came in 2004 when his son Justin caddied for him and he finished third behind Adam Scott. Mediate remembers making birdie on the final six holes in the final round in 1996 to tie for fourth behind Couples in the second of the U.S. Presidents Cup captain's two wins.
"I had a chance to win a couple of times but (Craig) Perks (in 2002) and Couples did ridiculously amazing things," Mediate said with a grin. "But it was fun playing at home when I lived here."
Mayfair thinks about the many times he's played the 17th hole -- which he says "makes this whole course" -- hitting everything from a 5-iron to a wedge in varying conditions. When Hal Sutton won in 2000, the final round finished on Monday and Mayfair's first shot that morning was to the intimidating island green.
"I played with Bernhard Langer and I hit a little 9-iron just to the left of the pin and it looked like it was going to run down there but it stayed on top," Mayfair recalled. "... It was pretty hard being the first shot of the day."
Their memories of the TOUR's signature event may be different, but their own longevity elicits similar emotions among the veterans.
"I would have never imagined my career lasting this long," Perry said. "I never thought I'd get out here for one thing and I always told my dad I just wanted to win one time. And then to win 13 (times) and to be 48 (years old) and still be competitive and to do still be doing some of the things I'm doing is pretty remarkable, pretty incredible."
Love and Mediate both earned their TOUR cards in 1985. At the time, Mediate was 22 and Love was 21 -- the two youngest players on TOUR. Now, they are among its elder statesmen.
"I never thought I'd last on TOUR two years, so I'm 20 years ahead of schedule," Mediate said. "I had no idea I'd still be here. I have the most fun talking to some of the young kids out here. It's just fun helping out. I remember I got a lot of help when I was young."
Young kids, indeed. Love played in his 24th Verizon Heritage three weeks ago and the memories came flooding back.
"We were saying that we remember sitting there and Jay Haas told us he'd played 20 years on TOUR and we said, man, you are old," Love said. "How could you play that long?
"It is amazing. I watched the first (PLAYERS) and sold lemonade in the back yard. It is amazing how far the tournament's come."
Shop your favorite brand name golf equipment and accessories at SHOP.PGATOUR.COM
FREE iPHONE APP
PGATOUR.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network