Kodak Challenge update: PLAYERS Championship

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May. 15, 2011

MORE: Interactive Kodak Challenge Scorecards

The Kodak Challenge is a first-of-its-kind competition for PGA TOUR players, who must play at least 18 of the 30 Kodak Challenge holes to be eligible to win. A player's lowest score relative to par on his best 18 Kodak Challenge holes will be counted. The player with the lowest cumulative score relative to par wins $1 million and the Kodak Challenge trophy.

The $1 million Kodak Challenge competition reaches the halfway point of its 2011 season this week with a visit to the 17th hole at THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. This is the first time the Kodak competition has been held at THE PLAYERS Championship.

THIS WEEK: No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass
In its brief history, the island hole has become one of the most renowned par 3 in the world. Each year it is the most popular among spectators at THE PLAYERS Championship. The signature hole is a short length par 3 with a wide green that narrows to the right side. The right side of the green is protected by a small maintained bunker, which sometimes will be a relief to players who come up short of the green. Club selection on this hole is critically important; with the tricky winds of spring, THE PLAYERS could be won or lost here. A larger spectator mound has been created behind the green.

Fourth round

Due to Saturdays rain delay at THE PLAYERS Championship, Paul Goydos was among the tournament leaders who had to face the Kodak Challenge hole -- No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass -- twice Sunday. Goydos took full advantage, dropping a 9-footer for birdie in his first attempt to move into the tie for second in the $1 million Kodak Challenge. Goydos currently sits at 9 under, one shot behind Kodak Challenge leader, Bill Lunde.

For the second consecutive day, Phil Mickelson nearly aced the 17th. Mickelson landed his tee shot to just 15 inches, a distance that Hunter Mahan also matched later in the round. Carl Pettersson delivered the longest Kodak Challenge birdie of the final round from 50 feet.

THE PLAYERS Championship was the 15th of 30 tournaments to host the Kodak Challenge in 2011. The next Kodak Challenge hole is the par-3 13th at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas during next week's Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial.

Third Round

The rain-shortened third round at THE PLAYERS Championship didn't dampen Charley Hoffman's chances on Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 Saturday at TPC Sawgrass. Hoffman sunk a 9-footer for birdie to join Kevin Na in second place in the $1 million Kodak Challenge.

Trevor Immelman had the easiest Kodak Challenge birdie of the day after hitting his tee shot to 15 inches. Immelman was not alone in delivering great shotmaking on the famous island hole during an abbreviated second round. Phil Mickelson and Arjun Atwal both teased the cup with near-aces Saturday, while defending Kodak Challenge champ Troy Merritt sunk a 9-footer for his second consecutive Kodak Challenge birdie of the tournament.

Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 was the 13th hardest hole on the course, yielding 19 birdies, 16 pars, one bogey and two double bogeys.

Second round

The infamous island hole, No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass, lived up to its billing Friday as one of the trickiest par 3s on the PGA TOUR. Playing in the second-to-last group of the day at THE PLAYERS Championship, defending Kodak Challenge champ Troy Merritt hit the best tee shot of the day to 3 feet 9 inches to set up an easy birdie.

Merritt's playing partner Kevin Na delivered the Kodak Challenge Moment of Day, chipping in from 20 feet for birdie while straddling the wall which surrounds the island green. Big hitter Robert Garrigus showed great touch on the longest Kodak Challenge birdie of the day from 52 feet.

A total of 14 balls found the water on the Kodak Challenge hole during the second round of THE PLAYERS Championship. The sixth hardest hole on the course Friday, No. 17 yielded 25 birdies, 91 pars, 17 bogeys and six double bogeys.

First round

Kodak Challenge frontrunner Bill Lunde drained a 38-footer for birdie on Kodak hole No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass during the opening round of THE PLAYERS Championship. Lunde's birdie putt on the signature hole brought him to 10 under in the $1 million competition. Five pros currently sit two shots out of the top spot, including Paul Goydos, J.B. Holmes, Kevin Na and Charley Hoffman, who all played No. 17 at par.

While Lunde scored Thursday's longest Kodak birdie putt, Brandt Jobe dropped his tee shot to 16 inches for the easiest birdie on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass.

Kodak Challenge hole No. 17 was the ninth-hardest hole on the course during the opening round, yielding 25 birdies, 100 pars, 11 bogeys and five double bogeys.

THE PLAYERS Championship is the 15th of 30 tournaments to host the Kodak Challenge in 2011.