PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- There, next to the water and the 17th green, sit several mounds of sand and dirt. They look out of place in the normally picturesque setting. A white bird, perched peacefully near the infamous island hole, stands out in sharp contrast to the newly grown green. The hum of tractors and construction equipment can be heard in the distance, as workers hurry to finish the new clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass.

This scene, at the site of THE PLAYERS Championship, is one of construction and major changes. It's also one of growth and progress, as both the tournament and its host course are undergoing several improvements.

Perhaps Brian Goin, Vice President of Championship Management for the PGA TOUR, said it best when discussing the tournament at a press conference announcing the new elements of THE PLAYERS. "Always people ask every year, 'Brian, what's new?'" Goin said. "Don't bother asking me that this year, because it's all new."

In addition to the course improvements, other major changes at THE PLAYERS include a new tournament date, as it moves from late March to the second week in May. Also beginning in 2007 is the addition of JELD-WEN, the world's leading manufacturer of reliable windows and doors, as the third Proud Partner of THE PLAYERS with PriceWaterhouseCoopers and UBS.

"Since 2003, JELD-WEN has been the title sponsor of the JELD-WEN Tradition, one of the Champions Tour's major championships," said PGA TOUR commissioner Tim Finchem. "Now it will have significant involvement with our own championship on the PGA TOUR. Together, these Proud Partners will further enhance the stature of THE PLAYERS as one of the most significant tournaments in golf and help it to continue generating significant dollars for charity."

Doug Kintzinger, executive vice president and CFO of JELD-WEN, said he sees his company supporting one of the Champions Tour's five majors and one of the PGA TOUR's five majors, referencing the fact that many see THE PLAYERS as the fifth major. The event, which is the TOUR's own championship for its members, attracts most of the top players and traditionally has the strongest field of the year.

"We have met with great success in using golf as a platform to reach key audiences, enhance customer relationships and recognize employees. Supporting an event of this caliber opens up a whole new range of opportunities for a global company like JELD-WEN," Kintzinger said.

The TOUR also unveiled a new logo today, which visually strengthens the connection between THE PLAYERS and the TOUR by incorporating the iconic swinging golfer from the TOUR logo. The golfer, who will appear in gold for the first time, stands between the words THE and PLAYERS. Though the official name still includes "Championship", the new logo does not, as the TOUR wants to highlight the direct correlation between the event and the TOUR's members.

Fans will directly benefit from other announced changes. The course improvements mean that additional tickets can be sold to fans. Parking will be added at the University of North Florida, with free shuttles to the course.

For the players themselves, many of whom had a say in the changes to the course, there will be benefits. A new SubAir pipe system was installed under the greens that can pull water off of them while it is still raining. This means suspended play can be resumed in a matter of minutes after one to two inches of rainfall. Pete Dye, the architect of the Stadium Course at Sawgrass, has been involved with all of the course changes.

The players feel that the new course will force them to make different club selections. The tournament may become more challenging but will also remain fair.

"We're not trying to make it harder," said David Pillsbury, President of Golf Course Properties. "We are just trying to make it more competitive and create different types of golf shots."