PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Nearly 30 years after its conception, the PGA TOUR’s flagship TPC Sawgrass marked the final stages of an eight-month, multi-million dollar golf course renovation program with the reopening of THE PLAYERS Stadium Course Monday.

The renovation was initiated to ensure firm, fast and fair conditions for the best players in the world during THE PLAYERS Championship and to provide world-class playing conditions for resort guests throughout the year.

“We are very pleased with the progress of the renovation and extend our gratitude to everyone involved in the project for their dedication, diligence and commitment in helping us achieve our ambitious goals within our projected timeline,” said David Pillsbury, president of PGA TOUR Golf Course Properties. “With our golf course enhancements and massive infrastructure improvements, we will deliver Pete Dye’s masterpiece at its very best to TOUR players and resort guests for years to come.”

Working with Jacksonville-based MacCurrach Golf Construction, Dye spearheaded renovations to the Stadium Course and assisted on renovations to Dye’s Valley Course, which was originally designed in collaboration with Bobby Weed and Jerry Pate, who won the first PLAYERS Championship contested at the TPS Sawgrass. The first phase of renovations was completed in the spring of 2006.

Improvements to the Stadium Course are highlighted by the installation of a state-of-the-art SubAir subsurface drainage and irrigation system to ensure prime conditions regardless of the weather; extensive fairway renovations, requiring the removal of 24,000 tons of topsoil and the equivalent of seven miles of dump trucks full of sand; the re-building of all greens to USGA standards; lake bank stabilization and restoration; and significant changes to enhance spectator safety and viewing, including the addition of a continuous, elevated walkway along holes 16 through 18.

Aesthetic and competitive enhancements to the Stadium Course, combined with the construction of a majestic new 77,000 square-foot Mediterranean Revival-style clubhouse scheduled to be completed in late April 2007, will significantly enhance the overall experience of players and fans when the strongest field in professional golf returns to the TPC Sawgrass May 7-13 to compete in THE PLAYERS.

Newly enhanced practice facilities, the addition of the new TOUR Academy and the recent launch of a caddie program will enable golfers to experience the course in the same way THE PLAYERS competitors do.

Tournament and resort guests staying at the nearby Sawgrass Marriott Resort & Spa (www.sawgrassmarriott.com) also will benefit from a $16 million guest room renovation scheduled for completion in January 2007. Each room will be transformed into a Marriott “Revive” room, bringing guests a new level of service, luxury and indulgence. The renovation was initiated by the property’s new owners, a joint venture comprised of affiliates of Irish-based investment company Redquartz Boundary Ltd.