The hole claimed another victim but this one goes in the record books.
Beau Hossler was not the first, and he will definitely not be the last.
During the second round of the 2024 Players Championship, Hossler etched his name in the record books at TPC Sawgrass, but not in the way he would want it.
He hit the 1,000th ball in the water at the par-3 17th hole since 2003, when ShotLink began tracking shots at the hole.
While Ryan Fox made the 14th ace on the 17th in the first round Thursday, Hossler’s shot hit the back of the green before hopping into the water long on Friday.
It’s important to note, since ShotLink didn’t begin tracking data on the hole until 2003, there have been plenty of golf balls to find the drink over the years that aren’t “on record.” That’s why Hossler’s name is attached to the record.
Beau Hossler's tee shot found the water on No. 17.
The good news, Hossler, who turns 29 on Saturday, was able to get up and in for bogey, keeping him just below the projected cutline with nine holes to play.
But a double-bogey 6 on the fourth hole, his 13th of the day after starting on the back nine, led to a 1 over total, putting Hossler two shots off the projected cutline of 1 under.
The 36-year-old Canadian was even-par through 16 holes before making a double on the par-3 17th hole. His drive on the 18th almost went into the water, forcing him to stand on a bulkhead for his approach shot.
Then, as he was hitting his approach, he hit a low pull that trickled into the water.
That’s when Hadwin’s frustration got to him.
He chucked, and I mean stepped into it and threw with all his might, his iron, which came helicoptering out of his hands and toward the water left of the 18th hole.
Splash.
The video is so good, you’ll have to watch it again and again.
Check out some of the best images from the 2024 Players Championship.
The 2024 Players Championship is off and running at TPC Sawgrass’ famed Stadium Course in Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida, and this year’s event marks the 50th edition of theĀ PGA Tour’s flagship event. A $25 million purse is up for grabs and the winner will receive $4.5 million, as well as 750 FedEx Cup points.
Stay up to date with all the latest news from the 2024 Players Championship.
TheĀ 2024 Players ChampionshipĀ is off and running at TPC Sawgrassā famed Stadium Course in Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida, and this yearās event marks the 50th edition of theĀ PGA Tourās flagship event. A $25 million purse is up for grabs and the winner will receive $4.5 million, as well as 750 FedEx Cup points.
Knappās time is now, and heās not sleeping on any of the opportunities.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. ā Ever since Jake Knapp won the Mexico Open at Vidanta last month, his life has changed. Instead of hearing fans say, āhey, player, will you come and sign this,ā he said they actually know his name, and he has been recognized in the grocery store and restaurants, even last night.
āThis lady asked me if I was Rickie Fowler,ā Knapp recalled, though not a ringing endorsement for his new-found popularity. āI said, āNo,ā and then it sunk in and she was like, āWait, you won Mexico. My husband and I were watching. We were so excited.ā I was like, all right, that changed a lot from Rickie Fowler.ā
A lot has changed for Knapp, who played his college golf at UCLA, since he claimed his maiden victory on the PGA Tour as a 29-year-old rookie and cashed a seven-figure check. Now, he’s making his debut appearance at the 2024 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course.
Knapp surprised even himself the way he controlled his emotions down the stretch in Mexico, noting his face tingled on the 18th green. He took a deep breath and asked his caddie how many putts he could take and still win.
āJust go hit your first putt,ā his caddie said. āYouāre going to be fine.ā
Jake Knapp of the United States speaks to the media during the First Timers Press Conference prior to THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 13, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Fellow Bruin Patrick Cantlay remembers playing with Knapp when he was a high school senior and Knapp a freshman in the California high school state championship, and said, āHe didn’t hit it as far as he does now.ā
Knapp took a long and winding road to the Tour, bottoming out two years when he lost his Korn Ferry Tour status. His hard work finally began paying dividends last season as he recorded 13 top-10 finishes and earned his PGA Tour card for the first time.
āIf you’re good, really, really good, you’re going to make it out here eventually and have success,ā Cantlay said. āFrom relatively unknown to winning and then top-10ing a couple times on Tour, I mean that’s what’s so great about our game.ā
The story of Knapp working as a bouncer to make ends meet during his lean year grabbed headlines when he won but he said that narrative has been overplayed.
āJust slightly,ā he said. āPeople love to talk about how I was a bouncer but Iām not a bouncer that decided to play golf. Iāve been playing golf since Iām 3 years old. Iāve been a pretty good junior, a pretty good amateur and a decent pro. It feels like Iām right where Iām supposed to be.ā
That has included a featured-group pairing with Rory McIlroy at the Cognizant Classic in which he more than held his own.
Jake Knapp’s first day of Players board includes his goal to win at least twice as a rookie. (Adam Schupak/Golfweek)
āIt feels very normal-ish,ā he said of being admitted into the higher ranks of the game, including a spot in last weekās limited-field, signature event at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. But he conceded that getting an email that his invitation to the Masters has been delivered ā he’s been on the road four straight weeks and won’t get to open it until next week ā booking a practice round for next week at Augusta National and lining up a lunch with Jack Nicklaus to pick his brain on how to play the Masters venue qualifies as surreal.
āStuff like that doesnāt feel very real,ā he said.
Knapp played in The Jake, the Golden Bearās charity event at the Bearās Club, and went over and shook his hand, smiled for pictures and then said, āIād love to ask for some tips if you have any.ā
Said Knapp: āI want to let him rant and take notes. He told me there are only six tough shots. Youāre saying thereās not a single other tough shot on the golf course? Sounds good. Iām only going to prepare for those six.ā
Knappās time is now, and heās not sleeping on any of the opportunities.
“What they’re doing is not really a concern to me.”
Scottie Scheffler is the defending champion of the Players Championship this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Coming off his victory last week at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, it’s not surprising all eyes and ears were on him for his pre-tournament press conference Tuesday.
It’s what he said that’s turning heads. Scheffler has never hinted at leaving the PGA Tour to join LIV Golf, even as he has dominated the sport and became the No. 1 player in the world. He also hasn’t bashed those who left, rather maintained his loyalty to the PGA Tour and left it at that.
Plenty of the discourse, especially among fans, for professional golf recently is a watered-down Tour product and the fact the best players in the world are playing only four times a year together at the majors. And even at that, players competing for LIV Golf may not get into those events because they aren’t earning Official World Golf Ranking points.
It was a decision players who left made, leaving an established Tour that followed the guidelines of the OWGR for one that not only didn’t follow said rules but also hasn’t changed its rules enough to try to gain points in the future.
The results? Fans not getting to see the best players compete week in and week out. Scheffler thinks it’s easy to place the blame.
“If the fans are upset, then look at the guys that left,” Scheffler said. “We had a Tour, we were all together, and the people that left are no longer here. At the end of the day, that’s where the splintering comes from.
“I think we’re trying to do our best to create the best product for the fans, but we can’t control whether or not guys want to leave. If guys want to go take the money and leave, then that’s their decision. I’m not going to sit here and tell guys not to take hundreds of millions of dollars. If that’s what they think is best for their life, then go do it. I’m not going to sit here and force guys to stay on our Tour.
“But at the end of the day, this is where I want to be, and we’re continuing to grow what we’re doing, and what they’re doing is not really a concern to me.”
PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan spoke before Scheffler on Tuesday in his State of the Tour address, and he spoke to numerous topics, including continued negotiations with the PIF and fan discourse.
Scheffler’s answer was in response to how much fan’s voices have been listened to in the previous two years of professional golf turmoil. As Scheffler states, there are millions of fans, meaning millions of perspectives.
Scottie Scheffler of the United States walks off the 17th green during a practice round prior to THE PLAYERS Championship on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass on March 12, 2024 in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
One of the changes the Tour made to get its stars playing more often together was signature events, which has worked. In the past, the Players was touted as the best field in golf. Because of numerous stars missing from the field due to their association with LIV Golf, it’s hard for that mantra to hold the same weight it has in years past.
However, Scheffler said he doesn’t dwell on those who left, and he’s encouraged by the direction of the Tour.
“It’s kind of one of the out of sight, out of mind things, and the people that want to be on this Tour are still here, and the guys that want to compete out here are still here,” Scheffler said. “So we’ve got a lot of great competition. I’m excited with the new tournament schedule getting the best players on our Tour all together as much as we can, and I think we’re in a great spot.”
Monahan and SSG representatives went to Saudi Arabia in January to meet with PIF representatives.
During his annual press conference ahead of the 2024 Players Championship, Jay Monahan updated the media on the current state of discussions with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund.
“As I’ve said on a number of occasions, you can’t negotiate a deal like this in public,” Monahan said at TPC Sawgrass on Tuesday morning. “I recently met with the governor of the PIF, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, and our negotiations are accelerating as we spend time together.”
“While we have several key issues that we still need to work through, we have a shared vision to quiet the noise and unlock golf’s worldwide potential,” he continued. “It’s going to take time, but I reiterate what I said at the Tour Championship in August. I see a positive outcome for the PGA Tour and the sport as a whole. Most importantly, I see a positive outcome for our great fans.”
Monahan said he went to Saudi Arabia in January with representatives from the Strategic Sports Group to meet with Al-Rumayyan and the PIF.
“That’s why we continue to have productive discussions. There’s a mutual respect there that I think is helpful towards ultimately getting a deal done,” Monahan added. “And I think it is that level of discussion that has helped accelerate the conversations.”
Monahan said he appreciated the questions on the subject of the PIF discussions but refrained from answering specifics about team golf or whether or not players who left for LIV Golf would be welcomed back to the Tour.
Kaufman confirmed Tuesday on “Live from The Players” on Golf Channel that he and Kisner would again comment on golf shots live from the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass during the 2024 Players Championship. The duo will team up for Kaufman’s “Happy Hour” for an hour during Friday’s coverage.
Fans have long clamored for golf broadcasts to change and be better for viewers. Kaufman and NBC Sports have taken big steps this year by trying something new and unorthodox, but it’s working.
TPC Sawgrass’ famed Stadium Course hosts the biggest event on the Tour schedule, and there’s a lot on the line this week.
First, a $25 million purse. The winner will receive $4.5 million of that along with 750 FedEx Cup points. It’s also the 50th edition of the Players, meaning the importance surrounding this week is heightened.
The purse at the Players is $25 million with $4.5 million going to the winner.
It’s time for the fifth major.
The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass kicks off Thursday from Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler, who last week won the Arnold Palmer Invitational for the second time in three years, highlights the field, but all of the top players on the PGA Tour are in the field, including past winners Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas and more.
The purse at the Players is $25 million with $4.5 million going to the winner. The winner will also receive 750 FedEx Cup points.
From tee times to TV and streaming info, here’s everything you need to know for the first round of the 2024 Players Championship. All times listed are ET.
