Tag: The Players Championship

While the Players still isn’t a bona fide major, the area near TPC Sawgrass has been a hotbed for major champions

Here’s the roll call of players considered “local” to TPC Sawgrass and Ponte Vedra Beach who have won majors. It’s impressive.

Despite the best efforts of the PGA Tour and a younger demographic of players and media who are keeping an open mind, The Players Championship still can’t crack the public consciousness of joining The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship in being considered a major championship.

The Players will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2024 so it’s had time. And the fact that it still isn’t widely recognized as a major has more to do with how entrenched the other four are.

Attitudes and history can change. When Bobby Jones was considered the best golf in the world in the 1920s and 1930s, he won 13 major championships. However, at the time, the U.S. Amateur and British Amateur were considered majors, along with the U.S. Open and British Open — largely because amateur golf was considered a higher level of competition since the professional game hadn’t yet blossomed and the Masters and the Augusta National Golf Club were still unrealized dreams by their founder — Jones.

Six of Jones’ majors were amateur events, five U.S, Opens and one British Open. And in 1930, when he won all four in one year, New York sportswriter George Trevor termed the feat, “the impregnable quadrilateral.”

Respect for Jones was so universal that gradually the Masters came to be thought of as a major, and when professionals such as Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson got into the prime of their careers, the PGA Championship also became more elevated.

Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus solidify the majors

The final piece of the puzzle in why the current four are accepted as majors was Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, whose powerful style of golf and charisma captured fans’ imagination. They especially cemented the Masters as perhaps the top dog of the grand slam events when they combined to win 10 times at Augusta.

Fast forward to the Tiger Woods Era. He had a poster of Jack Nicklaus on his wall at home as a young boy, with a list of Nicklaus’ 18 major championships. Woods dreamed of getting to that goal and he has 15, winning his last at the 2019 Masters — his fifth green jacket.

Woods followed the same script that Nicklaus and Palmer did: save his best for the majors, which only further served to keep their status at the top of the worldwide tournament food chain intact.

Majors history goes back nearly 160 years

Obviously, the majors have a rich history. The British Open is the oldest golf tournament in the world, having started in 1863. The U.S. Open launched in 1895, the PGA in 1916 and the Masters in 1934.

But the history of the world’s two main amateur events can’t be left in a dusty book. The U.S. Amateur began the same year as the U.S. Open and the British Amateur in 1885. Let’s just call them the amateur majors, which is both historically accurate and relevant to the modern game.

The history of those events also involves First Coast and South Georgia natives and those who have lived in the areas on a long-term basis. Six of those men have combined to win the four professional majors nine times. Six more have combined to win the amateur majors 11 times.

Here’s the roll call of players considered “local” to TPC Sawgrass and Ponte Vedra Beach who have won those 20 majors, listed on a chronological basis of when they won their first or only major:

Players Championship dreams: Weather woes aren’t deterring PGA Tour’s journeymen

The weather’s been horrible for the Players Championship but look who’s taking to TPC Sawgrass like, well, ducks to water.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — The weather’s been horrible for the 48th Players Championship but look who’s taking to the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass like, well, ducks to water.

Tom Hoge, for one. He’s been laboring on the PGA Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour for eight years and went more than Tour 200 starts before scoring his first victory at Pebble Beach last month.

Brice Garnett, for another. The 38-year-old seven-year Tour veteran won in the Dominican Republic in 2018 for his career highlight.

Despite those thin resumes, they were tied for first in The Players Championship with Tommy Fleetwood of England at 6 under when the field was pulled in at 11:15 a.m. ET on Friday because of unplayable course conditions. Play was officially called for the day shortly after 3 p.m. ET and play will resume no earlier than 11 a.m. ET on Saturday.

The Players: Leaderboard | PGA Tour Live on ESPN+

Hoge and Fleetwood shot 66 on Thursday and Garnett was 6 under through 13 holes on Friday, capping his day with an eagle 2 at No. 4.

Other contenders such as Kramer Hickok, Anirbarn Lahiri, Taylor Pendrith and Doug Ghim are looking for their first Tour titles. Of the 17 players tied for ninth or higher, eight have won one or no PGA Tour titles and only one, Dustin Johnson, has won a major championship.

And where is defending champion Justin Thomas? Rory McIlroy, the 2019 champion? Other major champions such as World No. 1 Jon Rahm, Jordan Spieth, Collin Morikawa or Brooks Koepka?

Back in the pack. But not out of it.

Through two stop-start days at the Players, the biggest stars seem to have had the most trouble negotiating the wet grounds during the worst weather pattern to hit the week of the PGA Tour’s marquee event in 17 years.

Tour says a Tuesday finish possible

How bad? Already 4.25 inches of rain have fallen on the course since Wednesday night, 2.5 on Friday. Of the 143 players who started (Luke List pulled out on Friday after seven holes with a neck injury), only 96 have been able to complete their first rounds by the time of the suspension on Friday.

TPC Sawgrass agronomy staff had to squeegee greens of standing water between groups (the par-5 11th green seemed especially problematic) and the combination of wet hands and gloves led to some comical shots, such as Morikawa’s squirting fairway wood at No. 11 and Spieth’s yank at No. 17 that came to rest on the footpath leading to the Island Green.

“It’s highly unusual to have this pattern this prolonged at this time of year,” said Gary Young, the PGA Tour’s chief referee this week.

Young seemed to concede the eighth Monday finish in tournament history (and fifth at the Stadium Course) and also didn’t dismiss the possibility of the first Tuesday finish in the history of the Players.

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“There is that potential,” he said.

As bad as the weather has been the first two days, it could get worse on Saturday morning. Not only are storms forecast but there is the possibility of high enough winds to require the grounds crew to not only get the playing surface in shape but remove debris such as tree limbs.

Brice Garnett will be patient

But a player such as Garnett wouldn’t mind how long it takes if at the end of proceedings, as long as he’s the guy holding the Gold Man Trophy and has $3.6 million heading to his bank on direct deposit.

“We knew it was going to be a long day,” he said “We were just trying to stay in the moment and not get too ahead of ourself with all the rain. It’s something exciting. Something that you kind of wish you would keep playing and keep the momentum going, but the course is unplayable.”

Hoge, who eagled the second hole and birdied three of his last five to shoot 31 on the Stadium’s front nine, his back nine Thursday, said he’s feeling content with his performance and has enough experience to draw on to keep it going — once he does get back on the golf course.

“This is my fourth Players Championship, and I just got a little bit more comfortable being here,” he said. “Certainly, nice to come back and have a little familiarity with the tournament and the golf course and the area. I feel like it’s a golf course that suits me really well, so I’m always excited to show up here.”

Tommy Fleetwood loves course

Fleetwood hasn’t won on the PGA Tour but he’s captured eight European Tour titles and has been a Ryder Cup star for Europe. He also has some recent muscle memory, having contended in 2019 before dumping a ball in the water at No. 17 on Sunday and tying for fifth.

“I think my strengths over the years have always been hitting it in play off the tee,” he said. “Very consistent, hit a lot of greens with my irons and never really put myself in too much trouble and have a very sort of patient attitude and mindset. I love this golf course. I really, really do. If you play well, you get rewarded, and if you play poorly, you’re going to struggle to make a score. I think it’s major-like in that sense.”

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Behind them are only three players who have won four or more events: Johnson, who is certifiably Hall of Fame-bound, with 24 victories and two major championships; and Daniel Berger (5 under through 16 holes to tie for fourth) and Kevin Kisner (who shot a 4-under 68, a tie for ninth), who have each won four.

Hickok, Joaquin Niemann, Keith Mitchell and Lahiri all shot 67 in the first round completed Thursday to tie for fourth. Brian Harman, Sam Burns, Abraham Ancer and Players rookie Taylor Pendrith finished with 68s.

Don’t sleep on Kevin Kisner

Kisner is one to watch. He lost to Rickie Fowler in a playoff in the 2015 Players, and his tie for second remains the best performance by a first-time Players participant since Craig Perks won in 2020. Kisner eagled No. 16 but also had three bogeys.

“The ball’s going nowhere, but it’s calm, so it’s good,” he said. “You’ve got to really be aggressive with your iron shots to make sure you’re hitting enough club for the spin, and getting the ball on the fairway is paramount so you can get your hand on it [under the preferred lies rule in place for the first two days of the tournament].”

And where are marquee players? The good news is they’re not in a position to panic just yet. Rahm shot a 69 Thursday and with a U.S. Open title behind him, has a passion to win the Players.

“It’s the closest win you can get without it being a major,” he said. “If they ever were to do a fifth major, this should be it.”

Scottie Scheffler, who is 4 under through 15, has won twice in his last three starts. Koepka is 3 under through 15 holes, Spieth 2 under through 16 (but facing that chip off the footpath at 17 when he returns), Thomas is 2 under through 15, Hovland shot 71 on Thursday, Morikawa is even through 13 and McIlroy is 1 over through 15.

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The Players: Record purse? Viktor Hovland and Joel Dahmen just want double meat at Chipotle and White Claws

Solo 39th this week will bank $91,000 or a grand more than Jerry Pate earned for winning the first Players at TPC Sawgrass in 1982.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – The purse for this week’s Players Championship is – to borrow a phrase from Phil Mickelson – obnoxiously large. The winner receives $3.6 million; solo 39th will bank $91,000 or a grand more than Jerry Pate earned for winning the first Players at TPC Sawgrass in 1982. And finish DFL and you’ll still take home $43,000. Not a bad week for surviving the cut and stinking up the joint over the weekend.

But it ain’t all about the Benjamins, if you believe Viktor Hovland and Joel Dahmen.

Hovland is a man of simple means. Give him a side of guacamole and extra meat at Chipotle and he’s a happy man. At the Genesis Invitational last month, the 24-year-old Norwegian spoke about the difference in having a bulging bank account all of a sudden.

“I didn’t have to count every single dollar that I spend on air travel and food. That was like a big thing,” Hovland said. “Instead of not getting guac at Chipotle, I could get double meat and some extra guac and I don’t have to worry about it. It’s just stuff like that on a daily basis, like you don’t have to think about it. If you think a certain thing is good for your game or good for your health or whatever it is, then you go do it, you don’t have to worry about how much it’s going to cost. That was about it.”

Players: How to watch | PGA Tour Live on ESPN+ | Tee times | Sleepers

And what of this week’s mega-millions purse?

“Yeah, it’s a lot of money for sure. Definitely a lot of guac and double meat,” he said. “But regardless of how I finish this week, it’s not really going to change my life, at least not right now. Obviously it’s nice to have in the bank for the future and whatever, but I live in Oklahoma and I still have the same joggers that I had two years ago and probably should upgrade those. But yeah, I mean, I live a pretty easy lifestyle, but it’s more about having the chance to lift the trophy and be a part of something special.”

What would Hovland splurge on if he were to claim the top prize?

“I don’t know, maybe a nice party for the boys back home in Oklahoma, and when I get home to Norway we can go out and have some fun,” he said. “That’s about it.”

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Dahmen, who said he’s already won more money ($8,236,182) than he ever imagined making in his lifetime, would love to win the Players, but it won’t send him on a buying spree.

“I’m not going to buy a jet and mansion,” Dahmen said. “I’m just going to buy more White Claws and I already can afford those.”

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A favorite to bet, fade, and consider at the 2022 Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass

Can Daniel Berger rebound from a tough finish at the Honda Classic this week at TPC Sawgrass?

This week in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, there are a plethora of big-name players ready to compete for the title at the 2022 Players Championship. Jon Rahm, the No. 1 player in the Official World Golf Ranking, is the favorite among them all at TPC Sawgrass sitting at +1200. Justin Thomas, the event’s defending champion, follows closely behind at +1300 with

Pete Dye’s Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass will play as a par 72 this week measuring 7,256 yards.

Among all the favorites this week in the field comprised of 46 of the world’s top-50, here are players to bet on, to fade, and to consider for your betting cards.

Players: Best bets | Sleeper picks | PGA Tour Live streaming on ESPN+

$250,000 to $20 million: Players Championship prize money payout increases over the years

Check out how the prize money payouts have increased over the years at the PGA Tour’s flagship event, the Players Championship.

Over the last year the PGA Tour has combatted a potential rival golf league by increasing the money players can earn through elevated purses, bonus pools and new initiatives.

While the FedEx Cup and Player Impact Program each increased in value, so too did a small handful of tournaments, including this week’s Players Championship. The PGA Tour’s flagship event – held annually at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, since 1982 – remains the richest stop on the Tour schedule with a whopping $20 million purse, up from $15 at last year’s event. Justin Thomas took home $2.7 million in 2021, and this year’s champion will pocket a cool $3.6 million.

Over the last 10 years alone the Players purse has doubled in size, and in the event’s 48-year history, the purse has been increased 28 times.

From JT’s big payday in 2021 to the inaugural event in 1974 where Jack Nicklaus earned $50,000 for his two-shot win over J.C. Snead, check out the prize money payouts over the years at the Players Championship.

Kevin Na withdraws from 2022 Players Championship with third child on the way

While Bryson DeChambeau’s WD came due to an injury, Na’s decision was family-focused.

The field at this week’s Players Championship is strong, with nearly all of the top 50 players in the world vying for a $20 million total purse — and a handsome $3.6 million paycheck going to the winner.

But Kevin Na, currently ranked 29th in the Official World Golf Ranking (and 45th in the Golfweek/Sagarin rankings), withdrew from the event on Monday, following in the footsteps of Bryson DeChambeau, who announced on Sunday night that he wouldn’t be playing at TPC Sawgrass.

While DeChambeau’s WD came due to an injury, Na’s decision was family-focused. He and his wife, Julianne are due to add on to their current foursome.

In similar fashion, Na withdrew ahead of the BMW Championship at Medinah in 2019 to be with his wife when son Leo LeeWoo Na was born. The couple also have a daughter, Sophia Ria Na.

With Na vacating the field, Taylor Moore has been added and Patrick Rodgers is now the first alternate.

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Players Championship purse bumped to $20 million, keeping Tour’s marquee event the richest in golf

The Players Championship purse has now doubled in a mere six years.

The Players Championship purse has now doubled in a mere six years.

The PGA Tour will raise The Players purse to $20 million beginning next year, with the winner earning $3.6 million. Golf Channel first reported the increase after obtaining an internal memo sent to players and a Tour official confirmed the contents of the memo to the Florida Times-Union late Monday.

The purse was $10 million as recently as 2015, was bumped to $10.5 million for 2016 and 2017, to $11 million in 2018 and to $12.5 million in 2019, to push back ahead of the U.S. Open as the richest purse in golf after the USGA, flush with cash from a TV deal with FOX, jumped ahead of the Players.

The Tour then raised it again to $15 million last year, with winner Justin Thomas earning $2.7 million.

The $3.6 million next year’s winner will get was more than the total purse in 1997.

“The Tour is certainly committed to maintaining its position as the premier global tour in men’s professional golf,” said Players executive director Jared Rice. “This increase further elevates the Players as the best championship in men’s professional golf and furthers our efforts to deliver the flagship event of the PGA Tour in Northeast Florida, with the strongest field, the purest test of golf and a record-setting purse.”

The memo also said the Tour is incentivizing international players to compete in at least 15 tournaments, required to retain membership and qualify as voting members. The Tour’s program, “Play 15 Bonus,” will offer $50,000 to players who compete in at least 15 Tour events.

The memo further said the program is still under review.

Starts on the Korn Ferry Tour, PGA Tour Champions and sanctioned exhibitions don’t count toward the 15 starts, but the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup and Olympics will count.

The Tour also is bumping the purse for its Sentry Tournament of Champions, which kicks off the calendar year in Hawaii for players who won the previous season. That purse will be $8 million, with $1.44 million going to the winner.

Rice said the return to full capacity for the 2022 Players also will result in a return to its charitable impact, in which more than $100 million has gone to area charities since the event came to the Jacksonville, Florida, area in 1977.

“We’re preparing to operate without restrictions,” he said. “But we’ve learned to be very flexible with changes due to the pandemic. Having the event at full capacity and without restrictions will put us in a position to do more for the community.”

Players Championship Purse Evolution

First year, 1974: $250,000 purse, $50,000 to the winner.

First Players at TPC Sawgrass, 1982: $500,000 purse, $90,000 to the winner.

First million-dollar purse, 1987: $1 million purse, $180,000 to the winner.

Jumping past $2 million, 1993: $2.5 million purse, $450,000 to the winner.

Drive for five, 1999: $5 million purse, $900,000 to the winner.

First year in May, 2007: $9 million purse, $1.62 million to the winner.

Cracking eight figures, 2014: $10 million purse, $1.8 million to the winner.

Back to March, 2019: $12.5 million purse, $2.25 million to the winner.

The big 1-5, 2021: $15 million purse, $2.7 million to the winner.

20 in 2022: $20 million purse, $3.6 million to the winner.

Major championships (last year’s payouts)

Masters: $11.5 purse, $2,070,000 to the winner.

PGA Championship: $12 million purse, $2,16 million to the winner.

U.S. Open: $12.5 million purse, $2.25 million to the winner.

British Open: $11.5 purse, $2,070,000 to the winner.

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Justin Thomas came excruciatingly close to making history during his win at The Players

He made the SLIGHTEST error on the 18th hole.

When Justin Thomas approached the 18th green at Sawgrass on Sunday, he had an opportunity to be a part of The Players Championship history in more ways than one. Of course, he had the opportunity to win the tournament — and he did just that. But Thomas also had the chance to make all 18 greens in regulation during a final round, something we haven’t seen at The Players since 1983.

That’s where he came up brutally short — centimeters short. His approach shot cut slightly to the right, and though Thomas could be heard on TV calling for a big bounce, he didn’t get it. The ball landed on the fringe, roughly an inch from the green, which ended his shot at joining history.

Here’s a look at the shot — and Thomas’ reaction to what happened.

Ultimately, Thomas managed to win the tournament. So I think he’ll be OK with missing out on that special statistical milestone. He was otherwise in good spirits after the round.

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Justin Thomas holds off Bryson DeChambeau, Lee Westwood to win Players Championship

Justin Thomas won the Players Championship on Sunday at TPC Sawgrass at 14 under, holding off Bryson DeChambeau and Lee Westwood.

Just like at last week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, Bryson DeChambeau and Lee Westwood were once again paired in the final round this week at the PGA Tour’s flagship event in Florida.

But it was Justin Thomas who came away with the trophy.

The 27-year-old earned his 14th win on Tour, storming up the leaderboard over the weekend to win the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass’ Players Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach. Thomas followed a Saturday 8-under 64 with a Sunday 68, holding off the likes of Westwood, DeChambeau and Brian Harman, who kept the pressure on all afternoon.

Players Championship: Leaderboard | Photos
More: Collin Morikawa nearly breaks record on Sunday

DeChambeau and Westwood began to falter early in the round, with each finding the water off the tee on the par-4 fourth, one with a top and the other a slice.

Thomas briefly took the lead on the back nine at 13 under after an eagle on the par-5 11th, but Westwood, the 54-hole leader, responded with a birdie on the par-4 14th to join him.

Thomas reclaimed the solo lead with a birdie on No. 16 and avoided the water surrounding the island green on No. 17, two-putting for par to avoid any damage to his scorecard. He did the same on No. 18 to earn his first win since August at the WGC-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

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‘What is going on?’: Bryson DeChambeau, Lee Westwood miss big on consecutive shots at Players Championship

Bryson DeChambeau and Lee Westwood both hit OB on consecutive shots on Sunday in the final group of the Players Championship.

After a second mishit in as many swings, Bryson DeChambeau uttered what we were all thinking while watching: “Oh my gosh. What is going on?”

In the final group with Lee Westwood and two shots back at 11 under, DeChambeau topped his tee shot on the par-4 fourth hole into the water and had to play his next shot from a drop on a forward tee.

His third shot after the penalty drop went way right, but stayed in play.

“That was worst than most,” said Golf Channel’s on-course announcer David Feherty, a playful reference to the famous Tiger Woods “better than most” putt from the 2001 Players Championship.

Players Championship: Leaderboard | Photos

Westwood wasn’t much better on No. 4. finding the water, but with a slice instead of a top.

Westwood escaped with just a bogey to remain in the lead at 12 under, while DeChambeau made double and dropped to 9 under.

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