The Players Championship always was one of my favorite tournaments to cover during my 12 years as golf reporter for the Chicago Tribune. Some of it had to do with one of the all-time greatest lunch buffets in sports. Yes, sportswriters think with their stomachs.
But most of it is about the TPC at Sawgrass course.
The bulk of the focus will be on the final three holes, including the infamous island green on 17. Let it be noted, I actually avoided the water and made a par 3 during the only time I played the hole. As Apollo Creed would say, don’t want no rematch.
However, there’s much more to Pete Dye’s creation. Like Augusta National and the U.S. Open course, the TPC is the star this week.
Brandel Chamblee said it best:
I think this golf course in general, the players really can’t escape the anxiety, and I think that’s pretty compelling. It’s great TV to see the guys on so many of the holes, but 16, 17 and 18 in particular, and add it all up together and it’s a great week.
Of course, it usually comes down to the last three holes. Producer Tommy Roy said 12 of the 49 cameras will be stationed at 17.
The hole is one of the great scenes in golf. The stadium effect has upwards of 10,000 fans watching the players squirm at the tee.
Roy said:
From a television standpoint, having the energy of the crowd is crucial for it to translate to the people at home. When you think about watching, say, a Nationwide event on television, and there’s not a lot of fans out there and someone hits a great shot and you hear some quiet clapping, versus The Ryder Cup where you have four groups on the course and 10,000 people around every hole that they are playing, that’s why there’s so much energy and a good feeling about the event and it’s so fun to watch.
I think this golf course in general, the players really can’t escape the anxiety, and I think that’s pretty compelling.
It is, when you play a Pete Dye golf course, just an awkward four or five hours. You stand up on the tee ‑‑ but once you find your line, once you realize where your lines are, you have to take a risk off the tee almost every shot. He doesn’t give the player a breather.
Tommy Roy..12 cameras on 17