This week, iconic TPC Sawgrass is hosting The Players Championship, one of the most coveted events on the PGA Tour.
The Players Stadium Course generates a palpable buzz each year with its fan-favourite layout containing some of the most picturesque and entertaining holes on the circuit.
A battling score of -11 was enough for Russell Henley to overcome Collin Morikawa at last weekend’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, which was the latest stop of the PGA Tour’s Sunshine State road trip.
The 11th round of 2025 PGA Tour action will be the most intriguing event of the season to date with the field desperate to find form ahead of The Masters, which is just weeks away.
Last year, World No.1 Scottie Scheffler took victory at the Arnold Palmer Invitational and The Players Championship, unleashing a rich vein of form that was converted into a second Green Jacket win at Augusta.
Here are five facts you may not have known about the event dubbed the ‘Fifth Major’…
Debuting with controversy
The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass debuted in 1982 and was met with huge criticism due to its perceived difficulty and unconventional design.
Many leading players felt the modern water hazards and challenges made it too demanding and in need of too much pinpoint accuracy.
Jack Nicklaus joked “I’ve never been very good at stopping a 5-iron on the hood of a car,” when describing the course.
The iconic 17th hole makes a splash
The famous 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is perhaps the most recognisable in golf – a 137-yard par three.
The putting surface is an island green that requires precision and favourable conditions and can ruin scorecards in adverse weather.
In 2007, the opening round of The Players Championship was played in gusty conditions with a staggering 50 golf balls finding the waiting drink.
A venue designed for the fans
TPC Sawgrass was the first course built specifically to host The Players Championship PGA Tour event.
It was designed with spectators in mind, its ‘stadium’ concept built with raised mounds lining the holes to give spectators an unrivalled taste of the action.
The unobstructed views and beautiful Floridian weather combine for an electric atmosphere at the event.
The ‘Island Green’ was an accident that needed to happen
Despite its unusual design and uniqueness, the 17th hole was not part of the course’s original design.
During construction, an area where the famous hole now sits was extensively excavated leaving a sandy crater.
The legendary golf course designer Pete Dye was given the idea by his wife Alice to turn the crater into the now hallowed ‘Island Green’.
A ‘Fifth Major’ with unrivalled perks
Victory at the event is rewarded with a $4.5 million first prize, a considerable chunk of the record $25 million event purse.
In addition to the prestige and payout that lead to the event being dubbed the ‘Fifth Major’, the perks of winning are considerable.
A five-year PGA Tour exemption, a three-year Masters invitation as well as a three-year exemption from the three other Major Championships makes victory worth more than just a huge payday!
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