TPC Sawgrass' 'island-like' 17th hole has lost over 900 balls since 2003, here’s why

Modified Mar 06, 2023 15:40 GMT

The Players Championship is all set to start this week at TPC Sawgrass. The golfing statistics prove that around 925 golf balls were lost in the water on the 17th hole of the course in the last 20 years.

The famed 17th hole of TPC is surrounded by water and is the second-toughest hole in 200 yards. At just 137 yards, it is reportedly the 10th toughest par 3 and the toughest 9 par 3s golf course on the PGA Tour.

It was undoubtedly one of the toughest holes with an average hits into the water at 37.5 per tournament.

It's important to note that the lowest cumulative on the golf course was -11 secured by Tom Lehman, while the worst was +30 scored by Bob Tway.

The Players Championship will be graced by prominent golfers around the world, including 43 from the top 50 World Officials Golf Rankings. It would be interesting to see who will make it through the water.

TPC at Sawgrass details explored

The Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass (TPC) is an iconic golf course located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It opened 43 years ago in 1980 and was the first of several Tournament Players Clubs to be built.

The golf course is the headquarters for hosting The Players Championship every year. It is one of the signatures of the PGA Tour event hosting places.

The TPC was built on 415 acres of area in the northeastern Florida swampland and is about a mile west of the Atlantic ocean. The course has narrow fairways lined with hazardous marshes like waste bunkers and pot bunkers.

The TPC Sawgrass signature 17th hole is known as the Island Green. Rarely do people know that the design of the historic hole came by mistake. It was originally designed as a simple par-3 green. However, the soil surrounding the course has sand consisting of swampy property and was later dug out, only to leave a large crater.

The Players Championship winners over the years

Cameron Smith won the Players Championship in 2022. However, he won't be returning to defend his title this year. The tournament started in 1974 with Jack Nicklaus grabbing the first trophy. The historic championship has been won by Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and many other star golfers over the years.

Here is the complete list of all the winners over the years.

2022: Cameron Smith
2021: Justin Thomas
2019: Rory McIlroy
2018: Webb Simpson
2017: Kim Si Woo
2016: Jason Day
2015: Rickie Fowler
2014: Martin Kaymer
2013: Tiger Woods
2012: Matt Kuchar
2011: KJ Choi
2010: Tim Clark
2009: Henrik Stenson
2008: Sergio Garcia
2007: Phil Mickelson
2006: Stephen Ames
2005: Fred Funk
2004: Adam Scott
2003:Davis Love II
2002:Craig Perks
2001: Tiger Woods
2000: Hal Sutton
1999: David Duval
1998: Justin Leonard
1997: Steve Elkington
1996: Fred Couples
1995: Lee Janzen
1994: Greg Norman
1993: Nick Price
1992: Davis Love II
1991: Steve Elkington
1990: Jodie Mudd
1989: Tom Kite
1988: Mark McCumber
1987: Sandy Lyle
1986: John Mahaffey
1985: Calvin Peete
1984: Fred Couples
1983: Hal Suton
1982: Jerry Pate
1981: Raymond Floyd
1980: Lee Trevino
1979: Lanny Wadkins
1978: Jack Nicklaus
1977: Mark Hayes
1976: Jack Nicklaus
1975: Al Geiberger
1974: Jack Nicklaus

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