The Players Championship 2012

Players and fans consider The Players Championship the most important tournament on the PGA tour. This year it will be played on May 10-13 at TPC Sawgrass. The course is located in Pointe Vedra Beach, Florida. The course at Sawgrass is considered to be the toughest golf course in America. The Tournament Players Championship was first played in 1974 and Jack Nicklaus won the tournament. In 1974 it was still named The Tournament Players Championship. Today it is known as The Players Championship.

There are several interesting trivia notes. There has never been a back to back winner. Jack Nicklaus is the player with the most wins. He won in 1974, 1976 and 1978. An interesting side note is that this tournament is owned and controlled by the PGA Tour. The other major tournaments are owned and ran by other organizations. Here are the last ten winners of this prestigious tournament.

2011- K.J. Choi
2010- Tim Clark
2009- Henrik Stenson
2008- Sergio Garcia
2007- Phil Mickelson
2006- Stephen Ames
2005- Fred Funk
2004- Adam Scott

This beautiful course underwent a major renovation before the 2006 event. The players all gave the renovations positive reviews. Sawgrass is known for the single most recognizable hole in professional golf. It is a par 3 and is known as The Island Hole. The last three holes in this course are considered to be the toughest in all of golf. It is interesting to note that the closest matches have been won and lost in these last three holes.

On another interesting side note, Sandy Lyle, the first international winner will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame during this year’s 2012 tournament. He has wonderful memories of his playing career and especially the victory at Sawgrass. He especially remembers the 17th hole when a local jumped into the water and had to be whisked away by security. One other incident that happened at the same hole, Jerry Pate tosses Deane Beman the Tour Commissioner into the water followed by the course architect Pete Dye. He followed that act by jumping into the water himself.

The Players Championship is just days away. Who will be the winner this year? Will it all be decided on the last three holes? Tiger Woods withdrew from the tournament in 2010 and 2011, how will he do this year? Maybe it will be the year that yields a two time winner with K.J. Choi. Maybe we will get to see a very exciting sudden death playoff. Whatever happens, we know it’s going to be great at the Sawgrass!

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