The 2018 Players Championship will be the 45th Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, and the 37th edition held at the Stadium Course. The PGA Tour’s flagship event gets underway May 10-13, 2018. The Players Championship not only attracts the strongest betting field in golf, it also has the biggest prize fund of $10.5 million.
TPC Sawgrass has been the host course since 1982 and the layout measures 7,215 yards and plays to a par 72. Built from 415 acres of wooded wetlands bought for $1 by then-commissioner Deane Beman, architect Pete Dye took care of it to ensure no two consecutive holes play in the same direction. Doglegs were created in both directions and the course offers both short and long holes at every par.
And to top it off, the winner has safely reached dry land on short and tricky, 137-yard, par three, 17th over water to an island green at TPC Sawgrass. The betting field is considered the toughest in golf and will include all of the top players in the world. Every top player on all the tours across the world will be represented. It’s a must-see and must-bet event. Great drama all the way to the end, year after year.
Last year Si Woo Kim shocked the world by coming out of nowhere to claim the title. The Korean won by three strokes over Louis Oosthuizen and Ian Poulter. Keep in mind that the legend Jack Nicklaus has won it a record three times. Other notables that have won the players include Lee Trevino, Raymond Floyd, Fred Couples, Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott and Rickie Fowler.
The tournament is also known as the fifth major and is considered the toughest tournament to win. The winners are rewarded with ever important career benefits, such as a five-year exemption on the PGA Tour, an open invitation to the (U.S. Masters Golf Tournament) for three consecutive years, a three-year exemption for the (British Open golf tournament), and exemptions to both the (U.S. Open Golf Championship) and the (PGA Championship) for the year.
The Players Championship Golf History:
In 1974 the inaugural event was held at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia. Later it was moved to Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas in 1975, and then to Inverrary Country Club in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, in 1976. Starting from 1977, the event was moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Initially it was played at Sawgrass Country Club’s Oceanside Course. After 1982 it was held in the neighborhood of Sawgrass Country Club, at the Stadium Course at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass.
2017 TPC Sawgrass Players Championship Recap:
South Korean Kim Si-woo produced a faultless round to become the youngest champion at the Players Championship. Kim, 21, shot a three-under-par 69 on the final day at Sawgrass to finish on 10 under and replace Adam Scott as the youngest winner. England’s Ian Poulter was tied for the lead at one stage but finished three shots behind in a tie for second with Louis Oosthuizen after a 71. Rafa Cabrera Bello and Kyle Stanley finished tied for fourth on six under.
After his victory in the Wyndham Championship last year, Kim is the fourth player in the last 25 years to win twice on the PGA Tour before the age of 22, following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia and Jordan Spieth.
Past Six Winners
2017: Si Woo Kim -10
2016: Jason Day -15
2015: Rickie Fowler -12
2014: Martin Kaymer -13
2013: Tiger Woods -13
2012: Matt Kuchar -13
What To Know About The Course
Length off the tee should be an important factor the week of the match. Martin Kaymer ranked 19th for Driving Distance when he won here in 2014. Rickie Fowler ranked 11th in that
department in 2015 on his way to victory. Day ranked 15th in Greens during regulation here in 2016 so that is another statistic worth keeping a close eye on.
Nobody scrambled better than Day in 2016. 10 of the last 12 winners have ranked inside the top-10 in Scrambling so keep that in mind moving forward. Dustin Johnson, Jon Rahm, Jordan Speith and Justin Thomas are the favorites. Look for a crazy last day on the tough Sawgrass golf course to bring us are well deserved winner.