The Players Championship

Signature 17th hole as scary as ever after TPC Sawgrass redo

There have been three major changes and dozens of subtle alterations to the Pete Dye-designed Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass since Jason Day won golf’s unofficial “fifth major” last May. Most noticeable for viewers is the 12th hole, now a drivable par 4 after changes by architect Steve Wenzloff who is literally an artist-in-residence: his PGA Tour Design Services office is on the property. Gone is a high knob in the left hand rough which previously obscured the view of the 12th green, replaced by a lagoon eight paces left of the putting surface. Wenzloff hopes it will play like the bank in front of the 15th green at Augusta National. “The more we can emphasise the journey of the ball once it hits the ground the more we’ll draw the viewer into the excitement level,” he said. What hasn’t changed at the Florida course is the iconic 17th hole pictured, a knee-knocking 130-yard par 3 to an island green which is again set to play a headline role in the outcome of the May 11-14 event.