THE PLAYERS’ 3 KEY MOMENTS

THE RELOCATION

The PGA Tour moved from Washington DC to Sawgrass in 1979, with three employees occupying a house in the Players Club, the new centre of the Tour’s solar system. As the Tour grew, so too did the HQ, with a West Building added, then an East. In 2020, a new 187,000 square-foot state-of-the-art HQ will officially open within the grounds, home now to more than 750 employees – and counting.

THE ISLAND ICON

Built on swamps, TPC Sawgrass was always going to incorporate swathes of water. Architect Pete Dye created a number of lakes, using leftover earth to create the “stadium seating” mounds. Dye only envisioned a small pond at 17 but the discovery of a rare and valuable seam of sand – plus the imagination of his wife – ensured they kept digging till a full island green was created. The rest is history.

THE MAJOR MOVE

When the PGA Tour moved the Players from its late March slot to the second weekend in May in 2007, they were making their intentions clear. Placing it between the Masters and the US Open, each month (April to August) had a signature event – the Players the de facto fifth major. It moves back to March in 2019, with the common view being that kick-starting the season will only strength its hand.