Is The TPC Losing Its Appeal?
The Players Championship’s inaugural event was played in ’74 at Atlanta Country Club In Marietta Georgia. Back in those days, however, it was known as the Tournament Players Championship. Eventually, it was relocated through Texas, down to Florida, to Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL. By eventually, I mean 1977. Even more recently, in ‘88 “Tournament” was dropped from the name, but it has since claimed the title of the Fifth Major. Not officially, just in prestige.
TPC also offers the highest Prize fund of any tournament with a purse of $9.5 Million since 2008. But neither the amount of money, nor the allure of the single most recognizable Par 3 in professional golf (The 17th hole, better known as “The Island Green”) could draw the World’s #1 and #6 Ranked golfers to compete. Why aren’t Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy playing? Must be because they are scared of Peter Dye’s course design. While this may not be 100% factual, It’s this caveman’s take on the situation. Rory has never broken par, and while Westwood has done so, he has never been in the top 3. Neither of them are PGA Tour members, and therefore due to policy constraints, are limited to 10 tour events. Both decided that this one wasn’t going to be one of their 10.
So who else is scared of this course? Apparently Bubba Watson, who stated that Sawgrass was “Too Hard for (him)” and Tiger Woods has withdrawn with a knee injury after the first 9 holes left him 6 over par this morning. This is after Johnny Miller attempted to defend Tiger, saying that his Iron game was strong, and he would be a contender, regardless of the fact that his last win came a decade ago, and hasn’t finished higher than 8th since. This is the second year in a row that Woods has withdrawn.
It would seem like players are dropping like flies, so who do you think will make to the end at TPC Sawgrass?
Not for me it has not. I love Sawgrass. I played it December of 2009 and it was really a great experience and should really be on every ones bucket list. These guys are crazy to not want to play this course and for $9.5 million! The club house is unreal and let’s be serious, this is the one tournament outside of a major that gets “major coverage” It truly is a 5th major and we as fans are watching it played on a course that any of us can go play unlike Augusta or Congressional. Oh and it did not cost me $500 PEBBLE! Great course, great event. Two years in a row of Tiger drop out does hurt it a bit as we look from the outside.
Too hard, come on!! We still have the US Open to go!
So ! all two of the top europeans chose not to play in the TPC sawgrass,I say “so what” who cares
they have a pretty strong field without any european players.
Also a lot of them maintain homes here in the states,should we call them “eurocans” or “ameripeans
they’re everything american except for citizenship and then when the ryder cup comes along
all of a sudden we’re “yanks”
I say screw em! and that goes for the european broadcasters except for Nick Faldo
how many american broadcasters are on the european tour
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