The Players
The unofficial “5th” major is upon us this week as the PGA Tour returns to it’s home in Ponte Vedra Beach Florida for The Players. The tournament has the feel of a major championship with one of the best fields for any golf tournament, the biggest purse of any tour/major event, and a premiere venue.
The Field
The Players boasts the strongest field of any tournament - and they aren’t wrong. The field this week is absolutely stacked. This means that golf fans can expect some amazing groupings on Thursday and Fridays - and the Tour did not disappoint. Amongst the many groupings that golf fans will enjoy this week, probably none will be more followed than this one -
Tiger, Phil and Rickie will go out at 1:52PM on Thursday afternoon.
Speaking of young stars, the Tour also put arguably the 3 biggest “young guns” together for a super grouping of Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth. Between 3 guys all under the age of 30, they combine for 8 major championships.
The Course
While The Players is not a major championship, it does share one common feature with The Masters - familiarity with a difficult golf course. Unlike Open championships, the PGAChampionship - all of which move around to different sites - The Players is held annually at the TPC Sawgrass. If you’re interested about the history of the course you can find more here. For B&B, we are always looking at the best stretch of holes where the tournament is going to be won or lost.
Last week at the Wells Fargo we had the “Green Mile.” This week, golf fans will reacquaint themselves with 16, 17, and 18. The finishing stretch at Sawgrass provides a thrilling conclusion. No 16 is a risk/reward 523 yard Par-5 with water on the right guarding the green. It provides players with a last chance for a realistic birdie opportunity.
Of course everyone is familiar with the island green at No. 16. The hole measures only 135-140 yards which is typically a wedge for the best players in the world, but when facing a green surrounded entirely by water, fans are use to seeing lots of shots dropped in the drink. Any wind on that hole exponentially makes the shot more difficult.
Players then finish at the 462 yard Par 4 18. The closing hole features water down the left side of the fairway. The more you want to take out of the hole, the more water you are going to have to clear. Expect to see a lot of shots landing in the right rough as players avoid dropping a shot coming in.
The Cash
In order for the PGA Tour to ensure that The Players was elevated to a elite tournament status was to make sure that the best players in the world were in the field every year. And how to entice players to show up to your event: you pay them A LOT of money. This year is no exception.
Broadcast
There are lots of ways to watch the action from Jacksonville this week. Golf Channel and NBC will present the traditional broadcast. Golf Chanel will be on the air from 1-7PM EST on Thursday and Friday. NBC’s weekend broadcast will run from 2-7PM EST on Saturday and Sunday.
In addition, the Tour’s video streaming service PGATour live will have featured groups and featured holes covered through their app and on PGATour.com.
The Tour has also teamed up with Facebook to broadcast feature holes and groups for free all four days.
The Field
The Players boasts the strongest field of any tournament - and they aren’t wrong. The field this week is absolutely stacked. This means that golf fans can expect some amazing groupings on Thursday and Fridays - and the Tour did not disappoint. Amongst the many groupings that golf fans will enjoy this week, probably none will be more followed than this one -
No it isn’t 2002 and Tiger and Phil have not been battling for majors the last few years, but anytime you get to see these two rivals, along with one of the top yong stars in the game, playing in the same group for two rounds it is appointment viewing.Tiger, Phil & Rickie in the SAME GROUP.— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 6, 2018
Check out Featured Groups for @THEPLAYERSChamp.https://t.co/Ztd0Cii7mx pic.twitter.com/uLHGrJQMvj
Tiger, Phil and Rickie will go out at 1:52PM on Thursday afternoon.
Speaking of young stars, the Tour also put arguably the 3 biggest “young guns” together for a super grouping of Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Jordan Spieth. Between 3 guys all under the age of 30, they combine for 8 major championships.
The Course
While The Players is not a major championship, it does share one common feature with The Masters - familiarity with a difficult golf course. Unlike Open championships, the PGAChampionship - all of which move around to different sites - The Players is held annually at the TPC Sawgrass. If you’re interested about the history of the course you can find more here. For B&B, we are always looking at the best stretch of holes where the tournament is going to be won or lost.
Last week at the Wells Fargo we had the “Green Mile.” This week, golf fans will reacquaint themselves with 16, 17, and 18. The finishing stretch at Sawgrass provides a thrilling conclusion. No 16 is a risk/reward 523 yard Par-5 with water on the right guarding the green. It provides players with a last chance for a realistic birdie opportunity.
Of course everyone is familiar with the island green at No. 16. The hole measures only 135-140 yards which is typically a wedge for the best players in the world, but when facing a green surrounded entirely by water, fans are use to seeing lots of shots dropped in the drink. Any wind on that hole exponentially makes the shot more difficult.
Players then finish at the 462 yard Par 4 18. The closing hole features water down the left side of the fairway. The more you want to take out of the hole, the more water you are going to have to clear. Expect to see a lot of shots landing in the right rough as players avoid dropping a shot coming in.
The Cash
In order for the PGA Tour to ensure that The Players was elevated to a elite tournament status was to make sure that the best players in the world were in the field every year. And how to entice players to show up to your event: you pay them A LOT of money. This year is no exception.
That’s right - the winner will take home nearly $2,000,000 (and if you’re looping for the champ, a cool $200,000) for you. For the guy finishing 25th, well he’ll make almost twice the average American income. Not bad for a week of golf.$11 million purse up for grabs this week at TPC Sawgrass:— Will Gray (@WillGrayGC) May 7, 2018
🏆 $1.98M
Solo 2nd $1.188M
Solo 5th $440,000
Solo 10th $297,000
Solo 25th $96,800
Broadcast
There are lots of ways to watch the action from Jacksonville this week. Golf Channel and NBC will present the traditional broadcast. Golf Chanel will be on the air from 1-7PM EST on Thursday and Friday. NBC’s weekend broadcast will run from 2-7PM EST on Saturday and Sunday.
In addition, the Tour’s video streaming service PGATour live will have featured groups and featured holes covered through their app and on PGATour.com.
The Tour has also teamed up with Facebook to broadcast feature holes and groups for free all four days.
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