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Reader's Forum Question: This week's PLAYERS Championship is held at the TPC at Sawgrass, site of the famous - or infamous - 17th hole and its island green. In fact, the three closing holes at Sawgrass are sometimes considered the three hardest in golf. Do you enjoy watching the PLAYERS more because of the golf course? If you could move the PLAYERS to any other golf course in the world, where would it be played? Your Responses: I think part of the magic of the The Players Championship is that it is played on the Sawgrass Stadium Course. Holes 16,17 and 18 set a beautiful stage for the finish of one of the year's best tournaments. If they were to change the venue, there is only one place where the championship should be played to prove as great a test, and that is Pine Valley. But then of course, the time it is played would have to change too. Sometimes it still is pretty cold in Jersey at the end of March. Jared K. Having been the Head Professional at TPC in the eighties, my opinion may be biased, but I truly believe that TPC Sawgrass has evolved into one of the most anticipated golf courses by the players to challenge each year. This differs from the earliest years there when players believed it was too diabolical and unfair. To the contrary now, it is regarded as one of the best challenges these professionals anticipate each year because of numerous changes and improvements. The Players Championship is held at the PGA Tour Headquarters for obvious reasons and will most probably never leave that site; nor should it. If there are three more demanding finishing holes on Tour, I have never seen them. Because hole 16 plays at approximately 500 yards with a penalty laced green, it is a pure example of "risk and reward" design as evidenced by years of history. Enthusiasts will always remember Couples making eagle, Singh chipping in with the toe of is putter, Perks chipping in or Norman playing his second off the cart path. We quickly forget about those that have challenged the green in two shots and found that a bogey or worse was recorded. Hole 17 is the most dramatic hole in golf without exception. Hole in ones by Couples and Azinger, watery finishes by too many to count and several putts from the likes of Tiger will forever be etched in memories. Once 16 and 17 have been navigated, the player stands on 18 tee where left is dead with a probable double bogey ensuing and right is just as penal in some cases because of mounds and trees. Players who step onto number 16 either with the lead or close have different emotions and anxieties, both of which can produce horrific or terrific results. If not the hardest, these three holes must be considered a collection of the cleverest designs on Tour today that offer patrons, players and the Tour a show deserving of the championship. B. Swezey
Opinions expressed in Reader's Forum are those of the individual letter writers and not of The Wire, its staff or its editorial board. Letters are edited to remove spelling and grammatical errors where possible, and The Wire staff reserves the right to edit for space. |