Watching the famous 17th hole (par-3) is one of the highlights of watching the Players Championship.
The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass (par 72) in Ponte Vedra Beach, USA, the site of the PGA Tour’s “fifth major” Players Championship ($25 million purse), is one of the most famous par-3s on tour. At 137 yards (125 meters), it’s a short par-3 that most players tee off with a pitching wedge, but the small island green, surrounded by water on all sides, and the prevailing winds can cause many players to struggle.
Fans are eager to see what drama will unfold on the iconic 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass this year. Sports betting companies have been building anticipation with marketing that predicts the likelihood of a hole-in-one, the number of balls in the water, and more. The 17th hole is the first place fans rush to when the golf course opens. Tens of thousands of people take their seats here every year.
The 17th green is only 24 meters long, which puts pressure on players. Whether your tee shot is short or long, if you don’t beat the wind, your ball will inevitably end up in the water. A small bunker lurks in front. If you can’t beat the green’s speed or are too short, you’ll find yourself back and forth. The tricky pin positions, which change every round, leave players scratching their heads.
The weather is the biggest variable. In 2007, high winds caused 50 balls to disappear into the water in the first round alone and 93 over the four days. In 2014, the lowest number was 28. This year, the first and second rounds will be relatively calm, but strong winds are forecast for the final two days, and players are nervous.
The PGA Tour said the hole was the toughest par-3 within 150 yards on all Tour courses since 2003, when the shot-tracking system was implemented. The worst score recorded here was a 9-over-par 12 by Bob Tway (USA) in 2005. He hit his tee shot into the water, moved to a nearby drop zone and sent his ball into the water three more times before finally getting on the green in nine with a three-putt for a “no-newfound bogey” (9-over par) and being consoled by his teammates. Two of his shots from the drop zone went into the water with backspin after reaching the green, much to the chagrin of the gallery. Ahn, who shot an 8-over-par 11 (octuple bogey) here in 2021, said in a pre-tournament interview on Wednesday, “This is a course that gets harder the more you know it,” and vowed to “clear my mind and focus on every shot.”
In 1998, this hole was the site of a famous “incident” when a seagull took Brad Pavel’s (USA) ball into its mouth after 토토사이트 several attempts before finally dropping it into the water. Under the Rules of Golf, Pavel was allowed to play with his ball in place.
In total, there have been 13 hole-in-ones on the 17th hole. Last year, there were three in a row, and sports betting is in full swing to see how many hole-in-ones there will be this year. Of course, fans betting on none far outnumber those betting on one, two or more hole-in-ones. Jonatan Vegas (Venezuela) sank a 21.4-meter putt on this undulating hole to set the record for the longest putt on the 17th hole.
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