Yes, it is that time of year again. It’s the annual Players Championship. A sure sign that spring is right around the corner and the golf season is in full swing. Let’s take a look at some of the high points to look for in this week’s match.
The Players Championship is Where the Warm is
The course itself is THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Verda Beach in FL. Besides the obvious beauty of this course, it has the honor of being a course specifically designed and built to host the Players Championship every year. A wonderful and tough course meant to show the skill of the select players that are invited to play.
Also, a key factor is the weather, and while it is going to be nice and warm in the sixties and seventies. There is a chance of rain Saturday into Sunday. This will effect play depending on the volume of rain and the time of day. Possibly giving earlier tee times an advantage if the rain starts mid-day and makes the course more difficult.
The Players of the Players Championship
There are 144 players in this week’s tournament, the best of the best. With Webb Simpson being the defending champion. He will be starting on Thursday paired with Patrick Reed and Tiger Woods. A lot of attention will be on this pairing, notably watching Tiger since he had to stay out of last week’s event due to a sore neck. Many of those who doubt the strength of last year’s comeback was making comments that perhaps he isn’t as recovered as he says. He will be out to show everyone that he is back to stay.
So far this calendar year, no one has won two tournaments. If Phil Mickelson or Justin Rose or any of the other past winners can pull off a win, it would be a great foundation to build a lead in the Fedex Cup standings.
Last Word
It is still very early in the season, but we have already seen amazing playing. This Players Championship should be a pinnacle of that kind of play with the field that is participating. One of the greatest things about the sport of golf is while there are certain players that are almost at the top of the leaderboard. There are no guarantees about who will make any particular week theirs and jump ahead of everyone. Whose week is it to shine? We will have to watch to find out. Fore!
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