The Players Championship is one of golf’s biggest events, but how well do you really know it? Sure, you’ve seen the drama unfold on the infamous 17th island green, and you know the winner takes home a serious payday. But did you know that the island green was actually a mistake? Or that pros once hated the course? Here are seven incredible facts that will make you see The Players in a whole new light!
1. It Didn’t Always Have a Home
Before settling at TPC Sawgrass in 1982, The Players Championship moved around. It debuted in 1974 at Atlanta Country Club, then bounced between Colonial Country Club and Inverrary before making Sawgrass its permanent home.
2. The Island Green Was a Mistake
The famous 17th wasn’t part of the original design. Pete and Alice Dye planned a small pond next to the green, but during construction, so much sand was removed from the area that it became a massive water hazard. Alice Dye suggested making it an island green, and golf history was made.
3. It’s the Only Tournament With a “Permanent” Locker Room
Unlike most PGA Tour events, where clubhouses belong to private courses, The Players has its own locker room at TPC Sawgrass, built exclusively for the tournament. Players returning each year get the same locker.
4. The Course Was Initially Hated
When TPC Sawgrass opened, players despised it. Jack Nicklaus famously said, “I’ve never been so humiliated by a golf course.” Over the years, tweaks were made, and now it’s regarded as one of the best tests in golf.
5. The 17th Green Collects Hundreds of Balls Each Year
On average, over 120,000 golf balls are fished out of the water around the 17th each year – and that’s just from everyday golfers trying their luck at Sawgrass, not counting the pros during tournament week.
6. It Has the Toughest Finish on Tour
The final three holes at TPC Sawgrass (16-18) are among the hardest closing stretches in golf. The par-3 17th gets all the attention, but the 18th, with its intimidating water hazard, statistically plays as one of the most difficult finishing holes on Tour.
7. A ‘Major’ Purse Without Major Status
The Players boasts one of the biggest prize funds in golf. In 2024, the total purse was $25 million, with the winner taking home $4.5 million – more than any of the four majors. Despite this, it still lacks official “major” status.
