2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP
FIRST LOOK
Golf’s unofficial 5th major is here and with it the most money available all year to the winner. The Players Championship is the most prestigious event outside of the majors and draws a field as strong as any.
THE FIELD
144 PLAYERS
CUT: TOP 65 AND TIES MAKE THE CUT
144 of the best PGA players in the world tee it up this week all looking to take down the island green and become the Player's Champion. 48 of the world’s top 50 tee it up, with world number one Scottie Scheffler looking for a three peat.
THE COURSE
Course: TPC Sawgrass
Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Designer: Pete Dye (1980) with a Dye and Steve Wenzloff re-design in 2016)
Length: Par 72; 7,352 yards
Hazards: Water comes into play on 17 holes. 92 Sand Bunkers.
Fairways: Bermuda
Rough: Bermuda
Greens: Bermuda over-seeded with Poa (Average Size 5.500 Sq.Ft)
Comp Courses: TPC Southwind, TPC Scottsdale, Harbour Town
Average Winning Scores: 15 under par
Historic Cut Mark: 1 Over
When it comes to the Players Championship every year, many eyes are drawn towards the famous 'island green' par 3, 17th hole. The iconic hole is almost entirely covered by water! A daunting challenge on what is already a rather difficult course, depending on the weather. As many as 50 balls have gone into the water here during a single round, back in 2007, when windy conditions made the green simply unreachable for many.
While the 17th is the most eye-catching hole on the course, the 18th represents another challenge for the golfers, with water running down the entire left-hand side of this long par four. It is a daunting challenge to any golfer who may be leading going into the 72nd hole of the competition, but risk and reward mean that birdies are also often easily attainable here.
Typical of Pete Dye designs, this property is littered with bunkers and plenty of water hazards that will collect any wayward golf balls. A challenging course that offers major vibes as we continue our build-up to the Masters.
NOTABLE CHANGES FOR 2025
Hole 2 - New tee box adding 15 yards to this hole.
Hole 6 - 15 yards added and the iconic tree that was destroyed in 2014 has been re-established.
Hole 11 - New tee box adding 15 yards to this hole.
Hole 14 - Cart path has been moved further out and replaced by moguls of rough, pine straw and native grass
Hole 16 - Bunker adjustments and hole lengthed by 15 yards.
KEY HOLES
HOLE 17 (PAR 3, 137 YARDS): Arguably the most famous golf hole in the world. The island green is a short par-3 surrounded by water with only a narrow path connecting it to land. Despite its short yardage this hole offers a huge psychological test due to its small green, swirling winds and pressure of the moment. Many Player's championships have been lost at this hole just ask Sergio Garcia.
HOLE 18 (PAR 4, 462 YARDS): A brutal finishing hole at TPC Sawgrass. A dogleg left with water hugging the entire left side of the fairway and green, it demands a bold tee shot and a precise approach. The tiered green, surrounded by rough and sand on the right, adds complexity, especially under pressure.
HOLE 5 (PAR 4, 471 YARDS): The longest par-4 on the course, it’s often the toughest on the front nine. Water flanks both sides of the fairway, and the small green is surrounded by bunkers, humps, and hollows. This hole is a true test of accuracy and distance with par being a great score.
THE STATS
I build my models using FANTASYNATIONAL.COM
Here are the stats I’m using this week.
SG APPROACH - Small greens which average smaller than the PGA Norm along with tight pins make TPC Sawgrass demand elite iron play. Recent winners have excelled in approach play with 2021 winner Justin Thomas gaining over 7 strokes to the field on his way to victory. SG Approach will be the stat I look at most this week.
SG AROUND THE GREEN - Last year TPC Sawgrass ranked first out of 38 courses in average penalty strokes per round, and in each of the last eight years, it has ranked inside the top six in this category. If players are going to miss greens this week it’s important they can get up and down highlighted by Scottie Scheffler in 2023 on his way to victory.
OTHERS TO CONSIDER - Driving Accuracy, Bogey Avoidance, Sand Saves, SG Par-5s, SG Par-3s, SG Putting, and SG Putting 0-5ft.
PREVIOUS WINNERS
IMPORTANT NOTE ANY PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP AFTER 2018 HAS BEEN TRADITIONALLY BEEN PLAYED IN MARCH WITH IT BEING PLAYED IN MAY PREVIOUSLY.
2024: Scottie Scheffler 20 Under Par
2023: Scottie Scheffler 17 Under Par
2022: Cameron Smith 13 Under Par
2021: Justin Thomas 14 Under Par
2020: Cancelled COVID 19
2019: Rory McIlroy 16 Under Par
2018: Webb Simpson 18 Under Par
2017: Si Woo Kim 10 Under Par
2016: Jason Day 15 Under Par
2015: Rickie Fowler 12 Under Par
GOLF LAST MAN STANDING
Something new I'm playing this week!
Simply pick 3 golfers with combined odds of 150/1 and be in the chance of winning £7,500.
Entry fee - £10
Deadline - 8 pm Wednesday 12th March
Check them out on twitter and get your picks in -
Thanks for taking the time to read this first look article, I will be back later in the week for my final thoughts on the Players Championship.