A look at the Tournament Player Club Sawgrass – Part 1
The Players Championship is about to hit the Tournament Player Club (TCP) Sawgrass, a masterpiece designed by Pete Dye. The course is a par-72 layout and it is considered as one of the toughest testing grounds in United States.
The flaunting fairways, hard and fast greens, and tee boxes surrounded by water make the course a delight for spectators and a challenge for players. It is because of these, and other similar reasons that the course has been hosting the Players Championship,
which is the fifth flagship event on the PGA circuit.
Here is a quick review of the course.
Hole #1
The first hole stretches on 423 yards, which makes it fairly small for a par-4. Despite being on the shorter side, the hole demands attention, as it encompasses bunkers, water and trees. The tee is located on low altitude, which means aiming for a tee shot
will be a tough task. It will either be a lot of practice, or sheer luck, making the ball land on an area which is flat and free from hazards.
However, the ideal approach to tee-off is by drawing the ball onto the right side, as it would avoid the trees on the left. But make sure, the ball does not land onto the extreme right side, as there is a bunker and a small creek on the same side, which
might become the reason behind a double bogey.
An accurate tee-shot onto the right side will leave the player at an ideal spot from where the green is accessible in one stroke. However, make sure that the bunkers are given utmost importance while planning the shot in order to avoid trouble.
Hole #2
The second hole on the front is a par-5, which stretches on 532 yards. The tee box is located on a land which is below the fairway. The landing area for the tee-shot has water in the front, which means avoid the right side, although it leads to the shortest
route towards the green.
The second shot should be made with the direction of the wind in consideration, as water on the right often deflects the shots onto the extreme left. The green is wide at the back and narrow in the front. Moreover, it slopes into a huge bunker, which eventually
throws up into the water. Therefore, target the back of the green in pursuit of a birdie.
Hole #3
This par-3 hole, which stretches on 177 yards, is a sheer work of art. There is a huge lake between the bunkered green and the tee. The green is accessible with a mid-iron, but make sure you target the back of the green, as it is the only area, which won’t
allow the ball to roll into the water.
Article continued in Part 2…
Tags: