PONTE VEDRA BEACH | Well installed on a cooler on a glorious sunny Saturday, the hilltop of the legendary 17the Stadium Course Hole at TPC Sawgrass is the perfect place to catch the spectacle of the PGA TOUR Players Championship.
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The stands are full and spectators are stretched out on the ground, where it is difficult to find an empty square inch. With the alcohol flowing, some are tipsier than others.
The pond is surrounded by seven huge capitals and tribunes. About 15,000 people are gathered in a gigantic amphitheater.
The atmosphere and energy grow by the hour, just as fast as cans of Michelob Ultra are falling into the recycling bins. It’s a real Florida celebration. Together with the straw hat and the sandals it is the paradise for every lover of the little white ball.
All eyes are on this intimidating little peninsula, which lies about 135 meters from the hill and is surrounded by a pool of water that reflects the sun’s rays. Without question, the 17th hole of the Stadium Course is one of the most spectacular and intriguing par 3s in the world.
It is among the famous 7th overlooking the Pacific Ocean at Pebble Beach, 12th at Augusta National, 8th at Royal Troon, nicknamed “The Stamp” flanked by the Coffin Bunker, and many others.
What makes the 17th Stadium Course so special is the atmosphere that prevails there during the players. Bets are open every day. Who is closest to the pennant? What will be the funniest insult thrown from the stands? But most importantly, how many balls will fall on the fleet?
Stay dry
It all depends on the weather conditions, the positions of the flags and the aggressiveness of the golfers who go there.
The stronger the wind blows, the smaller the area of 3912 square meters becomes. The green is all the tinier when you consider all the factors that can affect a shot. Double bogey lurks at all times.
For comparison, an area on an NHL-sized hockey field covers an area of 6,375 square feet. So the green of the 17th is 1.6 times smaller.
And it’s not enough to just place the ball dry and avoid disaster. It is still necessary to reach the correct sector of the surface to approach the flag!
“This is where it gets tough,” said Canadian Graham DeLaet, a PGA Tour retiree. Despite its short distance, it’s a very intimidating place.”
Perfect
Why is DeLaet the designated golfer to analyze this awesome and devilish place? Because according to ShotLink data, which has been collected since 2003, he is one of the few golfers who has a perfect success rate without drowning a ball in the water. In his 18 passages he put it on the field, only Chez Reavie, who has 22, does it better.
Recipe ? Ignore the hostile environment and aim for the middle of the green.
“When the pin is on the front left of the green it’s very easy because you have to hit the center and with the backspin and the drop the ball comes back to the hole. That’s really a birdie chance, ”explains the now analyst on English-language television.
In fact, it’s where the highest birdie rate has been recorded since 2003, at 21.64 %.
wavy surface
The situation is different, however, if the pennant is placed in the middle at the back. The firmness of the surface allows the balls to bounce in the water on more aggressive attempts.
“Again, it’s better to favor the middle of the green and hope the ball rolls towards the cup. Otherwise two putts can save a nice par. It’s not the same when the flag is on the right. If the ball doesn’t go in the hole, putts are very difficult on a super fast surface. You have to account for the bogey, comments DeLaet.
“Destiny is about strategy and the quality of the shot. It really prevents a catastrophe. I preferred a low trajectory to avoid the wind. And once on the green you have to be sensitive and find the right speed on a very undulating surface. Sometimes you can aim for 15 or 20 feet off the cut. »
According to the data, the 17th at the Stadium Course represents the toughest par 3 under 150 yards in the competition. Pros average 3.13 shots there, which is higher than 8th at Royal Troon and 12th at Whistling Straits. Since 2003 they have posted a return of +1052% above normal.
This famous peninsula drowned many hopes of victory, but also rewarded the bravest. Rickie Fowler, who made a spectacular approach there when he won in 2015, knows something about this.
Over time, it has become the scene of great moments in golf and a favorite course for amateurs.
So far this week 39 balls have hit the water, or 15.66%.
- Balls in the water since 2003: 932
- Output with most balls in the water: 2007 at 93
- water depth: 4 feet
- Holes in one since 1983: 11
- The highest score: 12 (Bob Tway in 2005)
- More birds: 26 – Bernhard Langer
- Most beach balls since 2003: 13—Aaron Baddeley
- Best/worst post-plateau efficiency to go green since 2003: 84.79% (2014) / 65.96% (2022)
- Longest role: 69.7 feet – Jhonattan Vegas in 2019