Tournament: The Players Championship

Course:  TPC Sawgrass, The Stadium Course

Course Stats:  7,245 Yards, Par 72

Course Architect:  Pete Dye (1982)

Course Features:  TPC Sawgrass is Pete Dye’s master creation, having been shaped and sculpted out of swamplands, it is a true testament to his ability as a course designer.  His style of architecture puts the course layout in the player’s hands, repeatedly offering risk-reward options and several different lines off the tee.  I am looking at past success on Pete Dye tracks as an indicator for future success, but that is just to limit the field of options.  As I mentioned above, I think you need to keep your core tight, but when it comes to options four through six, a wide net is optimal.

TPC Sawgrass is a par 72, and will be stretched to 7,215 yards this week.   Dye created the course in 1980, and it was the first TPC course to be built.  It is unique in that Dye made sure that not one hole played in the same direction as the previous hole.  Aside from the layout, the main defense is the wind which swirls in every direction.  This ensures that the players are on point, and even more so, the caddies.  No player has ever repeated as champion at the Players.

Dye is not called the mad genius of golf architecture for nothing.  The most famous hole at TPC is the Par 3 17th, widely known for the island green that has caused so many heartbreaks over the years, with some good fortune along the way too.  The most important aspect at Dye courses is course management.  The risk-reward features are there, but in between those opportunities are holes that call for precise tee shots and tight approach shots.   The players who are big hitters do not have an advantage this week, that skillset is equalized.

Key Metrics:  Strokes Gained: Tee to Green, Proximity to Hole, Strokes Gained: Approach the Green, Scrambling, Bogey Avoidance

Course Grass:  Bermuda (Fairways, Tees and Rough)  TifEagle Bermudagrass (Greens)

1st Round Matchups

Rory McIlroy (-135) over Jordan Spieth

Jon Rahm (-110) over Rickie Fowler

Hideki Matsuyama (-110) over Jason Day

Justin Thomas (+110) over Henrick Stenson

Adam Scott (-115) over Paul Casey

Futures: To Win

Hideki Matsuyama (+2000)

Justin Rose (+2800)

Adam Scott (+4400)

Jon Rahm (+2000)

Kevin Kisner (+6000)

Sergio Garcia (+3000)

Rory McIlroy (+940)

Martin Kaymer (+5500)

Phil Mickelson (+7000)

Jason Dufner (+9000)

Brian Harman (+16000)

William McGirt (+25000)