TPC Sawgrass' 'island-like' 17th hole has lost over 900 balls since 2003, here’s why

The Players Championship is all set to start this week at TPC Sawgrass. The golfing statistics prove that around 925 golf balls were lost in the water on the 17th hole of the course in the last 20 years.

The famed 17th hole of TPC is surrounded by water and is the second-toughest hole in 200 yards. At just 137 yards, it is reportedly the 10th toughest par 3 and the toughest 9 par 3s golf course on the PGA Tour.

It was undoubtedly one of the toughest holes with an average hits into the water at 37.5 per tournament.

It's important to note that the lowest cumulative on the golf course was -11 secured by Tom Lehman, while the worst was +30 scored by Bob Tway.

The Players Championship will be graced by prominent golfers around the world, including 43 from the top 50 World Officials Golf Rankings. It would be interesting to see who will make it through the water.

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TPC at Sawgrass details explored

The Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass (TPC) is an iconic golf course located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It opened 43 years ago in 1980 and was the first of several Tournament Players Clubs to be built.

The golf course is the headquarters for hosting The Players Championship every year. It is one of the signatures of the PGA Tour event hosting places.

The TPC was built on 415 acres of area in the northeastern Florida swampland and is about a mile west of the Atlantic ocean. The course has narrow fairways lined with hazardous marshes like waste bunkers and pot bunkers.

The TPC Sawgrass signature 17th hole is known as the Island Green. Rarely do people know that the design of the historic hole came by mistake. It was originally designed as a simple par-3 green. However, the soil surrounding the course has sand consisting of swampy property and was later dug out, only to leave a large crater.

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The Players Championship winners over the years

Cameron Smith won the Players Championship in 2022. However, he won't be returning to defend his title this year. The tournament started in 1974 with Jack Nicklaus grabbing the first trophy. The historic championship has been won by Tiger Woods, Sergio Garcia, Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and many other star golfers over the years.

Here is the complete list of all the winners over the years.

• 2022: Cameron Smith
• 2021: Justin Thomas
• 2019: Rory McIlroy
• 2018: Webb Simpson
• 2017: Kim Si Woo
• 2016: Jason Day
• 2015: Rickie Fowler
• 2014: Martin Kaymer
• 2013: Tiger Woods
• 2012: Matt Kuchar
• 2011: KJ Choi
• 2010: Tim Clark
• 2009: Henrik Stenson
• 2008: Sergio Garcia
• 2007: Phil Mickelson
• 2006: Stephen Ames
• 2005: Fred Funk
• 2004: Adam Scott
• 2003:Davis Love II
• 2002:Craig Perks
• 2001: Tiger Woods
• 2000: Hal Sutton
• 1999: David Duval
• 1998: Justin Leonard
• 1997: Steve Elkington
• 1996: Fred Couples
• 1995: Lee Janzen
• 1994: Greg Norman
• 1993: Nick Price
• 1992: Davis Love II
• 1991: Steve Elkington
• 1990: Jodie Mudd
• 1989: Tom Kite
• 1988: Mark McCumber
• 1987: Sandy Lyle
• 1986: John Mahaffey
• 1985: Calvin Peete
• 1984: Fred Couples
• 1983: Hal Suton
• 1982: Jerry Pate
• 1981: Raymond Floyd
• 1980: Lee Trevino
• 1979: Lanny Wadkins
• 1978: Jack Nicklaus
• 1977: Mark Hayes
• 1976: Jack Nicklaus
• 1975: Al Geiberger
• 1974: Jack Nicklaus