The Truest Test in Golf

No amateurs, no qualifiers, no sponsor exemptions and no club professionals, just the very best golfers on the planet going toe-to-toe. Chuah Choo Chiang gives his preview of THE PLAYERS Championship

Fan experience is built into the DNA of the Pete Dye-designed TPC Sawgrass Stadium course

The illustrious list of champions is second to none and includes golfing giants such as Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, Tiger Woods, Fred Couples, Adam Scott, Nick Price, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day and Rickie Fowler.

Throw in one of the richest prize purses in the world of golf at US$10.5 million, this showpiece event on the PGA TOUR glitters amongst the rest where its home venue at TPC Sawgrass offers what players believe to be the truest test in the game.

And to top it all, it showcases the strongest field assembled anywhere around the world where there are no amateurs, no qualifiers, no sponsor exemptions and no club professionals, just the very best golfers on the planet going toe-to-toe to battle for the right to be known as THE PLAYERS champions.

Welcome to THE PLAYERS Championship, the PGA TOUR’s flagship tournament.

Exemplifying excellence, every facet representing THE PLAYERS has a touch of prestige and class as it annually provides the stage for drama, golfing history and excitement to unfold at the Stadium course at TPC Sawgrass.

Such has been its growing stature since its inauguration in 1974, commentators and golfers have labelled it as the unofficial ‘fifth major’ in the men’s game.  But in reality, THE PLAYERS Championship should probably be best known simply as THE PLAYERS, where the event’s name is stylised in caps for one reason that it stands above the rest.

The who’s who in men’s golf will gather at TPC Sawgrass from May 10 to 13, knowing that victory will come with a champion’s cheque of US$1.89 million plus other perks including a five-year exemption on the PGA TOUR. And oh, it comes with bragging rights to be known as THE PLAYERS champion.

Rickie Fowler, the 2016 champion, said: “It's one of the toughest courses we play all year. Probably the toughest field that we play all year. So, you got to be - I mean whoever is winning is taking care of business, beating the best players at the time and conquering one of the toughest courses that we play.”

“The field is as strong as any field in the game of golf,” professed Adam Scott, THE PLAYERS champion in 2004. “The tournament has gained stature throughout the years.”

Pages

Click here to see the published article.