While a lot of golfers chase the majors in their career, winning The Players Championship is often second on their list.
Often referred to as Golf’s 5th major, The Players holds plenty of prestige in its own right and has seen some of the best to ever do it walk away from TPC Sawgrass with The Players Championship Trophy.
Winning around TPC Sawgrass is no mean feat. The iconic 17th hole is one of the toughest tests in golf and even some of the greats have been undone by that par three.
With excitement starting to build for the 2025 event in a few weeks’ time, the best players on the PGA Tour will be preparing to ensure they’re at their very best.
And according to one man who knows The Players tournament better than most, it’s very much a course set up so only the very best can win.
Why only the best golfers can win at TPC Sawgrass
Speaking to TalkSPORT about the prestige of the event, tournament executive director Lee Smith explained just why winning The Players can be so tough.
“This is an event our players take extreme pride in, and build their schedules around in order to make sure they are prepped and ready to go,” Smith explained.
“There is a lot of course knowledge with The Players Stadium Course, which makes it tough for someone to win their first time around, or even contend in a few short years. Every tee shot, every approach shot, requires the utmost respect and thought, and that is something world-class players own in spades.
“There have been a number of players over the last 10-15 years who have threatened to win on Sunday, but it’s always the cream who rises to the top, which speaks volumes to the stature of this event in the golf world.”
Smith also admitted he’d love to see Tiger Woods tee it up at 2025’s event but as yet, it’s unknown if the 15-time major winner will be fit enough to do so.
Why LIV Golf stars could tee it up at The Players Championship 2025
The Players doesn’t exactly need to sell itself to the best golfers in the world but with some big names over on the LIV Golf tour, there are some names missing.
However, after claims that LIV players could play in this year’s event, fans of the game are eagerly awaiting if that proves to be the case.
As it stands, LIV’s players will be teeing it up in their own event in Singapore.
But with so much changing in golf and so quickly, it wouldn’t be a complete surprise to see a Bryson DeChambeau or Jon Rahm rock up at TPC Sawgrass.
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