Many chances at Players Championship
BY Bruce Young | US PGA Tour | 2009 The Players Championship | Preview | 06 May 2009
There is little doubt that the Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass captures the imagination of the golfing world like no other stroke-play event outside of the four current major championships. Some may argue that in terms of its all round appeal it is an even more watchable event than one or two of the major championships and this year the balanced nature of the field makes it even more so.
Add to that the quality and demands of the Pete Dye designed TPC Sawgrass and the ingredients are in place for yet another gripping encounter between those players considered the elite of world golf. The stringent qualifying criterion for this event ensures a field that is even stronger than that assembled for the major championships.
The TPC Sawgrass layout was a controversial, and some might even say gimmicky, type of layout when first built in 1980. While it was ahead of its time then however, it has now developed into one of the more highly regarded venues on tour and certainly one well capable of testing high quality fields. Importantly also is the fact that this is a golf course that entertains and accommodates the fans and given that professional golf is the entertainment industry, the venue has met the initial design brief of the then Tour Commissioner, Deane Beamen.
Sergio Garcia is back to defend the title he won with a par at the first playoff hole to defeat Paul Goydos and the Spaniard, while not at the top of his game, is not a long way short of where he was last year prior to this event. Garcia also finished runner up to Phil Mickelson in 2007 so there is little doubting his capacity to handle the demands of TPC Sawgrass.
Tiger Woods did not play the tournament in 2008 as it was at that time when knee issues were forcing him to rest up between the Masters and the US Open. Despite winning the event and finishing runner up on one other occasion, Woods has not been the factor at this event that he has in many of his other regular tour stops.
Over the past few years Phil Mickelson seems to have worked out a way to play this venue after what had been a shaky first few years. He won in 2007 and finished third behind Adam Scott in 2004 and at present seems close to his best form.
Henrik Stenson and Robert Karlsson have both enjoyed good tournaments at the TPC Sawgrass. The last time Karlsson played this event he recorded a final round of 66 in 2007 to finish 6th on what was his debut. The tall Swede has not been in the same great form this season that he was when he played so brilliantly throughout 2008 but he still ranked number 11 in the world and could do well.
Stenson has two top ten finishes in three starts at this venue and his recent third place finish in Houston is an indication that he is not too far from where he needs to be to contend this week.
It is always difficult to back up a significant win with another at this level but Sean O’Hair has developed into such a consistent player that he just might. He has played the event on three occasions with a best of 11th in 2007 but he is a much improved player now.
Luke Donald has played this event well and there has certainly been a lot to like about his recent efforts in 2009. He finished runner up at the Verizon tournament at his last start and earlier in the season proved that he has fully recovered from his injury issues.
For some reason Stephen Ames regularly contends in this event including a win in 2006, finishing runner up in 2002 and 5th last year. Ames’ form is certainly inconsistent at present but he did finish 20th at the US Masters two starts ago indicating that a good week this week on what must be one of his favourite venues is not totally beyond the realms of possibility.
Geoff Ogilvy is by far the best credentialed Australian in the field but for some reason he does not enjoy a good record in the event. His best in seven starts has been 16th but a series of solid events of late could offer the chance to have his best finish at this course.
Adam Scott won this event in 2004 and has had one or two other good finishes but his current form gives little confidence in his good record in the event continuing. Four consecutive missed cuts tell the story of a golfer struggling with his game at present.
Ten other Australians and two New Zealanders offer the down under brigade a chance of success but few could be considered genuine chances of winning. Robert Allenby, Stuart Appleby, Aaron Baddeley, Mathew Goggin, Nick O’Hern, John Senden, Rod Pampling, Peter Lonard, Nathan Green and two time winner Steve Elkington make up the Australian challenge. New Zealanders Tim Wilkinson and Michael Campbell are also in the field.
