Gamers Championship: Exploring TPC Sawgrass’ hardest 4 holes

The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Seashore, Florida, is most well-known for 2 issues: The Gamers Championship and its par-3 seventeenth gap.

One might argue that this 137-yard par-3 is among the many most well-known quick holes on this planet, maybe second solely to the twelfth gap at Augusta Nationwide.

However each golf fan is aware of in regards to the seventeenth, and the way water surrounds this island inexperienced.

As a substitute of exploring the nuances of the seventeenth gap, and some others that give TPC Sawgrass its character, we determined to go in a distinct path.

We analyzed the 4 most difficult holes from the 2024 Gamers Championship received by Scottie Scheffler. Whoever performs the perfect on this stretch of holes will seemingly have a very good probability at victory come Sunday afternoon.

4. Gap 5 – Par 4, 469 Yards

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Hassle looms all the best way down the right-hand facet of this beastly par-4.

A dogleg proper, the green twists and turns like a snake, though it does function a comparatively beneficiant touchdown space. That mentioned, the perfect shot form off the tee is a fade.

A prolonged sand entice and water lurk alongside the correct whereas two different bunkers sit to the left of the green. Any pushed tee shot will discover the entice, or if it goes even additional proper, it is going to discover the penalty space. A 320-yard carry is required to clear this bother.

Ask Keith Mitchell, who doesn’t have the gap to make this carry, and frustratingly discovered the water on the fifth two seasons in the past.

But, gamers ought to favor the correct half of the green, because it offers a greater angle.

The sphere will use long-to-mid irons for his or her second pictures into a tough inexperienced advanced, which is effectively protected by waste bunkers, mounds, and palm timber.

The inexperienced primarily slopes from again to entrance, however it options a few run-offs, like on the again proper.

One other run-off slopes in direction of the deep bunker that sits lengthy and left and have to be averted.

Total, in 2024, the fifth gap yielded 62 birdies whereas producing 67 bogies and 14 double bogies or worse. Whoever walks away with a 4 on this gap will depart happy.

3. Gap 8 – Par 3, 236 Yards

Picture by Chris Condon/PGA Tour

By far probably the most difficult par-3 at TPC Sawgrass, the eighth gap requires some gamers to hit a protracted iron whereas others will hit a fairway wooden right into a severely sloping, slim inexperienced.

The size itself is a problem, however so too are the 9 bunkers scattered across the placing floor.

Two kidney-shaped traps sit on the entrance of the inexperienced, one left and one proper. The inexperienced then slopes off of those two bunkers, funneling in direction of the center of the inexperienced. Generally, gamers who hit their tee pictures in that neighborhood will see a fortunate bounce, as their tee pictures will carom off the slope and trickle in direction of the outlet.

However most frequently, it is going to ricochet into the entice, resulting in a tricky up-and-down.

Alas, the eighth gap gave up solely 53 birdies a 12 months in the past. It produced 93 bogies and 7 doubles or worse, taking part in to an general common rating of three.125, making it the third most difficult gap.

2. Gap 18 – Par 4, 462 Yards

Picture by Jennifer Perez/PGA Tour

You can’t go left on the par-4 18th, which explains why the ending gap at TPC Sawgrass was the second most troublesome in 2024.

It performed 0.253 strokes above par and noticed gamers make 92 bogies. Twenty-eight double bogies or worse had been additionally recorded, primarily because of the giant lake that this dogleg left wraps round.

The perfect shot form off the tee is a draw, however gamers can not over hook it for apparent causes. But when a draw is just not executed, and the tee shot misses proper, timber, thick tough, spectator mounds, and a poor angle await. Maybe no different tee shot on this planet exemplifies Pete Dye’s brilliance resembling this. Bailing proper is just not a very good possibility, however so many gamers achieve this due to the water left.

These timber to the correct sit 281 yards off the tee, and loads of gamers have held actual property there over time. Anybody who has their tee pictures find yourself there’ll face a troublesome state of affairs, typically leading to a bogey or worse.

Just like the tee shot, the method requires accuracy too. You can’t go left, because the lake extends all the best way to the placing floor.

A bunker additionally sits lengthy and left of the inexperienced, which is an absolute no-go.

However bailing out proper is just not an possibility both.

From roughly 60 yards from the middle of the inexperienced, mounds and a waste bunker sit quick and proper. Any participant who pushes their tee shot into the timber will then should take care of these ‘gumdrop’ formed ridges of their view.

They solely result in awkward lies and frustration.

So, too, does this two-tiered inexperienced that primarily slopes from back-to-front. In doing so, the inexperienced additionally gently declines in direction of the water.

The 18th could also be troublesome, however it’s a good ending gap.

1. Gap 14 – Par 4, 481 Yards

Picture by Chris Condon/PGA Tour

Gamers should discover the green off the tee in the event that they anticipate to stroll away with at the very least a par on 14.

Gnarly tough and in depth mounds sit to the correct of the green, whereas a protracted skinny sand entice runs down your complete size of the outlet to the left. Water sits past the bunker and can soak up any tee shot pulled severely.

With that in thoughts, the touchdown space itself in all fairness broad.

Nonetheless, ought to gamers discover the green off the tee, their second shot doesn’t get any simpler.

That very same sand entice extends to the inexperienced, snatching any pulled method. A tricky up-and-in awaits anybody who finds it.

5 different pot bunkers and sand traps are scattered round this advanced placing floor, which principally slopes from right-to-left in direction of the Atlantic Ocean. It does function quite a few undulations and slopes, together with one on the entrance proper half of the inexperienced. Any shot quick will funnel down into a set space, which can be a tough spot to make par from.

Final 12 months, the 14th ranked as probably the most difficult gap at TPC Sawgrass, giving up solely 33 birdies. In the meantime, 99 bogies had been made, probably the most of any gap, and that doesn’t embody the 22 double bogies or worse.

Jack Milko is a golf workers author for SB Nation’s Taking part in By means of. Observe him on X @jack_milko.