The PLAYERS Championship: Analyzing 4 most challenging holes at TPC Sawgrass

The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponta Vedra Beach, Florida, is best known for two things: The Players Championship and its par-3 17th hole.

This 137-yard par 3 is one of the most famous short holes in the world, and some would argue that it is perhaps second only to the 12th hole at Augusta National.

But every golf fan knows about the 17th and how this island green is completely surrounded by water.

So instead of exploring the nuances of the 17th hole, or some of the other holes that give TPC Sawgrass its character, we at Playing Through decided to go in a different direction.

We break down the four most difficult holes from the 2023 Players Championship, won by Scotty Scheffler. The player who plays best over this stretch of holes will have a good chance of winning Sunday afternoon.

Hole 5 – Par 4, 471 yards

Trouble looms all the way down the right side of this ferocious par 4.

The dogleg right fairway winds like a snake, but features a relatively wide landing area.

A long sand trap and water lurk on the right side of the fairway, while two other bunkers are on the left side of the fairway. If you push your tee shot, you’ll be trapped, or if you miss it further to the right, you’ll end up in the penalty area. A carry of 320 yards is required to clear this trouble.

If you ask Keith Mitchell, who doesn’t have the distance to make this carry, Frustratingly I found water 5 days before 1 season.

Still, players should prefer the right half of the fairway. That will give you a better angle.

This field uses a long to medium iron for the second shot to a tricky green complex that is well protected by waiter bunkers, mounds, and palm trees.

The green mainly slopes from the back to the front, but it is characterized by a few run-offs like the one in the back right.

Another run-off must be avoided as it slopes towards a long deep bunker to the left.

Overall in 2023, he had 50 birdies on the fifth hole, but 96 bogeys and 17 double bogeys or less. In this hole he left with 4 and those who left will go home satisfied.

Hole 8 – Par 3, 237 yards

Photo by Chris Condon/PGA Tour

The most difficult par 3 at TPC Sawgrass, the 8th hole, has some players hitting long irons and others hitting fairway woods into the narrow, heavily sloped green.

The length itself is a challenge, but so are the nine bunkers dotting the putting surface.

There are two kidney-shaped traps placed on either side in front of the green. The green then slopes out from two bunkers and shoots out toward the center of the green. In some cases, players hitting a tee shot in that vicinity may have a lucky bounce as their tee shot goes off the slope and trickles toward the hole.

But most often it bounces back into the trap, leading to violent ups and downs.

Sadly, a year ago he allowed just 35 birdies on the 8th hole, the fewest of any hole at TPC Sawgrass. He had 111 bogeys and 10 doubles or less for an overall average score of 3.220.

Hole 14 – Par 4, 481 yards

Photo by Chris Condon/PGA Tour

If a player wants to get at least a par on the 14th, he must find the fairway from the tee.

To the right of the fairway is a very rough and expansive mound, and to the left is a long narrow sand trap running the length of the hole. Water collects on the far side of the bunker and absorbs a hard pulled tee shot.

With that in mind, the landing area itself is quite large.

Still, if a player misses the fairway off the tee, the second shot is not as easy.

The same sand trap extends all the way to the green, robbing any approached approach. A tough uphill climb awaits those who find it.

Five other pot bunkers and sand traps are scattered around this intricate putting surface that slopes from right to left toward the Atlantic Ocean. It is characterized by many ups and downs and slopes, including the front right half of the green. Short shots fall into the collection area, which is also a difficult place to aim for par.

The 14th hole, which ranked as the second most difficult hole at TPC Sawgrass last year, allowed just 38 birdies. On the other hand, the number of bogies was 106, not including 19 double bogies or less.

Hole 18 – Par 4, 462 yards

Photo by Jennifer Perez/PGA Tour

The 18th par 4 cannot go left.

That makes TPC Sawgrass’ finishing hole the most difficult hole in 2023 and likely to maintain this honor in 2024.

This hole was 0.341 strokes over par and resulted in more bogeys (117) than any other hole. He also recorded 32 bogeys less than a double bogey, largely due to the large lake surrounding this dogleg.

ideal shot shape Tee off is a draw, but players cannot overhook it for obvious reasons. But if the draw isn’t executed and the tee shot misses to the right, trees, thick rough, a spectator’s mound, and a bad angle await.

These trees are 281 yards from the tee, and many players have owned property there over the years. Anyone who was there faced a difficult situation, often ending up with a bogey or worse.

Just like the tee shot, the approach requires precision. You cannot go to the left as the lake continues all the way to the putting surface.

There is also a long bunker on the left side of the green, which is an absolute no-no.

But there is also no option for proper redress.

About 60 yards from the center of the green, there is a mound and a waste bunker short to the right. Players who drive their tee shots into the trees have to deal with these “gumdrop” shaped ridges in their sights.

They only cause nasty lies and frustration.

The same goes for this two-tiered green, which slopes primarily from back to front. By doing so, the greenery will also gradually descend towards the water.

The 18th may be difficult, but it’s a great finishing hole.

Jack Mirko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough Cover more golf. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko In the same way.