It’s that time of year and in 2021 the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful outdoors, camaraderie and competition that The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass brings to the First Coast region is more than welcome. The Players began in 1974, and although 47 years isn’t particularly old in golf years, it’s an event steeped in tradition for those of us in the greater Jacksonville region. The tournament has been hosted at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass since 1982 (the 2020 tournament was canceled after the first round due to COVID-19). It’s a time when friends gather, regional businesses take time to connect over a cherished sport and the golfing world turns its attention to our part of the world. The course, situated south of Jacksonville in Ponte Vedra Beach, gives television watchers and visitors a glimpse of northeast Florida beauty.
Some points of interest about The Players Championship:
- Founded in 1974
- Par 72
- Highest prize fund of any tournament in golf (its $15 million purse is greater than all the majors and even the US Open)
- No golfer has ever won the tournament in two successive years