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The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is considered the most recognizable and unique par 3 in the world, as well as one of the most daunting. Every golfer knows this hole, which, as always, has influenced the outcome of The Players Championship, the most important tournament on the PGA Tour.
Although architect Pete Dye designed Sawgrass, the idea of the isolated green was conceived by Alice Dye, his wife and collaborator.
Golf, history
The purpose of TPC Sawgrass is to challenge the world’s best players with a course tailored to their game.
According to Dye, the best way to do this is to use psychology to get into the players’ heads and make them overthink. The 17th at Sawgrass has exactly this effect on players. They know they’ll have to face that lake at some point in the game, and this thought haunts them for the four hours leading up to it.
The longer the wait, the greater the anxiety, making the shot more difficult. The 17th hole at Sawgrass is actually simple: 120 meters long, with two tees, a bean-shaped green, and a small bunker. Everything else is water. Technically, it’s not an island, as a small isthmus of land connects it to the mainland.
This allows for the passage of players, machinery, and irrigation and drainage systems. In 2017, Sergio García finally won the Masters after 73 attempts, beating Englishman Justin Rose in a playoff. The rules of golf are a set of standard regulations and procedures governing the playing of the sport.
They are jointly written and managed by the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, the governing body of golf worldwide, except in the United States and Mexico, where they fall under the jurisdiction of the United States Golf Association.
A committee of experts composed of members from the R&A and USGA oversees and refines the rules every four years. The latest revision has been in effect since January 1, 2016. Changes to the rules of golf generally fall into two main categories: those that improve understanding and those that, in certain cases, reduce penalties to ensure fairness.
The rule book, titled “Rules of Golf,” is published regularly and also includes regulations governing amateur status. In Italy, Federgolf is responsible for overseeing competitions, ensuring compliance with the rules issued by the R&A, ensuring that these rules are observed by clubs, associations, and their members, and managing the resulting sports justice, protecting their interests abroad.
