TPC Sawgrass

Lore & Background

The course was built on 415 acres donated by Paul and Jerome Fletcher for $1. The Stadium Course was designed by Pete and Alice Dye and features a 'stadium' concept with raised grass mounds for fans. It is known for the par-3 17th hole, the 'Island Green,' which was created after sand was dug from the area, leaving a crater. The course originally drew complaints from players, with Ben Crenshaw calling it 'Star Wars golf, designed by Darth Vader.' After adjustments, it became more playable. The course hosted the U.S. Amateur in August 1994, where Tiger Woods defeated Trip Kuehne. The second Creator Classic took place here, won by Grant Horvat.

Reader's Guide

The Stadium Course is known as one of the most difficult in the world, with narrow fairways, waste bunkers, pot bunkers, thick rough, tall palm trees, and fast greens. The 17th hole is 137 yards with a green surrounded by water; club selection is critical. The course has a capacity of 36,000. The Valley Course hosted the Web.com Tour Championship from 2013 to 2015.

Did You Know?

• More than 100,000 golf balls are retrieved from the water around the 17th hole each year.
• In 2007, a record 50 balls found the water at the 17th in a single round.
• Brad Fabel's ball was picked up by a seagull in 1998; he was allowed to replace it under Rule 18-1.
• Jhonattan Vegas made the longest putt in the hole's history in 2019: 69 feet 7 inches.