It is the most famous golf hole in America, and if not for another famous 17th, the Road Hole at St. Andrews, it would be the top hole in the world. It's the island green at TPC Sawgrass, and with The Players Championship coming up this weekend, it's in full view.The thing is, any golfer's opinion of the 17th is displayed firmly on their sleeve. They either love the hole or want to blow it up, but why such black-or-white thoughts? Well, there are a few reasons.
First, the hole could be considered gimmicky. Unlike the Poster Stamp at Troon, which plays a similarly short yardage (relatively speaking), the green on the 17th at Sawgrass is compact and requires a rather controlled short iron to give yourself a birdie putt. The 17th, as Damon Hack recently commented, has a green "the size of the Millennium Falcon." Without the water taunting you, I'd say less than five percent of the field would miss that green all week.
The other problem is the recent winds that have blown up during tournament week. It is one thing to have a 9-iron or wedge into an island green on a calm day, but playing with a crosswind or one in your face isn't going to make it any easier to find the putting surface. A golfer's mind isn't used to putting a shot out over water in hopes that it will be blown back into play. If you think the hole is hard normally, try playing it with any breeze.
Even if you hate the hole, you can't discard the fact that it has created some incredible drama. From the Fred Couples hole-in-three in 1999 to Tiger Woods' incredible putt in '01 to the playoff loss last season by Paul Goydos. Thanks to PGA Tour video, we actually have some of the better moments from the 17th hole below. Enjoy.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
This is one of the most famous holes in golf? Oh really? Oh I see, it is in the ALL IMPORTANT EAST, so naturally it is famous. I imagine the knucklehead writer never saw the 18th at Pebble Beach. Of course not, it is in California of all places!!!!!
Yeah, I live on the west coast. Pebble's 18th is still not anywhere close to as famous as 17.
Pebbles most famous hole might be the 18th, but for those who really know golf, the 8th hole is Pebble's best hole.
The hole design is "tricked up" but we average hackers would love to try to hit a tee shot 140 yards or so on it.
However, as a Tournament Players Club, owned by the PGA and one of about 25 courses in the US owned by them; it is almost impossible to get on unless you are a member of one, or a guest of a member.
The pros, in large part, play on manicured fairways with fantastically smooth, short-mowed greens, that we all would like to play on.
Therefore, Hacker Nation loves to see some suffering from the "these guys are good" club.
I stood over the 17th from the back tees at sawgrass on a perfectly sunny day in late October. It was ideal conditions wih one exception...the wind. It started in our face, during my first two attempts from 139, then on the 3rd attempt (first long and right, second short and left) it started swirling and quartered right to left. The hole is intimidating enough without the variability of a 3 club wind. Its something you can't understand by watching the Players, you have to see it for yourself...
It's a great hole on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, but way too hokey to be the second from the last finishing hole on Sunday.