Players Championship 2013: Weekend Preview at TPC Sawgrass
By Les Bailey
The Players Championship got underway on Thursday afternoon from The TPC Sawgrass golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The tournament, which went by the name of The Tournament Players Championship before 1989 is one of the strongest field of world-class players each year, and is considered by some to be the fifth major. The golf course was the brainchild of former PGA commissioner, Deane Beman, and legendary course designer, Pete Dye. The course was built to identify the best player, and is a monster.
The Players Championship carries one of the largest purses of the year at $9.5 Million dollars, with the winner taking home $1.7 Million Dollars. The winner also receives 600 FedEx Cup Points, and a ten-year exemption, a reward that attract many of the world’s top players.
Journeyman pro, Roberto Castro shocked everyone on Thursday by going out and posting an early lead at -9 under par. The youngster from Houston, needed a birdie putt at the par 5 ninth hole to get in the clubhouse with a new course record. He missed the putt, but tied the course record 63 set by Greg Norman set in 1994.
Sergio Garcia fired a second round -7 under par 65 on Friday to get in the clubhouse at -11 under par, and the clubhouse lead with golfers still on the course for the afternoon session. Tiger Woods has played well in this tournament he hasn’t won since 2001, and is in the clubhouse at -10 under par, one stroke off the lead.
Tiger got around 17 of the 18 holes on Thursday without a bogey until he got to the last hole. He miss judged his approach into the toughest hole on the course, and gave one back. Woods fired matching 67’s on both days, and will more than likely play on Saturday in the last group with Garcia.
The world’s number two player, Rory McIlroy game out Thursday morning with guns blazing in a tournament where he has never made the cut. He fired a -6 under 66 on Thursday morning, playing with 2013 Masters Champion, Adam Scott, and Steve Stricker. McIlroy is currently on the course for his second round, and is at even par for the day.
Matt Kuchar won here last year, and is your defending champion.
With all of the horsepower at The Wells Fargo Championship last weekend in Charlotte, a fourth alternate eased in and picked up the $1.07 Million dollar first prize, and a trophy for his fireplace. The 23 year-old rookie qualified, and was on his way to Georgia to play in the Web.com event when he got the phone call that turned him around.
23 year-old Derek Ernst had made only two cuts in the 2013 season, and won only $28,000 dollars before winning at Quail Hollow. The field was fairly strong, with only Tiger Woods, and Zurich Classic winner, Billy Horschel not present. Phil Mickelson had a piece of the 54 hole lead, but could not convert on the terrible greens, and in the inclement weather.
Christie Kerr won the LPGA tournament at The Kingsmill Championship Sunday in a playoff against LPGA LOTTE Champion, Suzann Pettersen. The two battled all afternoon, but ended regulation in a tie. It took two trips back to the 18th tee, bit Kerr made a par and took home her first title of the 2013 season.