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Golf

Iconic golf holes: The 17th at Sawgrass

Every now and then, the world of golf swings around to an iconic hole or sequence of holes which ...



Iconic golf holes: The 17th at...
Golf

Iconic golf holes: The 17th at Sawgrass

Every now and then, the world of golf swings around to an iconic hole or sequence of holes which define the tournament they are played at.

"Amen Corner" at Augusta National, "The Postage Stamp" at Royal Troon, "The Road Hole" at St. Andrews are all significant in their own right but none arguably match the 17th at Sawgrass.

The unofficial fifth major of the year: The Players Championship takes place in Florida this week with one of the strongest fields of the year.

Dustin Johnson is back on form after recovering from injury which forced him to miss the Masters in April while Rory McIlroy returns after his honeymoon. 

Defending champion Jason Day will be looking to get his mojo back after struggling with a back injury for much of last year. 

Sawgrass has been home to The Players since 1982. The venue was created to give the tournament an annual home and to allow history to unfold at a set venue - similar to the Masters at Augusta. 

One stipulation by then PGA Tour Commissioner Deane Beman on the course design was that he wanted "the finish to be iconic".

The course, designed by Pete Dye, doesn't favour any single style of play and requires the players to execute a number of different types of shots.  

And always in the player's minds is the 17th hole waiting ominously. At 137 yards, a simple wedge shot should be easy for most pros.

However, the "island green", surrounded by thousands of fans at the tail end of one of the premier Tour events, brings tension and excitement rarely seen for a single tee shot.  

A general view of the 17th. Picture by: Debby Wong/Zuma Press/PA Images

There have only been seven holes-in-one at the picturesque hole with Will Wilcox ending a 14-year drought last year.

Elsewhere, there have been some modifications to the course ahead of this year's event with the 12th hole being changed into a drive-able par-4 which will offer some risk/reward chances down the final stretch. Rough has been removed on some holes as well with errant tee-shots bound for pine straw instead.

Rory McIlroy will tee off alongside world number one Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas while Graeme McDowell will be accompanied by Greg Chalmers and Emiliano Grillo. Shane Lowry will play with 2016 Masters champion Danny Willett and Bill Haas.    

Other notable groups sees Rickie Fowler play with Jason Day and Henrik Stenson with Justin Rose, Jon Rahm and Martin Kaymer tee off together. 

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