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Featured Sport News

Players takes centre stage

Author: Brandon Barker
Date: 07/05/2009

The strongest field of the season bar none and arguably the most famous hole in world golf. Welcome to the Players Championship which begins at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday.

The Players, as it has become known in recent years, may not be officially regarded as a Major championship and it doesn't even boast World Golf Championship status.

However, for golf betting enthusiasts and fans across the globe this is one of the highlights of the year as the best players on the planet converge at one of the game's most iconic courses for the biggest purse of the season.

Twelve months ago, Sergio Garcia walked away with a cool $1.7million after mastering the fearsome Stadium Course at Sawgrass.

The often brittle Spaniard finally proved he has the game to win a Major by edging out American Paul Goydos in a play-off to claim the biggest win and pay-day of his career.

However, the Players has a history or throwing up surprise winners as for every Garcia (2008), Phil Mickelson (2007) or Tiger Woods (2001), there is a Craig Perks (2002), Fred Funk (2005) , Stephen Ames (2006) or Hal Sutton (2001).

The reasons behind the unpredictability are unknown with some pointing to the quirky nature of the course - this is home to the infamous island green 17th - while the early-season date is another possible factor.

But whatever the reason, it cannot be said that the winner of the tournament is not worthy as the Players Championship brings together the 144 top-ranked players in world golf.

There are no sponsor's invites, exemptions or amateurs in the field in what is a straight shoot-out between golf's glitterati.

The course is a no pushover either as the closing stretch of holes is commonly regarded as one of the toughest on tour.

The 16th is the ultimate risk-and-reward par five with water flanking the last 100 yards and where eagles and double-bogeys occur in equal measure.

The 17th needs no introduction and the island green often provides the tournament's defining moment.

On a Sunday afternoon, and with 20,000 spectators surrounding the lagoon, the tiny and deceptively sloping green can appear to be the size of a lily-pad on a pond.

Then there is the 18th which requires steady nerves to guide the tee shot over the water which runs the length of the hole.

Too far to the left and you'll meet a watery grave, while too safe to the right can leave a lengthy shot into the par-four green which is surrounded by humps and hollows.

It all points towards another exciting week in the Florida sunshine as the golf season steps into top gear.

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