The Players Championship is one of the most prestigious golf tournaments in the world. It boasts a rich history of showcasing the greatest players of all time. From Jack Nicklaus to Tiger Woods, many legends have written their names in the record books with historic wins at The Players Championship’s at TPC Sawgrass.
The inaugural Players Championship event took place in 1974 at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia. The original idea for the event was conceived by the then-PGA Tour commissioner, Deane Beman. The event was moved to Colonial Country Club in Texas in 1975 and Inverrary Country Club in Florida in 1976 as it replaced three existing events; the Atlanta Classic, the Colonial National Invitational, and the Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic. The event was moved to the Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach in 1977 after the PGA Tour agreed to a multi-year deal.
Legendary Winners and Historic Moments of The Players Championship
Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler made history when he became the first player to win back-to-back Players Championship titles in 2024. He won his first Players Championship title in 2023 and successfully defended his title with recording-breaking comeback and the lowest final-round score by a winner (64) in 2024.
Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus dominated the early years of The Players Championship. He won the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1974 and added two more titiles in 1976 and 1978. He remains the only player to win the tournament three times.
Lee Trevino
Lee Trevino is another legendary winner that graced the Sawgrass. Trevino’s 1980 victory at The Players Championship was memorable. He shot a final-round 65 to edge out Ben Crenshaw by a single stroke.
Tiger Woods
Tiger Woods is synonymous with greatness at The Players Championship. Woods’s 2001 victory was a especially iconic, he became the first player to hold all four major championships at the same time. Woods also went on to record another victory at the sawgrass in 2013.
Phil Mickelson
In 2007, Phil Mickelson recorded one of the most notable moments in the Players Championship history when he chipped in from the rough on the 14th hole to seal his victory. Mickelson’s win marked his first at TPC Sawgrass, and it capped off an incredible career for the left-hander.
How The Players Championship Shapes Its Winners
The Players Championship has a long history of shaping its winners. It helped to reinforce the status of Jack Nicklaus as one of the greatest players of all time. For Trevino, it marked a milestone victory in his illustrious career. In the case of Tiger Woods, the Players Championship solidified his status as a dominant force in golf while it provided a defining moment in his career for the careers of Scottie Scheffler and Phil Mickelson.
Main Photo Credit: © Rob Schumacher-Imagn Images
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