Sawgrass '07: More than just 17?

Infamous 17th being prepared this week

On his way to victory in the 2004 Players Championship at Sawgrass, Adam Scott couldn't bear to look at the notorious island 17th green. With a two shot lead in the tournament he stood with his back to it until the very last second he had to play it.

He scrambled a par-3 but then, ironically, hit his tee shot at the next into the water before salvaging a bogey five for a one shot victory.

"I didn't really want to think about the 17th more than I had to," said Scott, who hit his tee shot to 25 feet on the 137-yard hole, which this year has been refurbished along with the rest of the TPC course.

The event - labelled the fifth major - starts tomorrow in Florida, with Tiger Woods a hot favourite after his victory in Sunday's Wachovia tournament on the PGA Tour.

Re-furbished clubhouse

"I've always thought that hole is too gimmicky for the 17th hole of a championship," says Woods. "It would be a fantastic eighth hole, but not as the 71st hole of a tournament or 17th hole of your round."

However, on his way to his only Players title in 2001 when it was held in March prior to the US Masters, he holed a triple-breaking 60-foot putt for birdie at the 17th in the third round.

Second favourite this week on a course that has had a $50 million facelift including a new clubhouse, is Phil Mickelson, despite taking six shots to hit the green in yesterday's practice round.

"I think that the 12th at Augusta is the hardest par-3 to make a par," said Mickelson. "But the 17th here is one of the most difficult because there's not a cap on how high you can go."

View from the back of the 16th green

Apart from the obvious fears about the 17th, most players have been complimentary about the changes to the Stadium course, where all the greens and fairways have been ripped up and replaced.

New underground drainage has been installed, similar to Augusta National, where moisture can be electronically sucked away to keep the playing surfaces fast and firm.

While the water flanking many holes is likely to become more of a factor, with the ball travelling further and getting some odd bounces, accuracy and spin control into the greens will become key factors.

And that could play into the hands of Tiger, who says the change of date now fits nicely between the Masters and the US Open.

Approach to the 18th

Eighty of the top 100 players in the world are playing for a $9 million purse, the biggest in golf, with Europeans favoured to make a challenge.

Luke Donald (33/1) Henrik Stenson, Padraig Harrington and Sergio Garcia (all 40/1) are highest rated but look out too, for Paul Casey and Ian Poulter, American-based and good value at 66/1 and 100/1 respectively.

Setanta Golf will be providing exclusive live coverage of the event, while the Golf Channel UK provides regular highlights.

Tell us on the forum who's your tip this week. Have you played the 17th hole at Sawgrass? What's it like? How many did you take?