The Biggest Meltdowns on The 17th at TPC Sawgrass

The very nature of TPC Sawgrass means it is a course that can bring even the world’s best golfers to their knees.

The 17th hole, the world-famous island green par three, has claimed many victims, but disaster lurks everywhere.

Here are some of the most memorable meltdowns at The Players.

Sergio Garcia, 2013

It is safe to say that Garcia is not a fan of the 17th hole. Tied for the lead with none other than Tiger Woods, Garcia hit his first tee shot into the water. His second effort suffered the same fate and he would walk off the green with a seven on his card. And he then took a six at the par-four 18th. Having had aspirations to win, he tumbled all the way down to eighth place. The tournament was won by Woods. Of course!

Paul Goydos, 2008

This time Garcia was the beneficiary. A par on the 18th would have given 43-year-old Goydos the biggest win of his career. Instead he made bogey, and found himself in a playoff with Garcia. The first playoff hole was the 17th. There was an inevitability about the outcome and, sure enough, Goydos dumped his tee shot into the water, took five and handed the title to the Spaniard.

JB Holmes, 2017

Oh dear! Beginning the day in the lead, Holmes bogeyed three of his first five holes and things went from bad to even worse. He took eight shots to complete the 17th and finished his round with a double-bogey six. It all added up to a soul-destroying 84. And, just for good measure, he hit a spectator on the head with a wayward shot at the par-three eighth hole.

Sean O’Hair, 2007

O'Hair led after 54 holes but did not have his A-game on the final day. He was two behind Phil Mickelson when they reached the 17th. Needing a birdie to put pressure on his rival he decided to go for the flag but instead found the water. And the same fate befell his second attempt. It all added up to a seven. He also dropped a shot at the last, to go from second place to 11th, costing him around $750,000 in prize money.

Russell Knox, 2016

The Scotsman was in second place when he headed to the Island Green on Saturday afternoon. His standing slightly dropped by the time he reached the 18th tee, thanks to putting three in the pond.

Robert Gamez, 1990

Oh dear! Gamez finished 1990 as PGA Tour rookie of the year but it was no thanks to his performance on the 17th hole at The Players. He put his first ball into the water. And his second. Growing increasingly frustrated, his third effort also ended in the drink. Unbelievably, his fourth try also had a watery grave. By the time he and his caddie had tallied it all up he had taken 11 shots. To play a 137-yard hole.

Bob Tway, 2005

If you think that was bad, check this out…the highest score ever recorded at the 17th was done so by Tway in 2005, He was just four off the lead when he came to the hole - a couple of birdies would have given him an outside shot. But Tway put four balls in the water. And still the pain wasn’t over for the American. His fifth effort did manage to find dry land but the golfing gods decided he had not suffered enough. He took three putts and signed for a scarcely-credible 12.

Len Mattiace, 1998

This was agonising to watch. Starting the day six back, Mattiace, a local man, made eight birdies in his first 16 holes to grab the lead. And then came the dreaded 17th again. Looking for his first PGA Tour win, he found the water three times, costing him an eight. To his eternal credit, he regrouped sufficiently well to birdie the final hole, finishing four adrift of winner Justin Leonard.

Related Content

The Players Championship 2025 Preview, Picks & Analysis

Is This The Most Dramatic Finish in Golf