The Players Championship: Best viewing spots at TPC Sawgrass beyond the 17th hole

Most Players Championship fans will naturally gravitate to the amphitheater-like setting around the par-3 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass and its Island Green. No one is winning The Players without hitting a dry shot in the final round, and tournaments have been won or lost at the 145-yard hole.

But World Golf Hall of Fame architect Pete Dye disliked the term “signature hole.” He was equally proud of all 18 holes he designed, and while recognizing the fame that No. 17 brought the course and the tournament, he never picked a favorite among his 18 children on the courses he designed.

Players Stadium Course architect Pete Dye disliked the designation of a “signature hole” on the courses he designed.

Players Championship fans have options, and to win the tournament, a pro has to play well on the first 16 holes, and the last one. Here are the best places to view action on the other 17 holes besides spending some Island Time.

First three holes offer a variety of shots

1. Start with the par-4 first hole and watch the final few twosomes tee off for the weekend rounds. There used to be large spectator mounds behind and the right of the green, then later bleachers, but now it’s God’s green earth. Fans can watch players take a few more practice putts then walk to the tee.

Tiger Woods hits from the rough on the right of the par-5 second hole at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during the final round of the 2018 Players Championship.

2. Move a few feet to the left of the first green to behind the second tee and watch approach shots to the reachable par-5 hole, plus an array of short-game shots from bunkers, grass bunkers or from tight lies behind the green.

3. Just a few more feet behind the second green is the third tee. Fans can get good views of the entire hole on either side of the tee and green, especially on the bank to the left, which also overlooks the practice range.

Watch strategic tee shots at short par-4 holes

4. Follow a group on the third hole, then to the short par-4 fourth, where most players hit an iron off the tee, then a wedge into the two-tiered green. A great vantage point is behind the green and tournament officials have no problem with fans sitting along the bulkhead with their feet dangling.

5. The par-4 fifth hole is the first difficult test of the day, with par a good score under any circumstances. Since fans can only walk along the left side of the fairway, the best spot is behind the green, to the players’ right.

6. Moving to the sixth tee, fans should watch how creative players get with fairway woods or irons off the tee, keeping their shots below the branches of the tree standing guard between the professional tee and the resort tee.

7. After watching some tee shots at No. 6, move to the left and stand behind the seventh green for another tough test, especially short-game shots if players miss short and left.

Nos. 8, 9 are difficult tests

8. Go left again and then behind the No. 8 green, where tee shots from a par-3 that can play as long as 240 yards can wind up in some interesting spots.

9. Don’t worry about players hitting the par-5 ninth fairway. Most will. Instead, hustle down the left side to the cross-over, then go to the top of the bank that runs down the right side of No. 9. Watch the progress of players’ shots to the small green of this three-shot hole.

10. Fans should watch tee shots at the par-4 10th to a fairway that looks like a small target. It’s not that small. From halfway down the fairway, second shots and putts at the 10th green are within view. Fans can then cut through the pine trees to the right side of No. 11 fairway.

The fairway of the par-4 10th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is one of the most difficult drives on the course.

11. There are any number of spots to watch shots at the par-5 11th. The Tour shaved mounds and cleared trees and brush to give a view of the 10th green and 11th tee, and there are numerous vantage points behind the 11th green, especially on the right where fans can turn and watch tee shots at the reachable par-4 12th.

Watch eagle attempts, then go for Tacos

12. After watching play at No. 12 green (where hopefully fans will see a few putts for eagle-two), take a break at the Taco Lu “Tacos on 12” truck.

13. Watch tee shots from behind the green, especially on Sunday, when the left pin invites players to play the slope on the right to the hole.

14. If your idea of fun is to watch players grind hard for par, the area right of the 14th green is your spot.

Fans can see 18th hole tee shots from high above

15. For the first time, fans can walk down the scenic 15th fairway on the right, but a bank behind the green is the best spot to view second shots and putts.

Tee shots at the par-4 18th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass are best view from a bank behind the tee, with the huge lake and the clubhouse in sight.

16. Stand behind the tee to watch tee shots into the reachable par-5, where players a shot or two behind the lead will try to mount a rally.

17. Perhaps one of the best spots on the course to watch tee shots is the hill behind the 18th tee, offering a breathtaking view of the entire dogleg left hole, with the vast lake and the iconic clubhouse in the distance. Then walk your favorite player home.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: The Players Championship: Best fan viewing spots at TPC Sawgrass

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