Remembering the 5 most difficult days at TPC Sawgrass

Weather has been the dominant storyline of this year’s PLAYERS Championship. The first two days have been defined by rain, as persistent precipitation forced the first round to be completed midday Saturday.

RELATED: Weather updates from TPC Sawgrass

The good news is that there is no rain in the forecast late Saturday and all day Sunday. Players will face a new challenge, though. The majority of the weekend will be played in cool temperatures and high winds, after a cold front follows Saturday morning’s expected storm into town. If there’s one saving grace, it’s that TPC Sawgrass will play soft after receiving more than 3 inches of rain this week.

Saturday afternoon will see high winds with gusts up to 35 mph and falling temperatures. It’s expected to fall into the 30s overnight, with Sunday’s temperatures forecast to be in the 50s with winds up to 20 mph.

To prepare you for the difficult conditions, here’s a look at the five most difficult days in TPC Sawgrass’ history.

ROUND: 2005, Round 4
SCORING AVERAGE: 76.5
WINNER: Fred Funk, 279 (-9)

This was the most recent Monday finish in PLAYERS history, which is fitting because this year’s event is headed to an extra day of play.

Winds consistently blew 25 mph, with gusts up to 40 mph. High winds nearly blew flagsticks out of the hole and swept sand from bunkers. The tournament started and finished in sunshine, but three days of rain were sandwiched in between.

The winner, Fred Funk, had to play 32 holes that Monday. The final group had to play 15 holes of its third round on Monday, with only a 10-minute break before the fourth round. Sixteen players failed to break 80 in the final round.

“When you have to play that many holes in those tough conditions on a golf course that messes with your head, … it’s definitely going to wear you down,” said Scott Verplank, one of three players who finished a stroke behind Funk.

The wind blew so hard Monday that tournament officials took down the names and numbers from the large, hand-operated scoreboard behind the 18th green after several names blew off.

“When it blows this hard, I don’t even practice,” said Ponte Vedra Beach resident Vijay Singh.

Fifty-one balls were dumped into the water on 17 on that Monday in the completed third round and the fourth round. Phil Mickelson hit three balls in the water Monday. Tiger Woods closed with a pair of 75s to tie for 53rd, his worst finish in six years. Steve Jones, the first-round leader, shot 84 in the final round.

“It was pretty brutal,” said Adam Scott. “The gusts were really strong. You’re at the mercy of the wind.”

ROUND: 1999, Round 3
SCORING AVERAGE: 76.2
WINNER: David Duval, 285 (-3)

Strong winds, thick rough and firm greens are a recipe for high scores anywhere, but especially at TPC Sawgrass. The 1999 PLAYERS had all three, resulting in the highest winning score since THE PLAYERS moved to TPC Sawgrass in 1982.

And it was shot by the hottest player on the planet.

David Duval ascended to world No. 1 with his win at the 1999 PLAYERS. It was his 10th win in his last 33 starts. He’d also shot a 59 earlier in the year.

Players knew early in the week that TPC Sawgrass was going to provide a thorough test. Defending champion Justin Leonard said he had trouble finding balls he dropped in the rough during practice rounds.

“The rough will be a problem if you go in it this week,” said Ernie Els, “especially with the greens being this firm.”

Duval’s response when asked about the course conditions?

“I have always found out the rough isn’t so bad in the middle of the fairways,” he said. His confidence was well-deserved. He won his first start of the season, the Sentry Tournament of Champions, by nine shots. Then he fired a final-round 59 to win his next start, at The American Express.

And, as good as he was at going low – he was 52 under par in his first two starts of the year – he also appreciated the toughest conditions.

“It boils down to the essence of the game. What did you shoot?” he said in a recent interview with PGATOUR.COM. “That’s the thing I like about those tests. Everybody makes jokes that there’s no pictures on the scorecard. Well, that’s the truth. This game is about what you shoot. Those setups like that, you can’t worry about how you’re hitting it. You can’t worry about anything other than making a score.”

On Saturday, the temperature dropped about 15 degrees, into the mid-60s, and wind gusts reached 20 mph. Leaves blowing across the green would sometimes strike putts and send them offline.

“You just have to hit great golf shots,” said Payne Stewart. “If you don’t, you’re extremely penalized.”

Duval’s 74 beat 36-hole leader Joe Ozaki by seven shots. Ozaki was one of 14 players to shoot in the 80s that Saturday. Over the weekend, there were more scores in the 80s (19) than under par (12). Bob Friend had both, shooting 87-70. Fred Couples was the only player to break 70 on the weekend.

“My memories from Sunday are about trying to survive,” Duval said recently. That’s the way he thinks TPC Sawgrass should play.

“It should be an extreme test,” he said. “And that’s precisely what it was.”

ROUND: 2000, Round 1
SCORING AVERAGE: 76.2
WINNER: Hal Sutton, 278 (-10)

This tournament ended in another Monday finish, this one punctuated by Hal Sutton’s famous declaration to “Be the right club today.” He beat Tiger Woods, who went on to win three majors that year, by a shot.

Only 15 players broke par in the first round, when the wind was blowing around 22 mph. Compare that to 22 players who shot 80 or worse, including Sergio Garcia (82) and Phil Mickelson (83).

Woods shot 71 despite hitting his tee shot into the water on 17 and making double-bogey. Woods’ tee shot was one of 41 balls in the water at 17 that day. John Daly and Duffy Waldorf each hit two apiece in the water at 17. Bob Tway made a triple on 17 and quadruple-bogey on 18.

Sutton’s 69 was the highest score to lead THE PLAYERS after the first round since 1978, when Jack Nicklaus and six other players shot 70 to lead at Sawgrass Country Club across the street.

“This is what makes this a major,” said Sutton, who won both THE PLAYERS and PGA Championship in 1983. “This golf course has got all the challenges in the world. Major championships … you’ve got to be patient when conditions get difficult on a great golf course.”

While Sutton and Woods were among the rare players to break par in the first round, Robert Damron finished third after starting with a 78. Among the five players who tied for third – six shots behind Sutton – three of them started the week with a score of 75 or higher (Jeff Maggert, 77; Colin Montgomerie, 75) and all five were over par in the opening round.

There were plenty of horror stories from that first round. Craig Stadler made a triple-bogey after a double-hit out of the rough on No. 12. “It was very enjoyable, until we teed off,” Stadler said after his 83. “I can’t remember the last time I shot in the 80s, but it could have been a 90.

“I did a few things today that I’ve never done before.”

Randal Mell wrote in the South Florida Sun Sentinel that “A parade of tortured souls exited the scorer’s trailer Thursday at THE PLAYERS Championship. The best golfers in the world were punished on a course that played as if the Marquis de Sade were the course architect.”

Said Colin Montgomerie, “It’s a tough course when it’s flat and calm, but now it’s cold and raw and dark and yuckie.”

ROUND: 1984, Round 1
SCORING AVERAGE: 76.1
WINNER: Fred Couples, 277 (-11)

This was the third edition of THE PLAYERS at TPC Sawgrass, and severe weather, including gale-force winds, showed the full extent of what the course was capable of.

The island 17th, which was played under relatively calm conditions in the first two years at TPC Sawgrass, was especially penal. Sixty-four balls were hit in the water in the first round alone as wind gusts reached 45 mph. Players used anything from 5-iron to 9-irons on the hole, which measured 132 yards.

“That’s one of the worst days I ever remember,” said Mark McCumber.

Statistically, it was the worst single day in the history of the iconic hole. The stroke average of 3.85 is the highest at 17 in any single round at THE PLAYERS since the tournament moved to the Stadium Course. “It’s the easiest par 5 on the course,” joked John Mahaffey.

There were 26 scores in the 80s, including eight of 84 or higher. Jim Thorpe led after a first-round 68 that he shot in the afternoon, after the wind had subsided. Mahaffey, a former PGA Championship winner, shot 69 despite hitting his tee shot into the water at 17 and declared, “With the exception of one swing, that’s the best I’ve ever played.

“I’ve been out here for 14 years and I can’t recall playing in wind conditions that severe.”

That 3.85 stroke average remains the highest ever recorded for a par 3 of less than 150 yards on TOUR.

Larry Nelson, the reigning U.S. Open champion, shot 75 and declared “that’s as good as I can play.” Tom Watson also shot 75. Jack Nicklaus shot 78. Hal Sutton, the defending champion, said he was leaning so hard into the wind that he’d have fallen over if it suddenly stopped.

ROUND: 2016, Round 3
SCORING AVERAGE: 75.6
WINNER: Jason Day, 273 (-15)

It may be forever remembered as Ken Duke Day.

Duke’s 65 was more than 10 strokes better than the field average and one of just three scores in the 60s. Duke made birdie on six of his last seven holes.

This is the only round on this list from a PLAYERS conducted in May. It came on a warm spring day that baked the greens and made it nearly impossible for players to hold the putting surfaces.

Jason Day, who went on to win, may have tied TPC Sawgrass’ course record in the opening round and set the tournament’s 36-hole mark, but his third-round 73 was crucial to his victory. He was even par on the weekend but still won by four shots.

“I want to say this was the toughest day I’ve ever had to play in my life,” said Day, who won his first major and reached No. 1 in the world in 2015.

The Associated Press’ report said the greens “were like putting on glass.” Day four-putted from 18 feet on one hole.

Sergio Garcia took six putts from just off the sixth green. Paul Casey took five putts from 8 feet on 15.

“A 10-foot putt felt like it was 60 feet away,” Day said. There were 86 scores of double-bogey or worse and only six sub-par rounds.