What if The Players Was a Major? And Other Musings from TPC Sawgrass

A handful of Fried Egg Golf staffers are on-site this week at the Players Championship, and they have some thoughts to share after a busy few days at TPC Sawgrass.

If we wake up tomorrow and the entire golf world agrees ‘The Players is and always has been a major,’ whose career or resume would be most amplified? 

Brendan Porath: I am probably a prisoner of the current moment, but Rory McIlroy having five majors and the subject of “the drought” being quieted down would be very significant and needed for the current discourse.

Joseph LaMagna: I, too, may be falling victim to recency bias, but I think the answer is Scottie Scheffler. The world No. 1 is often referred to as the best player since Tiger Woods, a well-deserved descriptor. But he’s only won two majors. I have a lot of confidence that Scheffler will win more majors in his career, but it’s also entirely possible he’ll finish his career with two or three major championships and fall short of earning a spot as an all-time great. Imagine the hype around Scottie if he had four majors to his name right now.

Andy Johnson: Unlike my colleagues, I have a sense of history. Davis Love III was a generational talent and is widely considered one of the best players with one major. DL3 won the 1997 PGA Championship at Winged Foot and two Players Championships in 1992 and 2003. Given his great play for decades, three is much more fitting for his talent level.

One insight from being on the ground this week?

Brendan: So, so much. It could be the rumors of a draft announcement about the reunification announcement to be made a few weeks ago that seem like a fantasy now. But I’ll lean positive and just say this is probably the most dialed-in tournament in pro golf outside of the Masters. Everyone is so happy to be here – the players love the treatment and the fan experience is elite and humming after years of R&D. It makes sense, given the money and emphasis placed on it. The promotion or outside view may get exhausting, but it’s a fine-tuned party (this only goes for on-site – figure out the traffic disaster getting in!)

Joseph: Players have expressed mixed opinions about the re-installation of the tree overhanging the sixth tee box, but after watching two days of practice rounds and now seeing the tree in competition, I’m a proponent. Players can comfortably launch their stock fades on nearly every tee shot on the PGA Tour, so I welcome a distinct change of pace. Restricting players’ airspace is one of the few effective ways of forcing them to hit different types of shots, which exposes players who aren’t in full command of their game.

I watched a diversity of tee shots off the sixth tee on Thursday morning, ranging from a Robert MacIntyre shot that barely stayed out of the left-hand water to a Nate Lashley driver that nearly smoked the tree to multiple flares out right into the pine straw. The overhanging tree adds character, provokes a reaction from players, and is in accordance with Pete Dye’s vision. I’m a fan.

Andy: It’s been a few years since I have been back to TPC Sawgrass, and I forgot how many tee shots ask players to move a golf ball in a different direction. A great example is the second hole, where if you want to hit driver, you would ideally turn it over right to left, but at the least you have to hit a straight ball to find the fairway.

Sidenote: there’s a lot of backroom business going on at the Players. While it might not be one of the majors, it might be THE major when it comes to deals and meetings.

Something or someone that surprised you in the first round?

Brendan: Justin Thomas …