Gamers Championship 2024: Profitable transfer to March has TPC Sawgrass constantly producing nice champions

We don’t but know what’s in retailer for the sphere at TPC Sawgrass because the 2024 Gamers Championship tees off, however one factor about this match is definite. Since its return to a March date again in 2019, The Gamers has produced a run of elite main championship-level victors which have validated its transfer again to an earlier date.

The primary 12 months, it was Rory McIlroy. Then, after a one-year break because of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was Justin Thomas, Cameron Smith and Scottie Scheffler ripping off the final three titles in Ponte Vedra Seaside, Florida. Apparently, the leaderboards have been odd — Anirban Lahiri, David Lingmerth, Tom Hoge, anyone? However the winners? Nicely, the winners have been nice. 

Why is that?

“It is top-of-the-line golf programs we play all 12 months,” Patrick Cantlay mentioned Tuesday. This regardless of Cantlay having virtually no success at TPC Sawgrass — lacking three of the final 4 cuts with no high 10s in his profession on the course.

“It actually calls for sensible golf pictures, particularly off the tee. You hit a number of golf equipment that are not driver round right here, particularly when the wind adjustments route, and it is one of many golf programs most likely most on Tour that it’s important to management your golf ball. The areas are small, and there is massive penalty if you happen to do not play from the proper areas.”

This echoes one thing Scheffler mentioned not too long ago.

“I simply thought it was actually arduous,” the world’s No. 1 golfer informed the PGA Tour, sharing his first impressions of TPC Sawgrass. “I imply, you simply must hit it so good round this place to play effectively, and that is why you do not see the identical winners yearly is as a result of it does not actually go well with one sort of participant.

“In the event you take a look at the golf course, No. 1 requires a fade (off the tee), No. 2 is a draw. 4 is a fade, No. 5 is a fade, No. 7 is a draw. No. 9, you have to hit a fade, then a draw. No. 10 is a draw. No. 12 is a draw. 13 is a draw. You then get to No. 15, it is a lower. Sixteen is a draw, and 18 is a draw. It’s extremely attention-grabbing how the course works like that, and in order that’s why … one man simply hasn’t figured this place out.”

Joseph LaMagna of the Fried Egg has an analogous principle. He attributes TPC Sawgrass’ star winners and distinctive leaderboards to a pair of things. The primary: TPC Sawgrass has a number of hazards, and balls can generally extra simply roll into these hazards when it is firmer and windier in March (in comparison with when the occasion was once performed in Might). The second: Like Cantlay and Scheffler identified, it’s important to be completely flushing it. Here is LaMagna for Fried Egg:

Along with its prevalence of water hazards, TPC Sawgrass is exclusive amongst tour programs for a way harshly it penalizes wayward drives. The Stadium Course, on this regard, presents a a lot totally different off-the-tee check than, say, the South Course at Torrey Pines does. 

At Torrey, there may be solely a minor benefit (~0.05 strokes) to lacking the golf green by a couple of yards versus lacking it by a large margin. At TPC Sawgrass, there’s a giant distinction—greater than 0.25 strokes—between small and large misses off the tee. Critically wayward drives discover timber or water at Sawgrass, so precision is a requirement.

That is exactly what led to Scheffler’s win a 12 months in the past, a victory many deemed “boring” as a result of, you realize, it was. It is type of what Scheffler does. He makes sensible choices and has the power to execute them in addition to (or higher than) anybody on the planet. It is why’s taking part in at a comically good degree proper now.

However Scheffler just isn’t the one one, and TPC Sawgrass will definitely determine whoever is hitting it greatest this week. Listed here are a couple of others who’re hanging it effectively sufficient to separate themselves at a spot like TPC Sawgrass the place it might probably generally be a bit simpler to take action if one’s recreation is on level.

Tee to inexperienced play during the last 36 rounds

It might be shocking if somebody from outdoors of this group gained The Gamers this week, proper?

It may occur. Once more, you’ve Anirban Lahiri, Paul Casey, Russell Knox and Justin Suh who all completed within the high 10 over current years. Nonetheless, it is unlikely.

TPC Sawgrass has, no less than for the reason that transfer again to March in 2019, constantly recognized super champions, largely as a result of so most of the gamers hitting it greatest proper now are already super champions.