6) Bob Tway’s 12 in 2005
Poor old Bob Tway. Four balls in the water at 12 and then a three putt from nowhere… when it’s not your day.
Somewhere, in some part of the world, Greg Norman could be found chuckling to himself (if you know, you know).
Tway’s first two tee-shots went straight in while numbers three and four spun off the front. It remains the highest score on the hole in The Players.
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5) Craig Perks pulls off the finish of dreams in 2002
Was there ever a more remarkable ‘moment in the sun’ than the unheralded New Zealand golfer’s in 2002?
Between 2002 and 2007, Perks played in eight Majors and five Players tournaments, missing the cut ten times.
However on one glorious week he shone so bright, chipping in twice at 16 and 18 in the final round on his way to a two-shot success. In between that he holed across the green at 17 for a birdie that gave him a two-shot cushion over Stephen Ames.
It would be his only PGA Tour win and in that year he was named New Zealand’s sportsman of the year.
4) Steve Lowery’s ball stolen by a seagull in 1998
The most famous seagull in golf had quite a bit of fun with Lowery’s ball before finally flying off with it.
The bird also dropped it in the water but the American was able to replace it without penalty. If an outside agent moves the ball after it has stopped you don’t suffer a penalty.
3) Fred Couples’ par like no other in 1999
Freddy’s third entry on the list and arguably the most extraordinary par ever made in golf.
In the first round the two-time Players champion was really struggling and, at 17, he dumped his tee shot in the water. Making the cut looked like a big ask.
But then, from virtually the very same spot, his beautifully flighted nine iron went straight in the hole for a par.
He would just make it for the weekend and a brilliant 68 in tough conditions on Sunday saw him finish in a tie for fourth.
2) Rickie Fowler’s play-off joy in 2015
The 2015 tournament was special for a lot of reasons, especially as it will almost certainly end up as the biggest win of Rickie Fowler’s career. The supremely talented Californian arrived at The Players having gained a fifth, a third and two runners-up in the previous year’s Majors.,
The nearly man tag was weighing heavily but in 2015 he was the guy to come through on Sunday, shooting a 65 to set up a 3-hole play-off with Sergio Garcia and Kevin Kisner. Kisner and Fowler finished one under while Garcia was level par and then it went to a sudden death at 17.
With Kisner about 18 feet away – the pin was in its usual front right Sunday position – Fowler went straight at it and stuck his tee shot to three-and-a-half feet to set up a famous success.
1) Tiger Woods putt for birdie in 2001
Tiger had 60 feet for birdie on the 17th as he was engaged in a great battle with Vijay Singh. Having stuck his tee shot to the back, he had a triple breaker and the camera was beautifully positioned to track the ball as it meandered its way towards the hole.
The shot was given extra significance with Gary Koch’s now iconic ‘Better than most’ line, which he repeats three times with increasing intensity.
The crowd explodes as the ball drops in and Woods’ famous fist pump was more animated than normal. The birdie set up the first of his two Players victories.
Part 1, Part 2
