In terms of down-the-stretch drama, there are few courses that pack a closing punch like Players Championship host TPC Sawgrass.
The Stadium course’s final three holes — the par-5 16th, with water in play seemingly everywhere; the famous island green par-3 17th, where water is literally everywhere; and the par-4 18th, which features water on the entire left side of the hole — are tailor-made for a nail-biting finish, making the course a perfect venue for one of golf’s other marquee events: the Ryder Cup.
Could TPC Sawgrass ever host the biennial showdown between the U.S. and Europe? On the surface, it doesn’t seem likely, with the PGA of America running the Ryder Cup and the PGA Tour owning TPC Sawgrass. But that didn’t stop Subpar hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz from contemplating what if on this week’s episode.
“Imagine a Ryder Cup at TPC Sawgrass coming down the stretch,” Knost mused. “I mean, like we did this past year, this whole thing is locked up and you’re standing on 17 tee. You got the ball.”
“I know it’s PGA Tour and PGA of America. Figure it out, for the fans,” Stoltz said.
“I think everyone would just love that so much,” Knost agreed.
“Year after year, with a few exceptions, it’s an unbelievable leaderboard,” Stoltz added. “Best players in the world. It gets you the best players and the best drama.”
Knost also sang the praises of Sawgrass’ course design.
“It’s just such a genius design by Pete Dye,” he said. “He makes the players think so much, and he makes them look at something that they know is trouble. And then make them bail out, and it turns out the bailout is normally worse than the trouble.
“When you get their heads spinning out there like TPC Sawgrass does,” he continued. “That’s when we see these guys really get tested.”
For more from Knost and Stoltz, including the tournament they think should open the PGA Tour season, check out the full episode below.
