PGA: An Old Chinese Proverb

With Tiger Woods not in the field at The Players Championship this week, a glorious opportunity exists for those players already in the automatic qualifying places for the American & European Ryder Cup teams to finally establish their positions. The same goes for those aspiring to play at Valhalla later in the year, either by establishing themselves as automatic choices or impressing the respective captains (Paul Azinger & Nick Faldo) to include them as "picks".

However, there are quite a number of contestants who are not concerned, one way or the other about The Ryder Cup, but will certainly be endeavoring to add "The 5th Major" to their curriculum vitaes.

They include: Adam Scott, Vijay Singh, KJ Choi, Stuart Appleby, Ernie Els, Angel Cabrera, Stephen Ames, etc. etc.

The TPC Sawgrass, the home of the championship, measures 7,215 yards, with a par of 72. Jack Nicklaus won the title three times and Davis Love III, Steve Elkington, Fred Couples & Hal Sutton recorded two wins each.

The youngest winner to date has been Adam Scott (23) in 2004 and the oldest, Fred Funk (48) the following year.

The only European to win so far is Sandy Lyle in 1987 and the course record is 63, jointly held by Fred Couples (1992) and Greg Norman (1994)

A course not to be trifled with, every hole has it's own characteristics, however, the 17th sits head and shoulders above the rest. It presents an opportunity to take a giant leap into the future.

It has destroyed many hopes and ruined many cards over the years. Bob Tway used 12 shots to complete the 17th in 2005 and the number of bogies and double bogies mounts year by year.

NBC uses 10 of their 42 cameras on the course to cover the events at the 17th. where triumph and disaster will go hand in hand this week.

Put in very simple terms, only 4,932 inches separates "the men from the boys" and he who conquers the obstacle with a par-three, or less over the four rounds will be a worthy champion.

From the first hole on Thursday to the final green on Sunday, it will be a very long journey, but every entrant will carry in his heart, the old Chinese proverb: EVEN THE LONGEST JOURNEY MUST BEGIN WITH THE FIRST STEP.