Ranking the 6 Best Shots at TPC Sawgrass

The Players Championship has produced some iconic shots in its nearly 25 years of history. From Jerry Pate to Hal Sutton to Tiger Woods, TPC Sawgrass has seen some special moments. 

What are the criteria for ranking the "best"? The difficulty of the shot relative to what a pro can expect to face, the shot's significance within the tournament and how memorable/enduring it was—all rated out of 10. 

One of the best calls in recent memory—"...better than most!"—and one of the great player pleadings—"be the right club, today!"—make our list.  

Check out our six best to see the other wonder shots. 

6. Nick Price, 1993: 4th Round, 4th Hole, 2nd Shot

The shot: Nick Price found himself with a tricky approach after a wayward tee shot. Ninety-nine percent of recreational golfers would badly chunk or blade this shot. Price played a near-perfect approach under the circumstances.

Difficulty: 8.

A professional should be able to get the ball near the green from Price's position. But to put it almost exactly where you'd want to and utilize the green's slope from the lie Price had were remarkable. 

Significance in tournament: 7.

The shot didn't directly set up victory, but it did keep his final round from going off the rails early. 

Memorability: 6.

A great shot? Yes. Have you seen it played a million times in Players hype videos? No. 

Total: 21

5. Craig Perks, 2002: 4th Round, 16th Hole, 3rd Shot

The shot: Using the adjective we traditionally affix to his name, "unheralded" Craig Perks pitched in for eagle to trigger a run of two inspired holes that ended with him holding The Players Championship trophy in 2002. 

Difficulty: 7.

Delicate pitch to a green that looks as slippery as a skating rink. He didn't get the speed totally right, but the hole got in the way. 

Significance in tournament: 8.

This pitch set up the brilliance that followed, but by itself it didn't earn the golfer a trophy, like a few shots further on in the list did. 

Memorability: 8.

The birdie putt that followed on No. 17 and his pitch at No. 18 actually diminish the memorability of this particular pitch-in. The whole stretch gets a "10" for memorability, to be sure. 

Total: 23

4. Tiger Woods, 2001: 3rd Round, 17th Hole, 2nd Shot

The shot: "Better than most." Woods holed this beauty from the back of the 17th green en route to his Players triumph in 2001.  

Difficulty: 8.

It was definitely a "hit it and hope" type of putt. Even with the right read, you're not going to make this putt more than once in 10 tries. It was a huge element of luck here to get it to fall but brilliant work to get it to settle near the hole. 

Significance in tournament: 6.

A momentum boost? Sure. And while Tiger ultimately won the tournament, this beauty came in the third round. 

Memorability: 10.

You've seen this clip a million times. You'll see it a million more. 

Total: 24

3. Sergio Garcia, 2008: 4th Round, 17th Hole (Playoff), 1st Shot

The shot: Sergio Garcia stuffed this approach shot to topple Paul Goydos in a playoff at the 2008 Players Championship. It was a brilliant (and rare) instance of the Spaniard rising to the occasion. 

Difficulty: 7.

It's not a difficult shot, especially for a great iron player like Garcia, except for the whole island green, sucker pin, playoff-to-win-a-PGA-Tour-event thing...

Significance in tournament: 10.

This shot earned him the victory. It couldn't be more significant. 

Memorability: 8.

It doesn't get the highlight-reel love that it should. 

Total: 25

2. Jerry Pate, 1982: 4th Round, 18th Hole, 2nd Shot

The shot: Jerry Pate's brilliant iron strike to set up his winning putt is overshadowed by the fact that it also led to him throwing commissioner Deane Beman in the water after he won. Pate needed a par but decided to take dead aim. It was a big-time play. 

Difficulty: 8.

Long iron. Under pressure. Water left. Nothing easy here. 

Significance in tournament: 10.

The shot set up the putt to win the tournament. It was the most important shot in the event for Pate. 

Memorability: 9.

This shot put the Players on the map. And further, who can forget the pink golf ball? 

Total: 27

1. Hal Sutton, 2000: 4th Round, 18th Hole, 2nd Shot

The shot: "Be the right club, today!" Hall Sutton uttered those words as his iron approach to the 72nd hole of the 2000 Players pierced the Florida sky. He needed it to "be right" as birdie would earn him The Players Championship. It was.  

Difficulty: 8.

It was not the toughest iron shot to stiff, but under the circumstances (needing to stiff it, staring down Tiger Woods) it was very tough. 

Significance in tournament: 10.

Sutton's approach set up his winning birdie putt for a one-stroke win over Tiger Woods. 

Memorability: 10. 

This shot, along with Pate's and Woods', lives in the upper pantheon of Players moments. Say "be the right club, today!" to 10 casual golf fans, and nine will know that you're talking about. 

Total: 28