Better Than Most! The 2017 Players Is Here

I genuinely believe we're going to see a little more aggression, a little more creativity and more Players Championship energy thanks to some fun course setup and design tweaks. All without disrupting the fundamental character of TPC Sawgrass.

We'll know early on with PGA Tour Live coverage beginning at 7:30 am ET and going until, gulp 7 p.m. PGA Tour Live Coverage of the 12th and 17th holes begins at 9 am.

Golf Channel Times for Thursday, May 11

Morning Drive  7-9 a.m.
Live From THE PLAYERS  9 a.m.-1 p.m.
THE PLAYERS Championship (Round 1)  1-7 p.m.
Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS      7-9 p.m.

As for The Players...

Sergio Garcia was in fine spirits as he looks to win a second Players, writes Jeff Babineau. And as Ryan Lavner notes for GolfChannel.com, Garcia has a different caddie for a few weeks and he's a former European Tour winner. Oh, and he and Padraig are still fine.

Jason Day fans will want to read John Turner's Golfweek investigation of why there have been no back-to-back winners here.

Closer Look At TPC and Players Championship Changes

I believe the overall effect of changes at TPC Sawgrass--both manmade and Hurricane induced--will make for a livelier, better golf tournament, as I detailed here for Golfweek.com.

While No. 12 is getting all of the attention--players are saying it's too much risk and not enough reward reports Golfweek's Jeff Babineau--it's the short grass around greens and lighter rough that should induce a little more aggression and creativity.

Here's a prime example at No. 11 where one pot bunker remains, but the area is otherwise all tight turf. It's tad over-shaped in my view, but instead of thick-rough-covered mounds that had as much as 3 inches in recent years, the player may now be more enticed to go at the green because of the tight turf.

The recovery shots should also add viewing interest:

Now on to the 12th, where the Groupthink mentality of players and caddies has declared this an automatic lay-up hole. I'm pretty certain by Sunday that this will not have been an automatic layup hole and in fact, a pretty interesting risk-reward hole.

A few things to look for, starting with the view just above the tee (a prime spectator spot btw). The layup area is pretty distinct and notice the lower elevation of that area, which sets up an obstructed view approach shot.

The view from the layup shows how much the TPC Sawgrass mounding impairs the view.

Here's the reward for those who carry the fairway bunker about 270 off the tee.

The TV tower rear view shows off the tight mow that leads to the lake. Lots of griping about the slope so far, but I think we need to wait and see.

The photo here doesn't show it, but there are two rear and right upslope bumps reminiscent of old Donald Ross greens (nice touch!).

The slope and hazard:

Getting In The Mood For Changes At The Players

You'll hear about the new 12th, revamped 6th and 7th, a new entrance drive and revitalized driving range at next week's Players Championship.

But to get a good for feel for those changes and to see things presented in new, fun ways, check out this PGATour.com feature from Sean Martin and the photo/video team in Ponte Vedra.

After seeing all of this, the new grass lawn effect to the first tee struck me as the most interesting for players. The overall effort seems to be a simplication and toning down of some bombast, but obviously most of the attention will be given to the new risk-reward 12th replacing the old risk-risk 12th.

Jason Day and others also contribute thoughts to the package.

First Look From Above: New TPC Sawgrass 12th Hole

Granted it's just a teaser and we'll no doubt get a much closer look at all the details in May, but the renovated 12th hole at TPC Sawgrass looks like a fun risk-reward short par-4.

A sound risk-reward blend is not normally Pete Dye's style--he tends to favor all risk holes--but he still narrates the video embed below. While we know he didn't write the script because of the hospitality enhancement mention, it's still good to hear he endorses the much-needed change to what was not an interesting hole.

Photo gallery here.

Video: Will Mackenzie's All-World 17th Hole Recovery

This is a man who has played some backyard H-O-R-S-E in his time. My Loop write-up on one of the better up-and-downs of the year.

And the shot:

Update on 2015-05-09 12:25 by Geoff

**Matt Kuchar matched Mackenzie with this backhanded shot that salvaged a 4.