tpc sawgrass course tour

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER WINS THE PLAYERS 2024

Scottie Scheffler goes back-to-back at THE PLAYERS Championship in Sunday thriller at TPC Sawgrass

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EXPLORE ELEVATED EXPERIENCES AT THE PLAYERS 2025

The PGA TOUR presents THE PLAYERS Championship as the Gold Standard in sports and entertainment.

Stadium Pass

A Stadium Pass is a ticket that grants you general grounds access, as well as entry to open-to-the-public spaces at THE PLAYERS Championship.

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THE PGA TOUR presents THE PLAYERS Championship as the Gold Standard in sports and entertainment.

EXPERIENCES

Past Champions

The competitor who hoists THE PLAYERS trophy knows that he has beaten the very best and cemented his place in history as a champion.

Stadium Course

Enjoy a hole-by-hole tour of THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

Plan Your PLAYERS

Everything you need to make the most of your trip to THE PLAYERS Championship.

March 11-16, 2025

THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass

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THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

2024 Champion

Scottie Scheffler

Already the best in the world, Scottie Scheffler added another layer to his legend Sunday. He became the first player to win back-to-back in 50 years of THE PLAYERS Championship by matching the biggest comeback and the lowest closing round by a winner.

Scheffler holed out for eagle from the fourth fairway and had four birdies in a five-hole stretch around the turn, sending him to an 8-under 64 and a one-shot victory that wasn’t decided until the final putt.

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TPC SAWGRASS

Location: Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Designed By: Deane Beman, Pete Dye

Total Yardage: 7,245 Yards

THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass was constructed with a very particular goal: build a course from the ground up with the spectators in mind. As crowds continued to grow in number, the thought was that TPC Sawgrass needed to be more accommodating to the masses, with an emphasis on making it one of the best on-site fan experiences in the world.

Florida is blessed with majestic beaches, picture-perfect sunsets, and some of the finest golf in the world. Of all the pristine courses in the Sunshine State, TPC Sawgrass takes the cake as one of the premier destinations for tournament-style golf. The Stadium Course became the permanent home of THE PLAYERS Championship—the PGA TOUR’s flagship event—in 1982, but it was also built to be one of the few courses open to the public and playable by anyone.

This prestigious course doesn’t cater to any one specific playstyle, forcing players to think differently about how they approach each shot. What will your strategy be in PGA TOUR 2K23 ?

Featured Hole: No. 17 (137 yards, par 3)

The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is among the most iconic in all of golf. Most golfers approach water hazards by thinking ‘the water isn’t there,’ but on this hole, it’s impossible not to notice the vast lake surrounding the island green. 

The 137-yard par-3 17th hole is not a long hole by any means. However, add in the water surrounding the hole, and the tee shot gives even the world’s best golfers a nerve-racking, bucket-list defining moment. For a hole so famous, it is hard to believe that the ‘island green’ concept was not part of the Stadium Course’s original design plans. Throw a dart on this monumental hole in PGA TOUR 2K23 and you'll have earned those cheers from the crowd.

MORE COURSES

PINEHURST NO. 2

PAYNE'S VALLEY

THE RENAISSANCE CLUB

WILMINGTON COUNTRY CLUB

ST. GEORGE'S GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB

TORREY PINES

TPC Sawgrass

Home of THE PLAYERS Championship, birthplace of the TPC (Tournament Players Club) Network, and backdrop to the PGA TOUR headquarters, the TPC Sawgrass golf course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., is perhaps the world’s most famous golf course. THE PLAYERS Stadium Course sports one of the most recognizable and challenging holes on the PGA TOUR. The notorious par-3, 17th hole, features an island green that makes or breaks many a PGA TOUR pro’s round.

THE PLAYERS Stadium was built to challenge the pros like no other golf course had done before, while providing an unprecedented experience for spectators at the same time.

Golf enthusiasts will find not one, but two PGA TOUR championship courses at the club, both designed by world-renowned architect Pete Dye. THE PLAYERS Stadium and Dye’s Valley Course offer two, perfectly balanced game experiences. The two golf courses wind through North Florida’s naturally compelling landscape.

TPC Sawgrass is not only one of the top Florida golf resorts, but it is recognized nationally by multiple golf publications as a destination. THE PLAYERS Stadium Course is ranked the No. 2 golf course in Florida by Golf Digest magazine and it ranks consistently among the Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Course. (No. 51 in 2017). Additionally, Golfweek honored THE PLAYERS Stadium Course as the top course you can play in Florida and ranked it tenth among the Best Resort Courses in 2016.

Dye’s Valley Course, commonly referred to as the “Valley Course” and is just under 6,900 yards. The golf course previously served as the home for the Web.com Tour Championship (2014 & 2015) and the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open (2010-2013). Dye’s Valley was ranked No. 14 in Golf Digest’s 2015 rankings of Best Courses You Can Play in Florida.

Zurich Classic of New Orleans

TPC Louisiana

Course Reviews

Don't pass up an invite to any of these "second-best" courses

courtesy of Sea Island

Kiawah Island, located south of Charleston on the Atlantic Ocean, is one of the country’s great golf resorts with a menu of five different courses that each reveal aspects of the distinctive environment that makes golf in the Lowcountry so unique. But Kiawah Island wouldn’t be among the game’s most desirable destinations without its marquee attraction, The Ocean Course, ranked No. 24 on America’s 100 Greatest Courses and host venue of two PGA Championships and a Ryder Cup.

As fun and interesting as Kiawah Island’s other four courses are, everyone who visits wants to play The Ocean Course —if you went there and didn’t get a round in, you’d know you missed out on a rare experience.

Resorts like Bandon Dunes and Streamsong don’t have second and third courses—they are all 1A, 1B, 1C and so on (the five Bandon courses and three Streamsong layouts are all members of the America’s 100 Greatest and Second 100 Greatest Courses). Most resorts, however, have a main attraction that pulls golfers in, with one or more character actors around it playing supporting roles.

The same is true for some private clubs. Places like Baltusrol and Winged Foot each have 36 holes ranked among the 100 Greatest, but others like Medinah in Chicago, Los Angeles Country Club and Olympic Club in San Francisco built their reputations on singular architectural expressions that have historically overshadowed their secondary courses (Note: Medinah’s famed #3 course reopens this year after a major transformation by the Australian firm of Ogilvy, Cocking and Mead, and Olympic Club will soon embark on a reimagining of its Ocean Course by Jim Urbina).

Not all clubs and resorts suffer from lead/understudy syndrome. Some 1s and 2s are closer in quality and architectural intrigue than others. Though they rarely get the same level of publicity or ranking respect as their counterparts, these are our 10 favorite “little brothers” at multicourse public and resort properties, plus two bonus private clubs with underrated second options. If you skipped any of these off-Broadway productions, you’d be missing a show worth seeing.

Scroll through my selection of best "second courses," and be sure to click through to each individual course page for bonus photography and reviews from our course panelists. We also encourage you to leave your own ratings on the courses you’ve played … so you can make your case for why each course deserves, or doesn't deserve, more notoriety.

Arcadia Bluffs South Course

Arcadia, mi.

• 100 Greatest Public
• Best In State

Atlanta Athletic Club: Riverside

Johns creek, ga.

Omni Barton Creek Resort: Crenshaw Cliffside

Bethpage State Park: Red

Farmingdale, ny.

The Broadmoor Golf Club West Course

Colorado springs, co.

French Lick Resort: Donald Ross Course

French lick, in.

Oak Hill Country Club (West)

Rochester, ny.

PGA National Resort: Match Course

Palm beach gardens, fl.

PGA West: Pete Dye Mountain

La quinta, ca.

Pinehurst Resort: #3

Pinehurst, nc.

Sea Island: Plantation

Saint simons island, ga.

Torrey Pines Golf Course: North

La jolla, ca.

Explore  Golf Digest's new Course Reviews section  where you can submit a star rating and evaluation on all the courses you’ve played. We've collected tens of thousands of reviews from our course-ranking panelists to deliver a premium experience, which includes course rankings, experts' opinions, bonus course photography, videos and much more.  Check it out here !

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Tours and Tastes at the TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse in Ponte Vedra Beach

The Mediterranean-Style, 77,000 square foot clubhouse at TPC Sawgrass is a majestic centerpiece for the club, providing TOUR-standard hospitality to members and guests alike.

Blending elegant, old-world charm with modern, upscale amenities, the TPC Clubhouse features a variety of dining options, an expansive gallery, beautifully appointed banquet and meeting space and a world-class golf shop.

The clubhouse is open for the public to enjoy with storyteller docents on hand to help every guest explore the club’s wide array of PGA TOUR memorabilia.

The Clubhouse’s restaurants - NINETEEN , Traditions and Champions - are located on the main floor and are perfect for dining and corporate meetings. Take your meal on the Clubhouse Terrace where you can enjoy views of the 9th fairway and the 18th hole of the Stadium Course , home of THE PLAYERS tournament .

Whether your focus is on just one area, or you want to indulge in all “ways of wellness” continue on to see how you can embrace Ponte Vedra Wellness.

Related Content:

TPC Sawgrass 110 Championship Way Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082

NINETEEN at TPC Sawgrass 110 Championship Way Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida 32082

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Every PGA Tour course YOU can play, ranked by price

W ith PGA Tour heading to a municipal golf course this week in Memorial Park for the Houston Open , it marks one of the cool times you can play the same shots the pros play.

But, it’s really not that rare of an occurrence.

While the 2002 U.S. Open was celebrated as “the People’s U.S. Open” for being played at a municipal golf course, Bethpage Black, for the first time, the PGA Tour has actually been playing at munis and public access courses for decades.

Last week’s Valspar Championship host, Innisbrook Resort’s Copperhead course, is public. So too is TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship, although it may cost a pretty penny . With a stay at the famous Bay Hill Lodge, you can also secure a tee time at host of the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

Even two of this year’s major championship hosts are open to the public.

In fact, of the 39 events on the PGA Tour this season, 20 of them will be contested on 23 different golf courses that you can play.

But playing PGA Tour tracks doesn’t come cheap with greens fees at some courses surpassing $500 while many of the resorts require you to stay on the property.

Keep reading below for a list of all the PGA Tour’s public access courses for the 2024 season, ranked by greens fee.

PGA Tour public-access courses

1. memorial park golf course.

City: Houston, Texas.

Tournament: Texas Children’s Houston Open

Type: Municipal

Peak Green fee: $140

2. TPC San Antonio – Oaks

City: San Antonio, Texas.

Tournament: Valero Texas Open

Type: Resort

Peak Green fee: $149

3. Torrey Pines – North

City: San Diego, Calif.

Tournament: Farmers Insurance Open

Peak Green fee: $185

4. Grand Reserve Golf Club

City: Rio Grande, Puerto Rico

Tournament: Puerto Rico Open

Peak Green fee: $225 + tax

5. Innisbrook – Copperhead

City: Palm Harbor, Fla.

Tournament: Valspar Championship

Peak Green fee: Stay and play packages starting at $465

6. TPC Deere Run

City: Silvis, Ill.

Tournament: John Deere Classic

Type: Public

Peak Green fee: $269

7. Vidanta Vallarta

City: Vallarta, Mexico

Tournament: Mexico Open at Vidanta

Peak Green fee: $270

8. Tahoe Mountain Club – Olde Greenwood

City: Truckee, Calif.

Tournament: Barracuda Championship

Type: Resort/semi-private

Peak Green fee: $275

9. Torrey Pines – South

Peak Green fee: $292

10. TPC Louisiana

City:  Avondale, Louisiana

Tournament: Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Peak Green fee: $299

11. PGA National – Champion

City: Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Tournament: Cognizant Classic in the Palm Beaches

Peak Green fee: $347

12. PGA West – Dye Stadium Course

City: La Quinta, Calif.

Tournament: The American Express

Peak Green fee: $356

13. PGA West – Nicklaus Tournament Course

Peak Green fee: $399

14. Royal Troon

City: Troon, South Ayrshire, Scotland

Tournament: 152nd Open Championship

Type: Private (Allows vistors)

Peak Green fee: £340

15. The Plantation Course at Kapalua

City: Kapalua, Maui, Hawaii

Tournament: The Sentry

Peak Green fee: $459 + tax

16. Pinehurst No. 2

City: Pinehurst, N.C.

Tournament: 124th U.S. Open

Peak Green fee: $470

17. Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge

City: Orlando, Fla.

Tournament: Arnold Palmer Invitational

Peak Green fee: $475

T18. Spyglass Hill Golf Course

City: Pebble Beach, Calif.

Tournament: AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am

Peak Green fee: $495 + cart fee

T18. Puntacana Resort and Club – Corales Course

City: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Tournament: Corales Puntacana Championship

Peak Green fee: $495

20. TPC Scottsdale

City: Scottsdale, Ariz.

Tournament: WM Phoenix Open

Peak Green fee: $551

21. Habour Town Golf Links

City: Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Tournament: RBC Heritage

Peak Green fee: $567

22. Pebble Beach Golf Links

Peak Green fee: $675 + cart fee

23. TPC Sawgrass

City: Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

Tournament: The Players Championship

Peak Green fee: $900

The post Every PGA Tour course YOU can play, ranked by price appeared first on Golf .

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Zurich Classic 2024: Odds, predictions, picks for PGA Tour team event

The only team event on the PGA Tour is here, as TPC Louisiana takes center stage in hosting the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

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The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is unlike any other event on the PGA Tour .

Instead of individual stroke play for 72 holes, this tournament employs a team format that features two players each.

For Thursday’s first round and Saturday’s third round, teams will play Four-ball, which means each player will play their own ball. The best score among the two players is then taken on each hole for the team. Then, for Friday’s second round and Sunday’s final round, teams will compete in foursomes—also known as alternate shot—so only one score is tallied per hole.

Of the 80 teams in the field, the top 33 and ties make it to the weekend. The winning team receives 800 FedEx Cup points—400 to each player—and two-year exemptions on the PGA Tour. However, the victors do not receive invitations to The Masters the following year, nor do they obtain any Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) points.

Zurich Classic of New Orleans Odds:

Here are the current odds for the teams to win, per DraftKings:

• Patrick Cantlay & Xander Schauffele +500
• Rory McIlroy & Shane Lowry +800
• Will Zalatoris & Sahith Theegala +1100
• Collin Morikawa & Kurt Kitayama +1600
• Tom Hoge & Maverick McNealy +2500
• Matt Fitzpatrick & Alex Fitzpatrick +2500
• Taylor Pendrith & Corey Conners +3500
• Rasmus Højgaard & Nicolai Højgaard +3500
• Taylor Montgomery & Ben Griffin +4000
• Sepp Straka & Ben Griffin +4000
• Nick Taylor & Adam Hadwin +4000
• Keith Mitchell & Joel Dahmen +4000
• Brice Garnett & Sepp Straka +4000

Zurich Classic of New Orleans Predictions

An all-Irish duo of Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry highlight this year’s Zurich Classic in New Orleans. But so do Patrick Cantlay and Xander Schauffele —the only team that comprises two players ranked within the top 10 of the OWGR.

Three sets of brothers will also compete, including the Fitzpatrick’s, who tied for 19th a year ago here. Netflix’s season two of Full Swing underscored their triumphs and tribulations from this event through The Open Championship last season.

The other brothers in this week’s field include the formidable Danish duo of Nicolai and Rasmus Højgaard and Americans Pierceson and Parker Coody. As such, the 2024 Zurich Classic marks the first time in PGA Tour history that two sets of twins will compete in the same event.

Cantlay, Schauffele contend but fall short again

Cantlay and Schauffele arrive in the Bayou as the odds-on favorites, and rightfully so. They form the best team on paper, but Cantlay has not had a terrific 2024 campaign.

The former UCLA Bruin currently ranks 91st on tour in overall strokes gained and 149th in strokes gained, approaching the green this season. He only has two top-10 finishes as well.

Cantlay’s iron play has sorely let him down, but perhaps he discovered something last week at Harbour Town. He tied for 3rd at the RBC Heritage and ranked 5th in strokes gained approaching the green on a golf course that places a premium on iron play. That marked his best finish since the Genesis Invitational , where he held the lead for most of the tournament but ultimately tied for 4th.

Meanwhile, Schauffele has had a marvelous season, ranking second behind Scottie Scheffler in overall strokes gained. He tied for 18th at the RBC Heritage, but prior to that, he recorded three straight top 10s, which includes a tie for 2nd at TPC Sawgrass and a solo 8th at Augusta National .

It would not surprise us if this duo went on to win the Zurich Classic of New Orleans once again. After all, they did so in 2022 with an incredible score of 29-under par. But these two golfers have struggled to finish the job this year when the light has shined brightest. We envision that narrative persisting, especially since they arrive as heavy favorites with all eyes watching them.

The Winners: A pair of young American stars

We like the team of Sahith Theegala and Will Zalatoris to prevail this week in Louisiana. They arrive with the third-lowest odds at +1100, a solid price for these young stars.

Theegala, fresh off a solo second finish at the RBC Heritage, already has five top 10s this season. He has an innate ability to shape whatever shot he desires and ranks 13th on the PGA Tour in strokes gained: putting. That, coupled with Zalatoris’ pedigree of being a terrific ball-striker, leads us to believe that Theegala and Zalatoris will triumph.

Plus, these two have a great camaraderie with one another, as emphasized by Theegala’s remarks after his solid week in Harbour Town.

“I’m super excited. I just want to win really badly with Will. I’m pumped that he agreed to play with me and know he’s going to carry me a little bit, but we’re just going to have such a good time, and I think our games mesh really well,” Theegala said Monday.

“We’re going to give each other some crap if we hit bad shots and give each other plenty of love for the good shots. It’s going to be a lot of fun, and I think really just going to try and take it down.”

Interestingly, Theegala and Zalatoris have each won once before on the PGA Tour. Theegala’s maiden victory came at the Fortinet Championship last September, while Zalatoris prevailed for the first time in August 2022 at the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

They know what it takes to win. But the circumstances change somewhat this week, as these players enter unfamiliar territory playing on a team professionally. Neither has competed in the Presidents Cup or Ryder Cup , but Zalatoris did compete in the 2017 Walker Cup as an amateur at the Los Angeles Country Club .

Still, these two entertaining Americans will rely on each other’s strengths to win the Zurich Classic.

Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Be sure to check out @_PlayingThrough for more golf coverage. You can follow him on Twitter @jack_milko as well.

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Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry share lead in team event at TPC of Louisiana

Rory McIlroy, right, of Northern Ireland, and teammate Shane Lowry, of Ireland, walk down the first fairway during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits of the second tee during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, right, of Northern Ireland, reacts to the crowd after making a birdie putt on the second green during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, hits off the first fairway during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Collin Morikawa hits off the second tee during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, changes clubs on the second green during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Collin Morikawa hits off the fourth tee during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Kurt Kitayama reacts on the this green during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A baby alligator peers from the water along the ninth green during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Kurt Kitayama, foreground, and Shane Lowry, of Ireland, behind, wipe their heads after finishing their day on the 18th hole during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Billy Horschel reacts after making his putt on the ninth green during the first round of the PGA Zurich Classic golf tournament at TPC Louisiana in Avondale, La., Thursday, April 25, 2024. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

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AVONDALE, La. (AP) — Rory McIlroy is enjoying his first visit to New Orleans — on and off the course.

McIlroy and Shane Lowry shot an 11-under 61 in fourball play Thursday for a share of the first-round lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA Tour’s only team event.

The Irish duo shared the lead with the teams of Ryan Brehm-Mark Hubbard, Ben Kohles-Patton Kizzire and Aaron Rai-David Lipsky.

Davis Thompson-Andrew Novak, Thomas Detry-Robert MacIntyre and Cameron Champ-M.J. Daffue were at 62 Twenty teams were 9 under or better on a crowded leaderboard at TPC of Louisiana.

McIlroy’s introduction to New Orleans included a sampling of crab beignets from popular restaurant La Petite Grocery on Wednesday night, a meal he shared with Lowry. On Thursday, they feasted on the Pete Dye layout, birdieing their first four holes.

“I’ve had a wonderful time so far,” McIlroy said. “I’ve only been here a couple of days but we’re staying downtown. It’s a cool city, great food scene.”

McIlroy had the team’s first three birdies, although on the par-5 second Lowry was inches away but watched as his teammate knocked in a putt of about 4 feet. After a pair of pedestrian pars, they birdied four of the next six holes before closing out with a birdie on the par-5 18th to gain a share of the lead.

“We both played nice golf,” Lowry said, emphasizing the importance getting off to a fast start. “We both made some nice birdies and contributed to the team, and I think we’re very happy with the day.”

Brehm and Hubbard mirrored McIlroy and Lowry with four opening birdies. The team made the turn in 6-under par 30 and bookended birdies on the 10th and 11th and 17th and 18th holes on the back nine.

“Just like usual, we ham-and-egged it,” Brehm said. “I don’t think either of us were feeling amazing about our games coming into the day, but we just feed off each other really well. “I was doing a lot of spectating today.”

Russ Cochran, the oldest player in the field at 65, made his first PGA Tour star since 2013, teaming with Eric Cole for a 69 that left them tied for 73rd. Cochran’s son, Reed Cochran, is Cole’s caddie. Cole had a hole-in-one on No. 14.

On Friday, they will play alternative shot.

“Looking forward to getting out in foursomes tomorrow,” Lowry said. “It’s a format that’s tougher, but it is an enjoyable format.

McIlroy was noncommittal Thursday when asked if he and Lowry would attend the popular New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday afternoon. The duo have an 8:53 a.m. tee time Friday.

“Who’s playing tomorrow night, do you know?” McIlroy asked his good friend.

“No, I’m not going out anywhere,” Lowry said with a laugh. “I’m staying out of trouble.”

Jazz Fest notwithstanding, McIlroy joked he hopes the pairing has a late tee time Saturday, meaning they will be close to the lead.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

About TPC Sawgrass: Golf, History, Clubhouse & More

• How to Play – FAQ
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About TPC Sawgrass

Just 12 miles from Jacksonville, Fla., and 20 miles north of historic St. Augustine, TPC Sawgrass offers two championship golf courses that are open for the public to enjoy – THE PLAYERS Stadium Course, Home of THE PLAYERS Championship, and Dye’s Valley Course.

Ranked as #1 on Golf Advisor’s 2017 – Top 10 Golf Courses in the US, TPC Sawgrass is also a three-time recipient of the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.  They have been honored as a top-10 ranked resort golf course in the United States and the top-ranked golf course in Florida, by Golfweek magazine. The Club is also part of the PGA TOUR’s acclaimed TPC Network, which includes sister golf courses such as TPC Scottsdale, host of the Waste Management Phoenix Open and TPC Southwind, host of the World Golf Championships-FedEx St. Jude Invitational.

Master architect Pete Dye designed both golf courses, with The Stadium Course being the most recognizable thanks to the intimidating par-3, 17th hole that features the famed island green.

Dye’s Valley Course was recently recognized in Golfweek Magazine as one of the “Best Courses You Can Play” in the state of Florida. With the same standards of excellence found at the Stadium Course, but a quieter, unassuming feel, Dye’s Valley Course rounds out a complete experience at TPC Sawgrass.Unparalleled golf is just the beginning of what makes your TPC Sawgrass experience during your Florida golf vacation so extraordinary. As our guest, you’re invited to take advantage of all the services and amenities we offer:

• Award Winning Restaurants
• Corporate & Charitable Groups
• Groups & Outings

Book your tee time or your golf vacation at TPC Sawgrass today.

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Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry share lead in team event at TPC of Louisiana

AVONDALE, La. — Rory McIlroy is enjoying his first visit to New Orleans — on and off the course.

McIlroy and Shane Lowry shot an 11-under 61 in fourball play Thursday for a share of the first-round lead in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, the PGA Tour’s only team event.

The Irish duo shared the lead with the teams of Ryan Brehm-Mark Hubbard, Ben Kohles-Patton Kizzire and Aaron Rai-David Lipsky.

Davis Thompson-Andrew Novak, Thomas Detry-Robert MacIntyre and Cameron Champ-M.J. Daffue were at 62 Twenty teams were 9 under or better on a crowded leaderboard at TPC of Louisiana.

McIlroy’s introduction to New Orleans included a sampling of crab beignets from popular restaurant La Petite Grocery on Wednesday night, a meal he shared with Lowry. On Thursday, they feasted on the Pete Dye layout, birdieing their first four holes.

“I’ve had a wonderful time so far,” McIlroy said. “I’ve only been here a couple of days but we’re staying downtown. It’s a cool city, great food scene.”

McIlroy had the team’s first three birdies, although on the par-5 second Lowry was inches away but watched as his teammate knocked in a putt of about 4 feet. After a pair of pedestrian pars, they birdied four of the next six holes before closing out with a birdie on the par-5 18th to gain a share of the lead.

“We both played nice golf,” Lowry said, emphasizing the importance getting off to a fast start. “We both made some nice birdies and contributed to the team, and I think we’re very happy with the day.”

Brehm and Hubbard mirrored McIlroy and Lowry with four opening birdies. The team made the turn in 6-under par 30 and bookended birdies on the 10th and 11th and 17th and 18th holes on the back nine.

“Just like usual, we ham-and-egged it,” Brehm said. “I don’t think either of us were feeling amazing about our games coming into the day, but we just feed off each other really well. “I was doing a lot of spectating today.”

Russ Cochran, the oldest player in the field at 65, made his first PGA Tour star since 2013, teaming with Eric Cole for a 69 that left them tied for 73rd. Cochran’s son, Reed Cochran, is Cole’s caddie. Cole had a hole-in-one on No. 14.

On Friday, they will play alternative shot.

“Looking forward to getting out in foursomes tomorrow,” Lowry said. “It’s a format that’s tougher, but it is an enjoyable format.

McIlroy was noncommittal Thursday when asked if he and Lowry would attend the popular New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on Friday afternoon. The duo have an 8:53 a.m. tee time Friday.

“Who’s playing tomorrow night, do you know?” McIlroy asked his good friend.

“No, I’m not going out anywhere,” Lowry said with a laugh. “I’m staying out of trouble.”

Jazz Fest notwithstanding, McIlroy joked he hopes the pairing has a late tee time Saturday, meaning they will be close to the lead.

AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

Miles Russell, 15, becomes youngest to make cut on Korn Ferry Tour

Miles Russell during the second round of the LECOM Suncoast Classic. (Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images)

Top-ranked AJGA player opens in 68-66 at LECOM Suncoast Classic

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Miles Russell, 15, isn’t particularly nostalgic. When it was time to switch golf balls midway through the opening round of the Korn Ferry Tour’s LECOM Suncoast Classic, the No. 1-ranked AJGA player considered singling out his first ball as a keepsake. Alas, it made its way into the fray at the bottom of his golf bag.

Yet it stands to reason this week will linger in Russell’s mind forever – and if not, it will be etched in the history books anyway. Russell carded rounds of 68-66 at Lakewood National Golf Club’s Commander course, becoming the youngest player to make the cut in a Korn Ferry Tour event and joining Guan Tian Liang (age 14 / 2013 Masters and Zurich Classic of New Orleans) as the only players under 16 to make a cut on the PGA TOUR or Korn Ferry Tour, on record (since 1983). Russell surpasses the Korn Ferry Tour mark previously set by Gipper Finau (16 years, 20 days) at the 2006 Utah Championship presented by Zions Bank. Russell set the new mark at 15 years, 5 months, 18 days.

"That's a cool one for me," Russell said. "It's a cool record, and hopefully it will get broken."

This week marked Russell’s PGA TOUR-sanctioned debut, competing on a sponsor exemption, and he has quickly shown that he belongs. After a 3-under 68 in Thursday’s opening round, Russell had one stroke of cushion on the projected cut line, and he further separated himself with two eagles on the front nine Friday – coming at the 282-yard, par-4 fourth and 563-yard, par-5 ninth. He added birdies at Nos. 10 and 11, fell back with a bogey at the par-3 13th but finished with five straight pars to end three strokes inside the cut line.

He'll enter the weekend in a share of 26th place at 8-under 134, six back of 36-hole leader Brandon Crick.

"I knew it was going to be a good test to see where I am against some of the best," Russell said. "It's definitely something I'll remember even when times will get hard; I'll remember it when that happens and go with the flow."

In the context of Russell’s robust list of junior accomplishments, this feat should come as no surprise. Last fall, he became the youngest winner of the AJGA Boys Junior Player of the Year award, surpassing Tiger Woods, his year including a seven-stroke victory at the Junior PGA Championship and a three-shot win at the Junior PLAYERS (which included a second-round 66 at TPC Sawgrass’ PLAYERS Stadium Course).

Although he’s a high school freshman, navigating classes like Earth science and geometry, Russell has carried himself like a pro this week in his home state of Florida (Lakewood National, just outside Bradenton, is located roughly four hours from his hometown of Jacksonville Beach.) Perhaps diminutive in nature for now, the left-hander already generates swing speed that compares to the average TOUR pro and is still growing – suggesting he could become one of the game’s longer hitters in years to come. Combine that with a creative short game, high golf IQ and inquisitive mind – “he’s like a sponge,” said his longtime swing and skills coach Ramon Bescansa – and a successful pro career could be in his future.

Not that he’s taking it for granted. Between shots in a Tuesday practice round at Lakewood National, Russell expressed appreciation for this week’s opportunity and the chance to work toward a career as a professional golfer overall.

“I’ve always wanted to be able to do it," Russell said Tuesday of eventually pursuing professional golf. "To have the chance to do it would be even cooler, and then to be able to do it would be awesome. I think it would just be cool to do something I love, and there’s not much more I love than this.”

The top 25 finishers and ties at the LECOM (not otherwise exempt) will gain access to next week’s Veritex Bank Championship in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Russell is eligible for this perk, but he’s not eligible to earn non-member Korn Ferry Tour points toward Special Temporary Membership, as the minimum age for Korn Ferry Tour membership is 18.

For now, Russell has secured two more competitive rounds against the pros this weekend, having authored a slice of Korn Ferry Tour history.

"I'm kind of speechless," Russell said Friday. "The goal was to make the cut and we made it, so we'll see where the weekend goes.

"It's a cool record to break. I don't know how much longer ... people are getting so good, so young. It could hold out for a week, you never know, but it's pretty cool right now."