There are plenty of opinions to be had about the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, and the replanted tree on the sixth hole is certainly generating some this week.
For the first time since 2014, the Players Championship layout features an overhanging oak on the par 4, PGA Tour players will have the far-reaching branches of an oak tree planted on the right side of the tees of the 413-yard hole in their view and possibly in their heads when they tee it up in the 2025 Players Championship.
As veteran golf writer Garry Smits put it, the hole doesn’t “look much different from the tree that was there from the beginning when the course opened in 1980, just another device by architect Pete Dye to play with everyone’s heads on a tee shot that otherwise would be a pretty straightforward 3-wood or iron off the tee from the back tees.”
Matthew Fitzpatrick has produced probably the strongest commentary, telling Golf Digest it’s “the dumbest tree I’ve ever seen. … whose brilliant idea was it to bring this tree back? If someone could remove it, that would be great.”
Stephan Jaeger, however, said the tree doesn’t really change his game plan.
“No, not the tree. I think they added about 20 or 30 yards. So it used to be like a strong hybrid or a strong 4 iron to kind of give yourself in the widest spot,” he said after he posted a 4-under 68 which included a par on the sixth hole. “I had a 3-wood today and hit 9-iron in. So it’s still a precision play.
“So you can hit driver, for sure. But, you know, it’s just high enough to where I don’t think you really have to think about it. And they will move the tee up five or ten yards and it won’t be in the way. But it looks, visually, it’s cool, obviously, and I read on it how they moved it, it’s a pretty cool story.”
Lucas Glover shot 6-under 66 on Thursday to take the clubhouse lead. He also parred the hole.
“Well, I hit driver now. That’s one change. I have to make sure it’s low,” he said. “So, yeah, different. But two guys in my group today … hit 3-wood and kept it under there, and yeah, I mean it’s definitely a different look,” said Glover.
Min Woo Lee, shot 5-under 67 on Thursday and he hit 2-iron on that sixth tee box.
“That tee doesn’t even sniff going that high. I really like it,” he said. “It kind of narrows you in, and that’s the beauty of this course. It plays a little, you know, tricks on your eye when you’re on the tee, but it just makes it a bit more fun. Sorry to the guys that hit it high, but I really like it. You can lower it if you want.”
Billy Horschel is a fan.
“I think it’s cool coming back. I think having that Pete Dye sort of symbol, one of the symbols of the golf course be a part of the championship again is really good,” he said. “It’s a visual thing. It really shouldn’t come into play unless you just hit a bad golf shot.”
