Si Woo Kim donates infamous driver
The history and tradition inside the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse is apparent to guests from the moment they set foot inside the 77,000 square foot mediterranean-style clubhouse. Pictures hang on the walls showcasing historic moments from THE PLAYERS Championship, and the beautiful landscapes and views of the Stadium Course can be seen lining the walls with every turn of a corner.
"We hope you enjoy viewing these clubs that played an important role in winning THE PLAYERS."
Those are the words on a plaque inside the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse that sits on a wall next to 37 golf clubs. Those 37 clubs, each from a different golfer, tell the history behind the PGA TOUR's most prestigious event.
Each year, the newest player able to master the Stadium Course and win THE PLAYERS is asked to contribute to the tradition of donating one club that played a critical role in winning the tournament. Jack Nicklaus, who won the first championship in 1974, has the first club lining the wall — he donated his wooden persimmon driver.
Among the other clubs that line that first-floor wall of the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse are:
· Sergio Garcia’s TaylorMade Tour Burner driver from his 2008 win that helped him lead the field in driving accuracy.
· Adam Scott’s putter used to make a 10-foot bogey putt on the 18th hole to win in 2004. Scott’s infamously hooked his approach shot into the water left of the green, but after taking a drop and sticking his next shot to 10 feet, Scott made the clutch bogey putt and secured a one-shot victory.
· Wedges lead the list of most donated clubs with 14 total lining the wall inside the clubhouse.
· The one club players are hesitant to part with is unsurprisingly, their putter.Only three putters have been donated by past champions (Adam Scott, 2004; Fred Funk, 2005; Henrik Stenson, 2009).
Si Woo Kim’s record-breaking win in 2017 was highlighted by a risk on the difficult par-4 14th hole during Saturday’s round. After a wayward drive into the right rough, Kim had 270 yards remaining to the hole and boldly elected to hit driver off the deck.
His shot from among the fans made it to the front part of the green and helped him make par on his way to becoming the youngest winner in the history of THE PLAYERS. Kim's driver will now join the illustious company of those aforementioned clubs from other champions of THE PLAYERS.
Regardless of the type of club contributed to the tradition, all of them were once used by some of the world’s best golfers to win the PGA TOUR’s most prestigious event.
