Pontoon boat to the 100th Hole pool bar and grill: This is the tournament’s bestkept secret! Sawgrass Marriott Resort guests and visitors (in other words — anyone!) can take the pontoon boat to and from the tournament directly from the resort.

Parking fee: $35, which includes the use of the boat back and forth all day.

Note:If guests come to the resort and dine at one of the restaurants then want to use the pontoon boat to get to the tournament, the $35 parking fee is waived.

Guests can utilize resort amenities — bars, patios, restaurants — instead of parking in a large lot and walking in the heat or dealing with a shuttle service.

Tickets on sale now:
Practice Rounds:
Monday–Wednesday: $30
Daily Grounds:
Thursday–Sunday: $65
Weekly Gorunds:
Monday–Sunday: $165
Weekly Turn:
Monday–Sunday: $379
Weekly Clubhouse:
Monday–Sunday: $449
Family Plan Package:
Thursday-Saturday: $129
Sunday: $99 Mother’s Day Special

During the 1960s, the event was known as the Greater Jacksonville Open. Then, in 1974, the tournament was renamed the Tournament Players Championship, where the inaugural event was played at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia. Before being permanently located to its present-day location, the tournament was held at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas, as well as Inverrary Golf & Country Club in Fort Lauderdale and, of course, Sawgrass Country Club.

The Players Championship offers the highest prize purse of any tournament in golf ($9.5 million in 2008 and 2009). Last year, Sweden’s Henrik Stenson captured the title and with it the $1,710,000 first-place payout. In addition, the winner also receives a five-year exemption on the PGA TOUR, a three-year invitation to the Masters Tournament, a three-year exemption to the British Open and an exemption to the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship for that year.

In 2007, the Players Championship was moved to mid-May as part of a schedule restructuring of the PGA Tour. The tournament had been played in March for most of its existence, two weeks before the Masters. Perhaps this March weather explains the wide variety of winning scores. Greg Norman still holds the record low score of 24 under par which he accomplished back in 1994. Compare that to the winning score of 1 over par by Jack Nicklaus in the 1978 event held at a blustery, cold Sawgrass Country Club.

Our tournament is known unofficially as the fifth major. A few of the reasons is the venue, the fact that the tournament field consists of virtually all of the top 50 golfers in the world and of course the payout. Consider how the payout has grown in past years:

In 1978, Nicklaus won $60,000 for first place; 1988 champion Mark McCumber won $225,000; 1993 champion Nick Price won $450,000; and in 1999, David Duval won $900,000. Do you think the past winners would love to have the almost $2 million check they are handing out these days?

So, the question is: Who will live up to the standards set by past winners and take home The Players Championship title in 2010?

In past years, the winners have come from places such as Sweden, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Australia, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Scotland. Past champions have been big names, such as Nicklaus, Fred Couples, Davis Love III, Norman, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods; and relatively unknowns, such as Mark Hayes, Jodie Mudd and Craig Perks.

I say 2010 will be the year that another of our “local boys” breaks through to win. It has been five years since Fred Funk’s gut-wrenching victory in 2005 and 11 years since the stoic Duval won here in 1999.

Look for the unorthodox swing of Jim Furyk to withstand the pressure of playing in front of his hometown and finish at the top in this year’s PLAYERS Championship. Furyk was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and attended the University of Arizona. He turned professional in 1992 and has made 345 career cuts on the PGA Tour. Furyk is currently fourth on the Career Money List and has 13 career PGA TOUR victories, including the 2003 U.S. Open. Even though he has not won since the 2007 Canadian Open, Furyk has been one of our stars on the U.S. Ryder Cup and Presidents Cup teams, and I look for a strong showing in THE PLAYERS Championship this year.s

Mothers Eat Free in The Augustine Grille: Mothers eat free for dinner Thursday through Saturday, May 6–8.

Mother’s Day Brunch: 10 a.m.–2 p.m., on Sunday at Café on the Green and The Augustine Grille — Looking for the ultimate Mother’s Day brunch with bottomless mimosas, a decadent menu, fantastic view and complimentary valet parking? Look no further than the Sawgrass Marriott. The resort will host its annual Mother’s Day Brunch. Come hungry! The menu includes a spectacular buffet with a selection of salads, cheeses and fruits. A carving station and delightful dessert selection will highlight the brunch. BONUS: Before or after brunch, guests can take the complimentary pontoon boat to and from the tournament and alleviate the hassle and cost of tournament parking!

Cost: Adults, $59.95; children 12 and under, $29.95; children 6 and under, complimentary.

RSVP: 904.285.7777