The par-3 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is feared for good reason. The infamous “island green” got to eat plenty when the threesome of Gary Woodland, Cam Davis and Kevin Yu approached the tee box in the first round of the 2026 Players Championship.

First up was Woodland, who knew as soon as he hit his ball that it was doomed. The 153-yard shot bounced twice on the back of the green and rolled into the water.

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Then came Davis, who took the opposite approach with his 9-iron, coming up well short of the pin 143 yards away. In fact, the ball never touched the green, going straight into the drink. Yu completed the set by hitting the fringe at the front of the green and seeing it roll into the water with the others.

All three took shots from the drop zone, after which they finished with double-bogey 5s. At least they didn’t mimic Jhonattan Vegas, who went into the lake twice earlier in the round and carded a 7.

Davis went 6 over on the back nine to finish with a 5-over 77. Woodland saved his day with birdies on the 16th and 18th to finish at 3-over 75. Yu had three double bogeys on the back nine, wrapping up his first round at 8-over 80.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

The 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is among the most recognizable in golf.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

The 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass is among the most recognizable in golf.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Rickie Fowler is cheered walking to the 17th green in 2015. He birdied the hole three times in one day to win the tourament, once in regulation and twice in a four-hole playoff.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Dominic Clayton, 15, fist bumps Collin Morikawa at the 17th tee of the Players Stadium Course on March 9, 2022 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. The Players hosted a group of people with special needs inside the ropes at No. 17 to meet players and caddies during practice rounds of Players week. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Webb Simpson and his caddie, Paul Tesori of St. Augustine walk on the 17th green during the final round of the 2018 Players Championship, which Simpson won at 18-under par.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Former Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mark Brunell takes a swing at No. 18 during a charity tournament.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

NBC Sports cameraman Terry Hester of Jacksonville had one of the best views of No. 17 from a tower high over the Island Green.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Jacksonville Jaguars mascot Jaxson DeVille (with Curtis Dvorak in the costume) won a charity closest-to-the-pin contest at the Stadium Course’s 17th hole by hitting driver, off his knees, with within 5 feet of the hole.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

The Players Championship celebrates Military Appreciation Day with ceremonies and a concert at the 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

J.J. Spaun chips onto the on the 17th green on his third shot in a three-hole playoff against Rory McIlroy in the 2025 Players Championship.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Rory McIlroy tees off on the 17th hole during a three-hole aggregate playoff against J.J. Spaun in the 2025 Players Championship at the TPC Sawgrass.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Hal Sutton looks over his putt at the par-3 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during the third round of the Players Championship on March 25, 2000. He hit his tee shot into the water but survived to get into the final twosome with Tiger Woods.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Scottie Scheffler tees off on the 17th hole during the second round of the Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach on Friday March 14, 2025. Scheffler is the only back-to-back winner of The Players.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Tiger Woods celebrates his “Better than Most” birdie putt he made the 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course during the third round of the 2001 Players Championship.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Tiger Woods gestures to caddie Steve Williams after making his his 60-foot birdie putt at the 17th hole during the third round of the 2001 Players Championship.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Craig Perk pumps his fist after sinking a birdie putt on the 17th hole during the final round of the 2002 Players Championship. He eagled the 16th hole, birdied No. 17 and chipped in for par at No. 18 to win the tournament.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Sergio Garcia celebrates his hole in one at the 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass during the 2017 Players Championship.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Pete Dye is the original architect of the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course. His wife Alice is credited for the idea of an Island Green at the 17th hole of the Stadium Course.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Players Championship fans rock to the Chainsmokers in 2020 at the 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. The 17th hole of the Stadium Course becomes a musical amphitheater every year for the Military Appreciation Day the week of the tournament.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Expect the unexpected at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course 17th hole. Bolles and University of North Florida graduate Michael Mattiace proposed to his future wife Sydney Shrader on the tee at No. 17 during the week of the 2021 Players Championship.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

The Island Green got a facelift in 2006 as part of the project that built the current TPC Sawgrass Clubhouse.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

Players Championship hats feature the Island Green at the 17th hole of the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

JJ Jakovac, right, who caddies for Collin Morikawa, left, aced the island-green 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass to win the annual Caddie Competition.

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A look at the Island Green of the Players Stadium Course over the years

The par-3 17th hole at the Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass, with its iconic Island Green, is the star of the show for The Players Championship.

The three tee off at 1:26 p.m. ET Friday in Round 2, and they’ll be starting on the back nine, meaning they’ll see No. 17 sooner than they may like.

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This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Entire group at Players Championship hits water at TPC Sawgrass 17th