In the serene confines of Ponte Vedra Beach, Ludvig Aberg, the two-time Tour champion, has the privilege of frequently gracing the greens of TPC Sawgrass, hailed as one of the world’s finest golf courses and the esteemed host of The Players Championship. As the anticipation intensifies for the event, often dubbed the unofficial fifth major, a constellation of top-tier golfers prepares to descend upon the Florida-based venue next week.
Intriguingly, the run-up to the prestigious 2025 edition has been awash with conjecture around LIV Golf and its potential participation following Donald Trump’s meeting with Jay Monahan at the White House. Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard hinted at the possibility of LIV golfers partaking in The Players. However, with the event’s commencement looming, this prospect appears increasingly improbable.
An exclusive historic moment is set to unfold at TPC Sawgrass, however. Laurie Canter will etch his name in the annals of golf history as the first former LIV star to participate in a PGA Tour-approved event, having catapulted into the world’s top 50.
TPC Sawgrass, renowned for its challenging yet captivating layout, is home to one of the most emblematic short holes in golf, the par-three 17th, sharing this honor with Augusta National’s 12th.
Aberg, during his press conference at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, shared his admiration for TPC Sawgrass. “I’ve had many rounds here. In my view, it’s unquestionably a top-5 golf course globally,” the Swedish golfer affirmed. He praised the course’s layout, emphasizing the penalty for missed shots and his fondness for this style of golf. Aberg’s frequent play at TPC Sawgrass, however, may not necessarily afford him an advantage given the extensive experience many in the field possess with the course.
When queried about whether his familiarity with TPC Sawgrass would be advantageous at The Players, Aberg responded, “There are no hidden aspects to this golf course. It’s a stadium golf course, so the experience will be truly unique.” He reflected on the course’s thrilling conclusion, noting that proper shot execution could result in a 3, 2, 3 finish, while failure to do so could lead to a disappointing six, six, six.
Drawing upon his experience playing the course, Aberg believes that understanding the course’s intricacies, particularly the breaks on the greens and identifying tricky shots, is beneficial. However, he maintains that the course is relatively straightforward, with limited alternative playing strategies.
Aberg’s performance in last year’s Players Championship saw him finish eighth, 14 under, earning him a substantial $781,000 in prize money.
For Aberg, a player of his caliber and financial standing, frequent rounds at Sawgrass are a luxury he can afford. However, for the average amateur golfer, securing a tee time at Ponte Vedra Beach is often a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Currently, a morning tee time at this prestigious venue costs a hefty $900, placing it among the highest-priced in the industry, alongside Shadow Creek in Las Vegas. This fee includes a green fee, cart fee, forecaddie, and a bag of balls for use at the practice range, with a recommended caddie tip of $40.
