'special Players Is Not A Major And Never Likely To Be'

Prime among nan reasons why it is specified a compelling title is nan Stadium Course itself. It does what it says connected nan tin, delighting immense crowds pinch a nerve-jangling trial for nan champion players successful nan world twelvemonth in, twelvemonth out.

"I retrieve erstwhile I played it, I stood connected nan 18th tee and was frightened witless," recalled European Ryder Cup subordinate Oliver Wilson. "You tin never, ever relax connected that play course."

And truthful it came to walk that Young and Fitzpatrick arrived connected that last tee container locked together pinch this pretigious title connected nan line. The immense expanse of h2o down nan near had gobbled up Young's shot little than 24 hours earlier.

Fitzpatrick had his ain demons fixed his double bogey connected that aforesaid hole, besides successful nan 3rd round.

The last time task demanded nan utmost golfing courageousness and Young was successful nan mood. Of nan starring contenders only he and Justin Thomas had taken connected nan teasing pin tight to nan correct separator of nan land greenish 17th.

Young was rewarded pinch nan birdie that drew him level pinch his Ryder Cup rival Fitzpatrick. Now it was clip to unleash astir apt nan furthest thrust ever seen connected Sawgrass' closing hole.

At 375 yards, it was nan longest to beryllium officially recorded and crucially he recovered nan fairway. Fitzpatrick besides went pinch driver, but recovered nan conifer straw among nan trees down nan right.

If he had his clip again, would a three-wood person been a amended option? Decision making is thing that comes nether nan microscope astatine nan moments of nan astir intensity.

"I cognize Cam hits a draw, his moved a small bit," Fitzpatrick said. "I figured excavation would do nan same. Obviously conscionable went dormant straight."

Regardless of arguments complete strategy, this was a large title decided by nan finest of margins. Fitzpatrick could only bogey contempt doing small other wrong.

Young went retired and won it. This aft Ludvig Aberg had thrown distant his commanding position astatine nan commencement of nan backmost nine.

Again nan play people exacted demands that induced nan Swede's important errors arsenic he recovered h2o connected nan 11th and 12th holes.

"The consequence and reward of nan backmost 9 asks relentless questions and he grounded beautiful overmuch immediately," said Wilson who was portion of nan 5 Live commentary squad successful Florida.

"You can't thief reasoning backmost to nan chances he had astatine nan extremity of nan 3rd information and past early connected nan last day. This people is ever fresh to bite, truthful you person to return advantage erstwhile you're playing your champion golf."

And that made for a heady, suspenseful operation for those watching either connected nan crushed aliases connected television.