Claire Rogers
Get caught up on all the pre-tournament fun, discoveries and celebrations that occurred at TPC Sawgrass ahead of the Players Championship.
PGA Tour on X
Hello, friends, and welcome to today’s episode of the Rogers Report! It was a very eventful Wednesday here at the Players Championship. I arrived on site at 7:30 a.m. to have a quick breakfast before Rory McIlroy’s 7:45 a.m. press conference, then headed over to the first timers’ day to chat with some Players Championship rookies. After that, I headed to the practice areas for a bit before walking the back nine at TPC Sawgrass.
Soon after, I followed Shane Lowry and Rory McIlroy’s practice round on the front 9 before heading back into the media center ahead of the Creator Classic (more on that event here). It was 8 p.m. before I left the course, so in other words I saw a lot over my 12-plus hours at TPC Sawgrass on Wednesday. And I’m excited to share it all with you!
Side note before we really get into it: I’m a big fan of the Travis Scott x Air Jordan Is that McIlroy wore to his presser. It’s fun to see the pros’ personal style come out every once in a while, and you can’t go wrong with a good pair of Nike kicks.
A devastating TPC Sawgrass revelation
I was shocked to see a man standing in the pond by the 16th green at TPC Sawgrass yesterday. This is my fourth year covering the Players Championship and the realization that the pond isn’t that deep (maybe due to layers upon layers of golf balls) made me second guess everything about this place. This was the adult version of finding out Santa isn’t real. I’m not sure I’ll ever really be the same.
Perhaps the pond is deeper toward the middle of the pond? If anyone from the PGA Tour is reading this, please share the truth with me. I’m desperate.
The best sweet treat on the planet
Let’s get this out in the open: I am a cake pop lover. My love for them started a few years ago when my youngest sister reached the age every pre-teen does. The age you discover that there might be something cool about carrying a cup of iced coffee with you at all times. Of course, you’re still too young to drink coffee when this realization occurs, so you settle for a less caffeinated, more sugary drink: the Starbucks refresher. Every time I’m home, I’ll pick my sister up from middle school and we’ll head to Starbucks (because she wants it and I want to be her favorite sibling). She’ll get some pink concoction and I’ll look at the menu and decide it’s too late in the afternoon for more caffeine and that I’m too old for a refresher. Enter the cake pop.
The cake pop is the perfect mid-to-late afternoon pick-me-up. You get about two bites of dessert, and that’s really all you need to hold you over until dinner and then your real dessert. So I was very excited to witness Justin Thomas discovering one of life’s greatest gifts on Wednesday on No. 17.
Justin Thomas and Max Homa were treated to some red velvet cake pops as they made their way to the green, and I just know for that a minute or so everything was right in their worlds. So friends, I invite all of you to treat yourself to a cake pop next time you’re running errands. You won’t regret it.
Aces on No. 17
Every year, there’s a caddie competition on No. 17 at TPC Sawgrass. As players make their way around the course for their final practice round ahead of the tournament, their loopers are invited to step up to bat on No. 17. Heading into this week, the closest-to-the-pin record for a caddie was 1 foot, 2 inches. And on Wednesday, JJ Jakovac made history. Check it out.
Incredible! The only thing better than Jakovac’s shot was the celebration that followed. There are not many scenarios where grown men will jump for joy, so my favorite part of any great golf shot has become the excitement that follows. And luckily for all of us, this wasn’t the only memorable celebration that occurred on No. 17 on Wednesday.
PGA Tour pro Alejandro Tosti made a hole-in-one on No. 17 during his practice round and the celebration was something I’ll never forget.
His caddie tossed him into the pond. That’s right, folks. Tosti went for a dip after his ace. I only wish he’d taken goggles and a snorkel with him so he could report back on just how many golf balls are under there. I also sort of wish he swam over to the green, but he can save that idea for next time.
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Claire Rogers
Golf.com Editor
