Golf
How Many Balls Find the Water on the 17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass?
Writing professionally since 2015, Jack Dougherty spent six years as a sportswriter with publications such as GoPSUSports.com, the Centre Daily Times, and the Associated Press before joining Sportscasting in 2020. He covers the NBA, the NFL, and the world of golf extensively and has added expertise on any team located in or around his hometown of Philadelphia. Yes, that includes the Philadelphia Eagles, the Philadelphia 76ers, and Philadelphia Phillies. When Jack isn't writing about sports, he's watching them or playing them as he regularly heads to the gym for some pickup basketball or the golf course to hit the links. He's also an avid participant in the sports betting scene who worked at a casino sportsbook for a year and learned the ins and outs of the industry before bringing his expertise to Sportscasting with one excellent gambling recommendation after another.
Get to know Jack Dougherty betterPublished08 Mar 2023
Even if you aren’t a huge golf fan, odds are you know all about the 17th hole at the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course. The iconic hole, which is famous for its unique island green, is one of the most challenging par 3s on the PGA Tour circuit every year.
The best golfers in the world can often look like amateurs on the 17th, as dozens of balls go for a swim during the Players Championship every year. So, how many balls find the water on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass?
How many balls find the water on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass?
Over the last 20 years, TPC Sawgrass has swallowed up more balls than all but one course on the PGA Tour schedule. The biggest reason for that is the short, yet treacherous, 17th hole.
It’s not intimidating on the scorecard at just 137 yards long, but the swirling winds and daunting water hazard surrounding the island green make this one of the most nerve-racking tee shots on Tour. But how many errant balls does the 17th swallow up every year?
According to a tweet from SkySports NZ, there have been 925 balls hit in the water at 17 since 2003 for an average of 48.7 per year. Here’s how that breaks down by year:
- 2022 – 64
- 2021 – 50
- 2020 – (canceled)
- 2019 – 45
- 2018 – 53
- 2017 – 69
- 2016 – 36
- 2015 – 45
- 2014 – 28
- 2013 – 44
- 2012 – 39
- 2011 – 40
- 2010 – 29
- 2009 – 32
- 2008 – 64
- 2007 – 93
- 2006 – 67
- 2005 – 68
- 2004 – 30
- 2003 – 29
The record for the most water balls in a single year is 93, which happened at the 2007 Players Championship. That same year, 50 balls were hit into the drink in the first round to set the single-day record.
As for the amateurs willing to shell out a few hundred bucks for a round at TPC Sawgrass, it’s estimated that 100,000-120,000 balls find the water at the 17th hole every year.
Somebody get me some scuba gear!
