A presence that both influenced and frightened golf’s greats for years is making a long-awaited return to The Players Championship in Florida this week. It’s Woods, just not the one you’re likely thinking of.
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ClippedFromVideoApresencethatbothinfluencedandfrightenedgolf’sgreatsforyearsismakingalong-awaitedreturntoThePlayersChampionshipinFloridathisweek.It’sWoods,justnottheoneyou’relikelythinkingof.
Becausewhiletwo-timechampionTigerWoods,outfortheforeseeablefuturefollowingafreshinjurysetback,hasnotfeaturedatTPCSawgrasssince2019,anotherformermainstayoftheStadiumCourseisre-emergingfromitswoodstotormentplayers.Thattreeisback.
RightfromtheoutsetofthePonteVedraBeachvenuehostingThePlayersin1982,aliveoakoverhangingthesixthteeattheStadiumCourseloomedlargeabove–andfrequentlyinside–player’sheads.
Asthetournamentblossomedtobecomethesport’sunofficial“fifthmajor”overtheensuingthreedecades,thetreesimilarlygarneredgrowingattention,aswellasabuddinglistofenemies.
ForthosePGATourmembersprayingonitsdownfall,s
