2011 Players Championship

2011 Players Championship

Tournament information
Dates	May 12–15, 2011
Location	Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, U.S.
Course(s)	TPC Sawgrass
Tour(s)	PGA Tour
Statistics
Par	72
Length	7,215 yards (6,597 m)
Field	145 players, 74 after cut
Cut	144 (E)
Prize fund	$9,500,000
Winner's share	$1,710,000
Champion
K. J. Choi
275 (−13), playoff

The 2011 Players Championship was a golf tournament on the PGA Tour contested from May 12–15 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. It was the 38th Players Championship. The tournament was won by South Korean K. J. Choi, who defeated American David Toms on the first hole of a sudden-death playoff to claim his first PGA Tour title since 2008.

Traditionally, the flag of the defending champion (2010 winner Tim Clark of South Africa) would fly at TPC Sawgrass over the Tournament of Champions. As a tribute to the recently deceased Seve Ballesteros, per Clark's request, the PGA Tour flew the Spanish flag in its place.

Venue

Main article: TPC at Sawgrass

This was the 30th Players Championship held at the TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Course layout

The 2011 Players Championship

Tee	Rating/Slope	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	Out	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	In	Total
Yardage	n/a	423	532	177	384	471	393	442	237	583	3,642	424	558	358	181	481	449	523	137	462	3,573	7,215
Par		4	5	3	4	4	4	4	3	5	36	4	5	4	3	4	4	5	3	4	36	72

Field

The field consisted of 144 players meeting criteria 1–12, plus the winner of the 2010 Senior Players Championship.

1. Winners of PGA Tour events since last Players

Stuart Appleby (3), Arjun Atwal (3), Aaron Baddeley (3,11), Matt Bettencourt (3), Michael Bradley, Jonathan Byrd (3), Tim Clark (2,3,6,9), Jason Day (2,3,9), Luke Donald (2,3,7,9,11), Jim Furyk (2,3,8,9), Robert Garrigus (3), Lucas Glover (3,5), Bill Haas (3,9), Charley Hoffman (2,3), Dustin Johnson (2,3,9), Zach Johnson (2,3,5,9), Martin Kaymer (5,9), Matt Kuchar (2,3,9), Martin Laird (2,3,9,11), Bill Lunde (3), Hunter Mahan (2,3,7,9), Graeme McDowell (3,5,9), Rocco Mediate (3), Phil Mickelson (2,3,5,6,7,8,9,11), Louis Oosthuizen (5,9), Carl Pettersson (3), D. A. Points (3), Justin Rose (2,3,9), Rory Sabbatini (3), Charl Schwartzel (5,9), Adam Scott (2,3,9), Heath Slocum (3), Brandt Snedeker (3,9,11), Brendan Steele, Steve Stricker (2,3,9), Jhonattan Vegas, Johnson Wagner, Nick Watney (2,3,7,9,11), Bubba Watson (2,3,9,11), Mark Wilson (3,11), Gary Woodland (9,11)

• Lee Westwood (9) did not play.

2. Top 30 from previous season's FedEx Cup points list

Robert Allenby (3,9), Paul Casey (3,9), K. J. Choi (3,9), Ben Crane (3,9), Ernie Els (3,7,9), Retief Goosen (3,9), Ryan Moore (3,9), Kevin Na (3), Geoff Ogilvy (3,5,7,9), Jeff Overton (3), Ryan Palmer (3), Kevin Streelman (3), Bo Van Pelt (3,9), Camilo Villegas (3,8)

3. Top 125 from previous season's PGA Tour money list

Blake Adams, Stephen Ames (6), Ricky Barnes, Cameron Beckman, Kris Blanks, Jason Bohn, Ángel Cabrera (5), Chad Campbell, Alex Čejka, Greg Chalmers, Stewart Cink (5), Chad Collins, Michael Connell, Chris Couch, Ben Curtis, Brian Davis, Brendon de Jonge, Jason Dufner, Joe Durant, David Duval, Rickie Fowler (9), Sergio García (6), Brian Gay, Paul Goydos, Pádraig Harrington (5,9), J. P. Hayes, J. J. Henry, J. B. Holmes, Charles Howell III, Ryuji Imada, Fredrik Jacobson, Matt Jones, Jerry Kelly, Anthony Kim (9), Derek Lamely, Marc Leishman, Justin Leonard, Spencer Levin, Davis Love III, Steve Marino, Troy Merritt, Shaun Micheel, Bryce Molder, Sean O'Hair, Corey Pavin, Pat Perez, Kenny Perry, Tim Petrovic, Ian Poulter (7,9), Alex Prugh, Chris Riley, John Rollins, Andrés Romero, John Senden, Michael Sim, Webb Simpson (11), Vijay Singh (7), Kevin Stadler, Chris Stroud, Kevin Sutherland, Vaughn Taylor, Josh Teater, David Toms, D. J. Trahan, Scott Verplank, Jimmy Walker, Boo Weekley, Charlie Wi, Garrett Willis, Dean Wilson, Tiger Woods (5,7,9), Yang Yong-eun (5,9)

• Graham DeLaet, Steve Elkington, Tom Gillis, Jeff Maggert, Rory McIlroy (9), and Roland Thatcher did not play.

4. Top 125 from current season - Medical Extension

Nick O'Hern

5. Major champions from the past five years

Trevor Immelman

6. Players Championship winners from the past five years

Henrik Stenson

7. WGC winners from the past three years (WGC-HSBC Champions winner only in 2010, and only if a PGA Tour member)

8. The Tour Championship winners from the past three years

9. Top 50 from the Official World Golf Ranking as of May 1

Ross Fisher, Peter Hanson, Robert Karlsson, Matteo Manassero, Edoardo Molinari, Francesco Molinari, Álvaro Quirós

• Anders Hansen, Ryo Ishikawa, Miguel Ángel Jiménez, and Kim Kyung-tae did not play.

10. Web.com Tour money leader from prior season

• Jamie Lovemark did not play.

11. Top 10 current year FedEx Cup points leaders as of May 1

12. Field filled to 144 through current year FedEx Cup standings as of May 1

Keegan Bradley, Kevin Chappell, Tommy Gainey, Hunter Haas, Brandt Jobe, Chris Kirk, Troy Matteson

13. Senior Players champion from prior year (did not count against field of 144)

Mark O'Meara

Past champions in the field

Made the cut

Player	Country	Year(s) won	R1	R2	R3	R4	Total	To par	Finish
Davis Love III	United States	1992, 2003	68	69	70	73	280	−8	T12
Sergio García	Spain	2008	74	68	73	65	280	−8	T12
Phil Mickelson	United States	2007	71	71	69	72	283	−5	T33
Justin Leonard	United States	1998	70	73	72	74	289	+1	T57

Missed the cut

Player	Country	Year won	R1	R2	Total	To par
Stephen Ames	Trinidad and Tobago Canada	2006	77	68	145	+1
David Duval	United States	1999	70	76	146	+4
Adam Scott	Australia	2004	76	72	148	+4
Henrik Stenson	Sweden	2009	79	75	154	+10
Tim Clark	South Africa	2010	74	-	+2	WD
Tiger Woods	United States	2001	-	-		WD

Round summaries

First round (Thursday)

Nick Watney made 8 birdies, an eagle and a double bogey en route to an opening round 64. Lucas Glover coming off a win the week before at the Wells Fargo Championship shot an opening round 65. Tiger Woods shot 42 (+6) on his first nine holes before withdrawing from the tournament citing multiple injuries. Defending champion Tim Clark, who had been battling injuries all season, shot an opening round 74.

#	Player	Country	Score	To par
1	Nick Watney	United States	64	−8
2	Lucas Glover	United States	65	−7
T3	Mark O'Meara	United States	66	−6
	David Toms	United States
T5	Fredrik Jacobson	Sweden	67	−5
	Martin Kaymer	Germany
	Graeme McDowell	Northern Ireland
	Álvaro Quirós	Spain
	Rory Sabbatini	South Africa
T10	Ben Crane	United States	68	−4
	J. B. Holmes	United States
	Davis Love III	United States

Second round (Friday)

David Toms posted a 68 to gain a one shot lead over 18 hole leader Nick Watney. Greg Chalmers had the round of the day, shooting 65. Defending champion Tim Clark (tendonitis) and Geoff Ogilvy (shoulder) both withdrew from the tournament. 74 players made the cut which was 144 (E).

#	Player	Country	Score	To par
1	David Toms	United States	66-68=134	−10
2	Nick Watney	United States	64-71=135	−9
T3	Luke Donald	England	69-67=136	−8
	Lucas Glover	United States	65-71=136
	Graeme McDowell	Northern Ireland	67-69=136
	Steve Stricker	United States	69-67=136
T7	Aaron Baddeley	Australia	70-67=137	−7
	J. B. Holmes	United States	68-69=137
	Davis Love III	United States	68-69=137
	Hunter Mahan	United States	70-67=137

Third round (Saturday)

At the end of a rain soaked Saturday, Graeme McDowell and Nick Watney were tied for the lead at −11. Martin Kaymer birdied his first four holes and five of his first seven holes to temporarily tie for the lead, but bogeyed 8, 9 and 10 and ended the day 3 shots back.

#	Player	Country	Score	To par	Hole
T1	Graeme McDowell	Northern Ireland	67-69-19=155	−11	5
	Nick Watney	United States	64-71-18=153		5
T3	Steve Stricker	United States	69-67-20=156	−10	5
	David Toms	United States	66-68-20=154		5
T5	K. J. Choi	South Korea	70-68-37=175	−9	10
	Lucas Glover	United States	65-71-25=161		6
T7	Luke Donald	England	69-67-27=163	−8	8
	Jason Dufner	United States	69-70-46=185		12
	Robert Karlsson	Sweden	71-67-34=172		9
	Martin Kaymer	Germany	67-72-46=185		12
	Rory Sabbatini	South Africa	67-71-38=176		10

Third round (Sunday)

Play resumed at 7:35 in the morning with most of the leaders still on the front nine. Graeme McDowell held a three shot lead standing on the 18th tee but found the water on his approach. He made double bogey and his lead was down to one. K. J. Choi stormed into contention with a 67 and would play in the final threesome with McDowell and David Toms. Lucas Glover also finished with a double bogey to shoot 74 and fall out of contention. Peter Hanson, who finished the following night, had the best third round shooting 66.

#	Player	Country	Score	To par
1	Graeme McDowell	Northern Ireland	67-69-68=204	−12
T2	K. J. Choi	South Korea	70-68-67=205	−11
	David Toms	United States	66-68-71=205
T4	Aaron Baddeley	Australia	70-67-70=207	−9
	Luke Donald	England	69-67-71=207
	Jason Dufner	United States	69-70-68=207
	Davis Love III	United States	68-69-70=207
	Steve Stricker	United States	69-67-71=207
	Nick Watney	United States	64-71-72=207
T10	Paul Goydos	United States	69-70-69=206	−8
	Álvaro Quirós	Spain	67-73-68=206

Final round (Sunday)

Four different players held a share of the lead in the final round, which came down to the final group. Third round leader Graeme McDowell struggled to a 79, including double bogey on 17. Charlie Hoffman stormed into contention before a quadruple bogey 7 on the infamous 17th hole lead to him shooting 71. 2008 runner-up Paul Goydos made a move with a 69, but came up two shots short of a playoff. David Toms, who held the lead almost the entire day, had a one shot lead over K. J. Choi as they played the par-5 16th. Toms went for the green in two and hit it into the water right. He made bogey and was now tied with Choi. On the 17th, Choi made a 10 foot birdie putt to take the outright lead for the first time in the tournament. After Toms drove it into a divot on the 18th hole, he hit his approach to 20 feet. Choi, who pushed his drive right, came up short right of the 18th green and chipped up to 3 feet. Toms made his birdie putt, only the 4th of the day on 18, to put the pressure back on Choi. Choi made his par putt to force a playoff.

#	Player	Country	Score	To par	Winnings
T1	K. J. Choi	South Korea	70-68-67-70=275	−13	Playoff
	David Toms	United States	66-68-71-70=275
3	Paul Goydos	United States	69-70-69-69=277	−11	$646,000
T4	Luke Donald	England	69-67-71-71=278	−10	$418,000
	Nick Watney	United States	64-71-72-71=278
T6	Aaron Baddeley	Australia	70-67-70-72=279	−9	$287,375
	Jason Day	Australia	69-70-72-68=279
	Jason Dufner	United States	69-70-68-72=279
	J. B. Holmes	United States	68-69-73-69=279
	Hunter Mahan	United States	70-67-73-69=279
	Álvaro Quirós	Spain	67-73-68-71=279

Scorecard

Final round

Hole	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18
Par	4	5	3	4	4	4	4	3	5	4	5	4	3	4	4	5	3	4
Choi	−12	−12	−12	−12	−11	−11	−11	−11	−11	−12	−11	−11	−12	−12	−12	−12	−13	−13
Toms	−11	−12	−12	−13	−13	−14	−14	−13	−13	−13	−13	−13	−13	−13	−13	−12	−12	−13
Goydos	−8	−8	−8	−8	−7	−8	−8	−8	−9	−10	−11	−11	−10	−10	−10	−11	−11	−11
Donald	−9	−8	−8	−9	−9	−8	−9	−9	−9	−10	−10	−10	−10	−9	−9	−10	−10	−10
Watney	−10	−11	−12	−11	−11	−11	−12	−11	−10	−10	−10	−11	−11	−10	−10	−10	−10	−10
McDowell	−12	−12	−12	−12	−13	−12	−11	−11	−10	−10	−10	−10	−9	−9	−8	−8	−6	−5

Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par
Source:

Playoff (Sunday)

This was the 4th playoff in Players Championship history and the first since Sergio García defeated Paul Goydos in 2008. The format for the 2011 Players was sudden death which would be played on a rotation of holes 17-18-16-17-18 until there is a winner. On the first playoff hole, both players made it on the island green 17th, but both had long birdie putts. After Choi putted up to 3 feet, Toms had 23 feet for the win, but barely missed. Toms then had three and a half feet for par, but lipped out his comebacker. Choi then tapped in for his first win since 2008.

#	Player	Country	Score	To par	Winnings
1	K. J. Choi	South Korea	3=3	E	$1,710,000
2	David Toms	United States	4=4	+1	$1,026,000

External links

• The Players Championship website