A 135-yard shot is normally a piece of cake for PGA Tour players. When the best golfers in the world see that distance, they have no issues hitting the green with a gap wedge or pitching wedge. That all changes at the 135-yard 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass.
The 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is one of the most intimidating short par 3s in the world due to its island green surrounded by a watery grave. Throw in some unpredictable winds and the pressure associated with the Players Championship, and a 135-yard shot can seem impossible even for the most talented players on the PGA Tour.
So, how many balls find the water on the 17th hole at the Players Championship every year, and how do amateurs fare on the iconic par 3?
Water balls on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass
GettyThe water surrounding the 17th hole swallows up nearly 50 balls per year at the Players Championship.
Even though the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is one of the shortest holes on the PGA Tour, it’s also one of the most difficult. The island green is a small, circular putting surface surrounded by a thin ring of rough and one small bunker short and right. If you miss the small piece of land on any side, you’ll wind up in the menacing water below.
Even the best players in the world struggle to hit the island green under Players Championship conditions. Since 2003, 1,038 balls have found the water at the Players Championship. Here’s the breakdown of water balls by year:
2025 – 39
2024 – 39
2023 – 58
2022 – 64
2021 – 50
2020 – no tournament
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
As you can see, the most water balls in a single year were 93 in 2007, while the fewest were 28 in 2014.
The highest score ever made on the 17th hole in Players Championship history was a 12 from Bob Tway in 2005. On the positive side of things, there have been 14 holes-in-one made on the island green in tournament play. Ryan Fox (first round in 2024) was the last player to make an ace on the 17th hole in competition.
How Do Amateurs Fare at the Island Green at TPC Sawgrass?
Dozens of the best players in the world fail to hit the green on the 135-yard 17th hole every year, so imagine how much 20-handicappers struggle on the island green. Well, TPC Sawgrass is a public golf facility, so you don’t have to wonder.
According to Golf News Net, the PGA Tour estimates that 100,000-120,000 balls find the water on the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass every year. That estimate tells us that every player who braves the par-3 17th averages at least two balls in the water.
When the PGA Tour put amateurs to the test in 2023, 95 players put 102 balls in the water. Of those 95 players, 57 of them made a double bogey or worse on the 17th hole. The average score from that day was a 5.37, which is worse than a double bogey on the par 3.
Think you have what it takes to hit the island green? All you need is about $1,000 to book a tee time at TPC Sawgrass and test your skills.
How Many Balls Find the Water on the 17th Hole at TPC Sawgrass?