Golf sparks in this period, it will be because Rory McIlroy swept the match play world championship last week; it will be because Jordan Spieth makes your heart race every time you play; it will be because Tiger Woods it is once again at center stage with its load of positive and negative emotions; it will be because the tour is at its peak; it will be for all this or perhaps for something else, but every week the show becomes more beautiful and compelling. So let's dive into the appointment on the agenda for this long weekend: THE PLAYERS Championship, a confrontation that fears no rivals, a challenge second only to the majors. It starts today and runs until Sunday, on the Stadium Course, TPC Sawgrass, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida: a par 72 of 6500 meters.
The pot is very rich: ten million dollars, 1,8 million dollars for the first, 600 Fedex points up for grabs, a field of 144 players, 48 of the top 50 in the world, the top 30 in the American rankings. The best of the best.
The tee times have been ready for a few days and are perfect: the world number one, the Northern Irish Rory McIlroy plays with the number two, the Texan Jordan Spieth and with the number seven, the Australian Jason Day. trio of young lions, which together does not reach the age of 75 years. The confrontation between Spieth and McIlroy was expected in San Francisco and unfortunately it didn't take place. The 21-year-old was eliminated by an extraordinary Lee Westwood, despite playing very well, despite pocketing from every corner of the green.
This is the law of match play and Rory, nibbling one point after another, almost always on the last two holes, won the coveted prize and put victory number ten on the Pga Tour on the bulletin board. The direct confrontation with Spieth will take place then this week. Finally we will see how much these two thoroughbreds suffer each other and which game will be more solid: the powerful one of Rory or the surgical one of Jordan.
The other great protagonist of the first two days will inevitably be Tiger Woods. Not only because for almost twenty years he has embodied golf in the world, but also for the very recent breakup with girlfriend Lindsey Vonn. In the press conference Tiger seems very worn out by his farewell: "I haven't slept for three days" he admits. While the Snow Queen cuts short "I've moved on - he claims - and I've already said everything I had to say". End of the story. There is no peace for the former number one, who hasn't won a major since 2008 and seems haunted by bad luck: divorce, physical problems, his image as a "former universal child" shattered.
An endless shadow line has descended on your private and professional life: will the wind be back in your sails? It's hard to pity a sportsman who sits above $1,3 billion, but it's harder to remain indifferent to his fate if you're a golf enthusiast. Tiger claims that he will do everything to play well, that he feels ready to throw himself back "into his own little world" and his fans are waiting for him there, again this week, in a championship that he has already won twice, the last one in 2013.
Defends the title Martin kaymer, the best German player on the tour, who boasts three victories on American soil, including two majors. Woods and Kaymer play together today and tomorrow. With them the Australian Adam Scott, another number one in a bit of a crisis, but for reasons opposite to Woods: a happy phase, marriage and fatherhood.
Finally, we point out other beautiful threes to follow: Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia and KJ Choi; Justin Rose, Dustin Johnson and Zach Johnson; Jim Furyk, Henrik Stenson, Brandt Snedeker.
Long live broadcast every evening on Sky Sport.
