The fifth Major on tour, and one these guys get totally amped up for. 

TPC Sawgrass, the Stadium Course, Ponte Vedra, FL. 7,218 yards, Par 72

Defending champion: Rickie Fowler, -12. Wow, what a show Rickie put on last year. He was six under on his last six holes, birdieing 13, 15, eagleing 16, birdieing 17 and birdieing 18. It was a masterful performance. Rickie won in a playoff over Kevin Kisner, who was super clutch throughout the final round, and Sergio Garcia. Rickie birdied 17 five of the six times he played it, including his clinching putt from five feet for a birdie to capture the title, and, as my man Spike says, “hoisted the hardware.’ It was an epic tournament with a champion who looks to have multiple majors in him, maybe this year. He could very well defend here. 

Purse: $10,000,000. First place: $1,800000. Nice payday on Sunday with a victory.

Architect: Pete Dye

72 hole record: Greg Norman,, 1994, 264, -24. That’s incredible.

Key groups:

8:21 AM ET/7:21 AM CT. No.1: Danny Willett, Brandt Sneedeker, Justin Rose. The Masters champion, a guy who is due for a big win in Snedeker, and a major champion in Rose. Quite a pairing.

8:21 AM ET/7:21 AM CT. No.10: Martin Kaymer, Henrik Stenson, Phil. Kaymer won here two years ago and won the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No.2 a month later. Henrik is on the brink of winning something big, and he won here in 2009, so he’s for sure in the hunt. Phil is a five time major winner, a 42 time winner on tour, and won here in 2007. Forty five year old Lefty still has it and is a major factor this weekend. 

8:43 AM ET/7:43 AM CT: Tee 10:Branden Grace, Jason Day, Jordan Spieth. Grace won at the RBC Heritage a month ago, Day and Spieth are two of the four best in the world, and I mean really elite. Like all time elite good along with Rory and Rickie, a still emerging all timer.

1:25 PM ET/12:25 PM CT. Tee 1: Zach Johnson, Patrick Reed, Sergio. Zach is a two time major winner and 12 time winner on the tour. Just so solid and accurate. Certainly a factor this weekend. Reed has played well. His last start, he finished second to Charlie Hoffman at the Valero Texas three weeks ago. He’s due. Sergio won here in 2008 and was in a playoff last year. He’s always in the discussion here. He needs a major sooner rather than later, and this could propel him for the U.S., the British and the PGA.

1:36 PM ET/12:36 PM CT: No.1: Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler, Matt Kuchar. Adam has had a super year. He’s adjusted well to the short putter and has back to back wins at the Honda and the WGC Cadillac Championship at the Donald. He won here in 2004 at age 23, the youngest player to ever win at the Players. Also, he’s a winner at Augusta National in 2013, so he knows how to get it done in crunch time. Rickie, of course, will be in the hunt. He’s so clutch. Kuuuch, I don’t know. He might be competitive.

1:36 PM ET/12:36 PM CT: No. 10: Justin Thomas, Davis Love III, Alex Cejka. Justin was right there on Sunday last year, but shot a final round 75 to fall back to T-24. Believe in this young man  from the University of Alabama. Has all the tools to win big, and win majors. Like his mental toughness and his game overall. See him getting it done on the big stage in the clutch soon. Davis is an all time classic. You gotta have the Ryder Cup captain and a former major winner in a key group. The 51 year old Love won 21 times on tour including the 1997 PGA Championship and the 2003 Players. He’s our captain for the Ryder Cup, so he deserves a superstar group. But Alex Cejka? What’s he doing in this group? Is this a misprint? Maybe he’ll be competitive for a while, but he won’t win.

1:47 PM ET/12:47 PM CT: Hideki Matsuyama, Graeme McDowell, Louis Oosthuizen. All three capable of doing well, and Hideki could win it. Hideki is a stud. The other two are former major winners, so they can handle the pressure in big moments.

1:58 PM ET/12:58 PM CT: Tee 1: Bubba, Rory, Dustin. Only first names needed here. Bubba is a two time Masters champion and Rory has won four majors. Dustin is really due. This is a really interesting pairing along with the Spieth, Day pairing.

Weather: Really good for the most part. Friday a chance of t-storms. Sunny, 82, on Sunday, Wind ENE 9-15 MPH.

TV: Thursday-Friday: Golf Channel: 1-7 PM ET/12-6 PM CT. Saturday-Sunday: NBC, 2-7 PM ET/1-6 PM CT. Dan, Johnny, David, Gary, etc.. on the call.

Key holes:

As always the Par 3, 137 yard 17th. The Island hole sets up for some of the greatest drama in golf. The 18th is a tremendously hard, pressurized hole at 445 yards with water all along the right side. If you overcook it off the tee, you’re swimming. if you hit too much of a fade you have trees and thick rough. These last two holes capture some of the greatest drama in golf and setup for historic finishes by stellar champions. Rickie proved that last year.

Last week’s pick at the Wells Fargo: Rory. Finished T-4. Best finish this season, Patrick Reed, 2nd at the Hyundai to Spieth.

Bama last week: Phil T-4. Has won with Hideki this season at the Waste Management in February.

Spike last week: Picked Rickie, T-4. Spike won at the WGC Cadillac with Adam Scott. 

Walter: Rickie. T-4. Walt just missed at the Shell Houston with Henrik. Henrik finished at -14, one back of winner Jim Herman.

Please join Bama, Spike and Walter on the blog with commentary-predictions. Chris-Craft, Willie, Pablo, Deano, Gunner, H, Kruegs, both of you, T in Atlanta, WW in Park City, TS in Atlanta, Peter, Brownie, David F. Termite, C, among others, would love your comments and predictions. Everybody is welcome. 

Contenders this week:

Patrick Reed

He’s close, very close. His clutchness is unquestionable in my opinion. Will get a major soon, maybe the fifth this weekend.

Phil

Still a horse. Like his chances if his putter is cooperating.

Jason Day

Can’t leave this stud out. He’s hit it 397 yards off the tee this season in Hawaii. This course requires some three woods off the tee, and that’s not his strongest club, but he’ll adjust.

Spieth

He’s going to get it back. The Masters was gut wrenching for him I’m sure. To me, he hadn’t quite recovered from all his world appearances, and all of his media and marketing obligations. He’s been worn out. But he’s eased up on his schedule the last couple of weeks and he’s ready to go this weekend and moving forward into the United States Open at Oakmont CC, June 16th-19th.

Rickie

Can’t leave this stud out either. He can flat out go off, and when he does, he’s almost unbeatable.

This week’s winner

Going back to the well again this week. Like the just turned 27 year old, who shot 66 in the final round at Quail Hollow last week, to capture his first Players title. He’s just too good not to win here. 

Rory McIlory