Wild Weather Set to Rock The Players Championship This Weekend
Justin Thomas lit up TPC Sawgrass with an incredible 62 on Friday, but scoring that low might be just a distant memory once Mother Nature shows up for the weekend.
The forecast? It’s not pretty. We’re talking about wind gusts over 30mph on Saturday afternoon – enough to make even the world’s best golfers think twice about their club selection.
And then there’s the infamous 17th hole.
That island green – which isn’t really an island, but try telling that to your nerves – is scary enough on a calm day. Now imagine standing on that tee with winds howling around you.
“The wind we’re expecting to project the next two days is going to be one helluva challenge,” says local pro Billy Horschel, who’s managed decent rounds of 67 and 71 so far. “You always want it to be tough, but when you start getting wind conditions like that, quality golf shots don’t always turn out well.”
The timing couldn’t be more dramatic. Those brutal winds are expected to peak just as the leaders hit the back nine on Saturday – you know, the stretch with all the water hazards.
Speaking of water, the 18th hole has plenty of it too. Imagine trying to close out a tournament with winds gusting over 30mph and water lurking everywhere. That’s exactly what these pros are facing.
But here’s where it gets really interesting: Sunday isn’t looking any better. The winds are supposed to stick around all day, and there’s talk of afternoon thunderstorms that could push things into Monday.
The last Monday finish at The Players? That was just three years ago.
For golf fans watching from home, this could make for some incredibly dramatic television. There’s something fascinating about watching the world’s best players battle the elements.
Just don’t expect many more 62s this weekend.
