 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
The original 18 holes of championship golf were designed by noted Palmer Course Design architect, Ed Seay. Through the years, it has been recognized as one of the finest courses in the country and is currently included in Golf Digest's Best Courses in Florida.
Mark Hayes–1977
Jack Nicklaus–1978
Lanny Watkins–1979
Raymond Floyd–1981 
The March winds were back in force (30 mph) at Sawgrass during the
first round. The 1978 winner, Jack Nicklaus said, "I actually
like this course. I just don't like playing it in a gale." Mike
Morley and Dave Eichelberger led on Day 1 with 2 of only 13 scores
under par. Saturday saw no break in the weather. But Barry Jaeckel
continued some great play, finishing 5 under and 1 shot ahead of Danny
Edwards and Dan Halldorson. He widened his lead to 3 shots on Saturday,
hanging on for dear life as Raymond Floyd and Curtis Strange took
dead aim on Sunday. Floyd came from 6 shots back (68) and Strange
from 4 (70) to tie Jaeckel (74) for a 3-man playoff. It began and
ended on the par-3 15th where all 3 missed the green and had to get
it up and down. Only Floyd was successful, knocking his chip stiff
to knock off his opponents who missed their par putts.[72-74-71-68 -- 285 (-3)]
Illustrations by and courtesy of Sawgrass member,
Phyllis Gottschalk. Reprinted with permission. |
First-round leader, Mike McCullough shot a course record 66 and
held a 2-stroke lead over Ray Floyd, Tom Watson, and Don Bies. Second-round
scores soared (average 77) as March winds came up big time (40 mph
gusts). McCullough held on to his 2-shot lead, now over just Watson.
On moving day, a relatively calm Saturday, a mild mannered Mark
Hayes quietly moved up the leader board with a 71 and just one shot
back of McCullough and Watson. On Sunday, Hayes continued his great
play and found himself with a 1-shot lead as he teed off on the
par 5, 18th. After flying his second shot into a backside bunker
leaving himself a difficult downhill lie, he finessed a 5-iron to
within 10 feet and drained the putt for a birdie and a 2-shot win
and $60,000.
Sawgrass conditions were benign for the first round, and Kermit
Zarley took full advantage, tying the course record with a 66. Last
year's winner, Jack Nicklaus lurked 1 shot back. Friday morning
remained calm enough for George Burns to post his own 66 before
the wind and rain crept in during the afternoon round. In spite
of worsening weather, Lanny Watkins fired a calm, 68 for a 3-shot
lead over Burns. Saturday saw Mother Nature turn ugly, making the
course almost unplayable with ripping 40-mile-per-hour winds. Watkins
fought the elements again, posting a 76 and maintaining his lead
over Burns and now, Jack Renner, Lee Trevino, and Bill Kratzert.
Sunday's weather was even worse, but Watkins was up to the challenge,
shooting par, besting Tom Watson by 5 shots, and posting the only
under par total. 
Steve Melnyk and Hale Irwin shared the first-round lead with 67s
after playing Sawgrass, which according to Jack Nicklaus was "as
easy as you'll ever find it; but we'll get wind before it's over."
The course didn't take long to prove Jack right as Friday saw winds
at 40 mph and a thunderstorm roll through. In spite of the weather,
Irwin shot par and shared a 1-stroke lead with Curtis Strange over
Melnyk, Lee Trevino, and Tom Watson. Trevino as well Jack Nicklaus
and Gary Player made their moves on a beautiful, sunny Saturday
and thrilled the crowds by making up the final group on Sunday.
But "The Big Three" would not be the story in the last
round; it would be Trevino holding off a charging Ben Crenshaw,
playing just ahead of him. Ben's course record-tying 66 came up
just 1 shot shy as Trevino 2-putted for par on 18. 
