Rob “Hardy” Poole: Why I’m no longer annoyed by the Players Championship

I used to get annoyed at the phrase “golf’s 5th major.” Especially when the governing bodies of women’s golf actually added a 5th major in 2013, the Evian Championship. You can’t do that. “Oh, now this is a major championship too!” Why? How?

So, why am I no longer annoyed when The Players Championship, taking place this weekend at the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, is called an unofficial 5th major? I’m not exactly sure, but I think it has to do with these reasons:

The list of winners of The Players Championship is, well, a list of players.

Jack Nicklaus won the inaugural event in 1974 (and again in 1976 and 1978), and since then the list of champions includes:

Lee Trevino (1980), Fred Couples (1984, 1996), Davis Love III (1992, 2003), Greg Norman (1994), Tiger Woods (2001, 2013), Phil Mickelson (2007), Justin Thomas (2021), and Scottie Scheffler (2023).

From the PGA Tour website:

Like other majors, the course has to be part of the story. The Masters has Augusta National, and the Open Championship and U.S. Open have their rotation of storied layouts. The PGA Championship probably suffers the most in this regard, but The Players Championship has been played at the Stadium Course since 1982. As a viewer, you get to know the course, even if you don’t know all the players. The island green on the par 3 17th alone is enough to make this tournament appointment viewing for golf fans.

So, it’s not an actual major. But if you want to call it one unofficially, I’m not going to stop you. I’ll be too busy watching and wondering if someone is going to dunk their tee shot on the second to last hole on Sunday and dash their hopes of joining the ranks of (almost) major championship winners.

Since its inception in 1974, the field has been impressive, and this year is no exception. From the PGA website:

Rob "Hardy" Poole co-hosts Toucher & Hardy weekday morning from 6-10AM. Follow him @Hardyradio on X/Twitter

I like hats. Specifically, golf hats. Over the years, some of my favorites have been worn out to the point where I’ve thrown them away, but here are five that hold a special place in my heart. Or in this case, my head.

 Easily the most controversial hat on this list. Most people hate it. But the people like me who love it, REALLY love it. And, it’s my favorite souvenir from favorite family vacation.

I bought this in the pro shop on media day at the Country Club in Brookline.  Another classic logo, and a great keepsake from one of those once in a lifetime rounds and the tournament that followed a few weeks later.

My first and only time at Augusta. I bought about 10 different hats in the pro shop that day and gave most of them away.  But I kept my favorite. 

Absolutely my favorite hat maker right now, and this one was designed by my buddy Steve Show, who works for TM.

 I don’t wear this one much anymore, because it’s unstructured and not quite the style I like these days.  But I’ll never get rid of it. Awesome logo, and it lists the years they hosted the U.S. Open on the side.