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THE PLAYERS: TPC Sawgrass 17th hole day 2 highlights

By Mike Randleman

May 11, 2017; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; (Editors note: tilt-shift lens was used to create this image) Anirban Lahiri putts on the Stadium Course signature hole the 17th, known simply as the Island Green during the first round of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports
May 11, 2017; Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, USA; (Editors note: tilt-shift lens was used to create this image) Anirban Lahiri putts on the Stadium Course signature hole the 17th, known simply as the Island Green during the first round of The Players Championship golf tournament at TPC Sawgrass. Mandatory Credit: Peter Casey-USA TODAY Sports /
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A look at what happened at the 17th at TPC Sawgrass in round two of THE PLAYERS

THE PLAYERS Championship 2nd round came and went and our spoils came to an end as far as aces go. Or perhaps the golf gods just rested on Friday? Pete Dye’s TPC Sawgrass 17th endures.

No one could follow up Rickie Fowler’s one-timer in the practice rounds Wednesday and Sergio García’s when it counted Thursday.

Instead, the theme of round two was carnage.

Thursday’s water ball total of 19 was met relatively early Friday by approximately 3 p.m. local.

The final casualty count ended at 29. The PGA TOUR was kind enough to help us revel in the tour pros’ misfortunes by weaving all 29 misfires into one tidy tweet:

Zac Blair may have had the worst go of it. Two shots in the drink was the max Thursday by Bryce Molder. Blair topped that by depositing three in the water to make a nine.

Blair was already on pace to miss the cut, and was lighthearted in tipping his cap to the crowd when he finally made it safely on the green.

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The 17th finished at a 3.392 stroke average Friday, making it the second toughest on the course. That’s up from 3.14 and fifth, respectively, on Thursday.

Luck still left

It wasn’t all gloom and doom at the island green. The magical Sergio spring continued as his tee shot got a friendly bounce off the railroad ties and onto the green.

He went on to make par on the hole en route to carding a 71 Friday to reach even and comfortably make the cut tied 43rd.

The good stuff

A few others joined Sergio in taming the 17th. Henrik Stenson is used to finding some water at TPC Sawgrass but no funny business was needed here.

He striped his tee shot and made birdie. The Swede is tied for 23rd at two-under.

Here’s a wrap up of the highlights at No. 17. A breakdown of the scores: 13 birdies, 92 pars, 17 bogeys, 17 doubles and five dreaded “others.”

Who will fall victim to the vagaries of the 3rd round at THE PLAYERS Championship? The leaders won’t be on the tee until after lunch – check the tee times – but it won’t be long before the guys with early tee times are confronting the 17th hole threat.

Next: Mickelson and Rahm still alive at The PLAYERS

With the mid-tournament water ball count at 48, could this be a record-breaking year? I’ll be back Sunday morning with an update of the TPC Sawgrass 17th hole battle between man and water at THE PLAYERS!

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