Best of the Players Championship: The 25 Most Dominant Performances

The 1974 Players was the event’s inaugural, and it gained an additional measure of credibility when Jack Nicklaus won it.

The event was played in August at Atlanta Country Club, the only time it has been held in Georgia. Although Nicklaus, despite not having won since February, entered as a favorite, his victory was hardly ordained.

For three rounds, in fact, all the star power in the Players field failed to step forward.

Playing through rain showers that interrupted play, J.C. Snead seized the first round lead with a 64, a shot ahead of Tom Evans and Jerry Heard. Lou Graham’s Friday 67, equaling his Thursday score, moved him one ahead of Snead, with Dave Hill third. Nicklaus, meanwhile, hovered in a tie with Bruce Crampton and Hubert Green for fourth, three strokes back,.

At the close of play Saturday, Snead held a three-stroke lead, but Nicklaus moved into second. Jack caught and passed him with five birdies through the first 13 holes Sunday when rain halted play, forcing a dozen tournament leaders to finish on Monday. But that conclusion was anti-climactic; Nicklaus held his two-stroke advantage as both players parred in.

The victory ended Nicklaus’s  longest victory drought’s since 1969, and one of the longest of his career.