The 17th green at TPC Sawgrass is home to some of the best moments as well as some of the unforgettable ones, too.
However, even bad shots can set up memorable ones, as Doug Ghim learned on Saturday.
Ghim, who made a birdie on the par-5 16th, wanted to keep that going despite his tee shot on 17 bouncing through the green and into the rough, inches away from landing in the water.
His ball was 63 feet and two inches away from the cup, three feet farther than Tiger Woods’ memorable putt 23 years ago, but in the same direction.
Woods’ ball was on the fringe, so he used a putter. Being in the rough meant Ghim had to use a wedge.
And with his caddie assistance, Ghim talked his way through his shot, meticulously focused on how he was going to set up an easy par putt, let alone a chip-in, like Woods reading the green in 2001.
Ghim took his chip and watched the ball, like everyone else surrounding the Island Green at the Players Championship, anticipating the journey toward the cup.
It had the right speed. The ball showed no signs up coming up short. Then it was matter of making sure the ball was read on the right line with the breaks on the putting surface.
The 27-year-old Ghim watched his ball make the final right turn on the break and fell into the cup.
Watch: Doug Ghim makes 63-foot chip for birdie at the Players Championship
Doug Ghim rejoices like 2001 Players Championship winner Tiger Woods
He celebrated just like Woods did in 2001 with a fist pump in front of a jubilant gallery to celebrate his long birdie-make from more than 60 feet.
As a result, Ghim’s shot brought back memories from Woods’ “Better than most” putt that was called by Gary Koch, who returned this week as part of the 50th Players Championship Anniversary broadcast on Thursday and Friday.
Ghim would go on to shoot 6-under 66 for his third round at the Players Championship and get into a tie for sixth after entering the day in a tie for 34th.
Despite missing the cut last year, Ghim is trying to earn is second top-10 finish in three years after finishing sixth in 2022.
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