"Scene Setter"

The last thing the world needed was another 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass story, and I, never one to insist on originality, filed this profile for Golf World.

But before you hesitate to hit the link out of 17th hole fatigue, a couple of things.

Longtime readers will recall that I visited The Players last year for the first time and was pretty much awestruck by the amazing scene at No. 17, in part thanks to the hole but even more than that, the impressive engagement of fans who chose to contain their view to the island green.

And for viewers at home, NBC goes all out to cover the hole in ways that blew my mind. So that said, my story is not a rehash of Pete Dye or Deane Beman stories but instead a look at the elements and people who help make it such a premier viewing experience. And as part of the story, Sam Weinman produced this short video. It includes me hitting a nice skull over the 17th Hole Challenge green. So it's got that going for it.