Golf tournament
The 2015 Players Championship was a golf tournament in Florida on the PGA Tour , held May 7–10 at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach , southeast of Jacksonville . It was the 42nd Players Championship .
Rickie Fowler won the tournament, beating Kevin Kisner and Sergio García in a playoff.[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
Trailing by five shots with six holes to play, Fowler played them at six-under-par, going birdie-par-birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie to force a playoff.[ 4] [ 5] After the three-hole aggregate playoff (holes 16–18) ended with Kisner and Fowler still tied, they returned to the 17th for sudden-death . Fowler put his tee shot to five feet (1.5 m) on the island green 17th, and made birdie to win.[ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
Defending champion Martin Kaymer finished twelve strokes back at even par, tied for 56th place.
Venue
This was the 34th Players Championship held at the TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course and it remained at 7,215 yards (6,597 m).
Course layout
The 2015 Players Championship
Tee
Rating /Slope
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Out
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
In
Total
Yards
76.8 / 155
423
532
177
384
471
393
442
237
583
3,642
424
558
358
181
481
449
523
137
462
3,573
7,215
Par
4
5
3
4
4
4
4
3
5
36
4
5
4
3
4
4
5
3
4
36
72
Field
The field consisted of 144 players meeting the following criteria:
1. Winners of PGA Tour events since last Players
Bae Sang-moon (2), Ángel Cabrera (2), Alex Čejka , Ben Crane (2), Jason Day (2,6,8,12), Matt Every (2,8), Jim Furyk (2,8), Bill Haas (2,8), James Hahn (2), Brian Harman (2), Pádraig Harrington , Charley Hoffman (2,8,12), J. B. Holmes (2,8,12), Billy Horschel (2,7,8), Dustin Johnson (2,6,8,12), Martin Kaymer (2,4,5,8), Chris Kirk (2,8), Brooks Koepka (8), Hunter Mahan (2,8), Ben Martin (2), Hideki Matsuyama (2,8,12), Rory McIlroy (2,4,6,8), Ryan Moore (2,8,12), Geoff Ogilvy (2), Patrick Reed (2,6,8,12), Justin Rose (2,4,8), Adam Scott (2,4,8), Brandt Snedeker (2,7,8), Jordan Spieth (2,4,8,12), Robert Streb (2), Kevin Streelman (2), Nick Taylor , Brendon Todd (2,8), Camilo Villegas (2), Jimmy Walker (2,8,12), Bubba Watson (2,4,6,8,12)
2. Top 125 from previous season's FedEx Cup points list
Robert Allenby , Aaron Baddeley , Ricky Barnes , Jonas Blixt , Jason Bohn , Steven Bowditch , Keegan Bradley (4,6,8), Scott Brown , Paul Casey (8), Kevin Chappell , K. J. Choi (5), Stewart Cink , Erik Compton , Brian Davis , Brendon de Jonge , Graham DeLaet , Luke Donald , Jason Dufner (4), Ernie Els (4), Harris English , Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño , Martin Flores , Rickie Fowler (8), Sergio García (8), Brice Garnett , Robert Garrigus , Retief Goosen , Luke Guthrie , Chesson Hadley , David Hearn , Russell Henley (8), Morgan Hoffmann , Charles Howell III , John Huh , Billy Hurley III , Ryo Ishikawa , Freddie Jacobson , Zach Johnson (8), Matt Jones , Jerry Kelly , Kevin Kisner , Russell Knox , Jason Kokrak , Matt Kuchar (5,6,8), Scott Langley , Danny Lee , Marc Leishman , Justin Leonard , Will MacKenzie , Graeme McDowell (4,8), William McGirt , George McNeill , Troy Merritt , Phil Mickelson (4,8), Bryce Molder , Kevin Na (8), Noh Seung-yul , Louis Oosthuizen (4,8), Jeff Overton , Ryan Palmer (8), Pat Perez , Carl Pettersson , Ian Poulter (6,8), Michael Putnam , Andrés Romero , Rory Sabbatini , Charl Schwartzel (4,8), John Senden , Webb Simpson (4,8), Vijay Singh , Scott Stallings , Brendan Steele , Shawn Stefani , Henrik Stenson (7,8), Steve Stricker , Chris Stroud , Brian Stuard , Daniel Summerhays , Andrew Svoboda , Michael Thompson , David Toms , Cameron Tringale , Bo Van Pelt , Jhonattan Vegas , Nick Watney , Boo Weekley , Lee Westwood (8), Tim Wilkinson , Gary Woodland
3. Top 125 from current season - Medical Extension
Spencer Levin , Scott Piercy
4. Major champions from the past five years
Darren Clarke
5. Players Championship winners from the past five years
Tiger Woods (6)
6. WGC winners from the past three years
7. The Tour Championship winners from the past three years
8. Top 50 from the Official World Golf Ranking
Jamie Donaldson , Stephen Gallacher , Branden Grace , Thongchai Jaidee , Anirban Lahiri , Shane Lowry , Joost Luiten , Bernd Wiesberger , Danny Willett
9. Senior Players champion from prior year
Bernhard Langer
10. Web.com Tour money leader from prior season
Adam Hadwin
11. Money leader during the Web.com Tour Finals
Derek Fathauer
12. Top 10 current year FedEx Cup points leaders
13. Remaining positions and alternates filled through current year FedEx Cup standings
Daniel Berger , Sean O'Hair , Justin Thomas
Round summaries
First round
Thursday, May 7, 2015
Second round
Friday, May 8, 2015
Third round
Saturday, May 9, 2015
Final round
Sunday, May 10, 2015
Champion
(c) = past champion
Leaderboard below the top 10
Place
Player
Score
To par
Money ($ )
T13
Billy Horschel
68-72-69-72=281
−7
187,500
Zach Johnson
71-68-71-71=281
Chris Kirk
70-68-68-75=281
David Toms
73-71-68-69=281
T17
Derek Fathauer
68-72-69-73=282
−6
130,857
Jerry Kelly
71-65-72-74=282
Russell Knox
72-70-72-68=282
Hideki Matsuyama
67-74-72-69=282
George McNeill
73-70-69-70=282
Pat Perez
71-70-68-73=282
Henrik Stenson (c)
72-69-73-68=282
T24
Chesson Hadley
71-72-66-74=283
−5
81,000
Russell Henley
70-70-72-71=283
Marc Leishman
69-71-74-69=283
Geoff Ogilvy
72-72-69-70=283
Patrick Reed
72-70-69-72=283
Justin Thomas
73-70-65-75=283
T30
Bae Sang-moon
72-68-73-71=284
−4
58,125
Scott Brown
72-67-69-76=284
Erik Compton
74-70-72-68=284
James Hahn
70-73-72-69=284
Charley Hoffman
67-74-71-72=284
Ian Poulter
71-69-70-74=284
Robert Streb
70-73-72-69=284
Bo Van Pelt
70-72-69-73=284
T38
Martin Flores
73-71-67-74=285
−3
44,000
Stephen Gallacher
72-70-70-73=285
Adam Scott (c)
72-69-69-75=285
Steve Stricker
69-75-69-72=285
T42
K. J. Choi (c)
70-74-70-72=286
−2
31,400
Matt Every
74-70-70-72=286
Branden Grace
71-67-73-75=286
Pádraig Harrington
71-73-75-67=286
David Hearn
67-71-70-78=286
Freddie Jacobson
70-74-70-72=286
Chris Stroud
70-69-76-71=286
Jhonattan Vegas
75-69-66-76=286
Bubba Watson
71-70-69-76=286
T51
Luke Guthrie
74-69-69-75=287
−1
23,680
J. B. Holmes
70-71-73-73=287
Joost Luiten
71-70-71-75=287
Charl Schwartzel
71-72-72-72=287
Brendon Todd
68-72-75-72=287
T56
Robert Allenby
70-72-73-73=288
E
22,200
Graham DeLaet
75-69-70-74=288
Jim Furyk
70-70-73-75=288
Charles Howell III
68-72-71-77=288
Martin Kaymer (c)
69-72-71-76=288
Graeme McDowell
73-70-74-71=288
Cameron Tringale
69-71-72-76=288
T63
Brendon de Jonge
73-71-71-74=289
+1
21,200
Bryce Molder
72-71-75-71=289
Vijay Singh
71-72-76-70=289
T66
Ernie Els
73-70-76-71=290
+2
20,600
Scott Langley
72-72-71-75=290
Webb Simpson
69-74-78-69=290
T69
Dustin Johnson
72-72-75-72=291
+3
20,000
Louis Oosthuizen
70-73-75-73=291
Tiger Woods (c)
73-71-75-72=291
72
Troy Merritt
68-71-76-77=292
+4
19,600
73
Nick Taylor
72-70-72-79=293
+5
19,400
74
Alex Čejka
69-73-79-78=299
+11
19,200
75
Scott Stallings
71-72-82-76=301
+13
19,000
CUT
Daniel Berger
71-74=145
+1
Jason Bohn
71-74=145
Keegan Bradley
77-68=145
Gonzalo Fernández-Castaño
74-71=145
Morgan Hoffmann
76-69=145
Brooks Koepka
78-67=145
Jason Kokrak
69-76=145
Matt Kuchar (c)
73-72=145
Spencer Levin
70-75=145
Ryan Moore
73-72=145
Michael Putnam
72-73=145
Justin Rose
71-74=145
Brendan Steele
73-72=145
Bernd Wiesberger
77-68=145
Ricky Barnes
69-77=146
+2
Jason Dufner
73-73=146
Harris English
75-71=146
Billy Hurley III
74-72=146
Bernhard Langer
73-73=146
Danny Lee
73-73=146
Justin Leonard (c)
73-73=146
Jeff Overton
69-77=146
Andrew Svoboda
71-75=146
Jimmy Walker
71-75=146
Boo Weekley
73-73=146
Lee Westwood
76-70=146
Danny Willett
72-74=146
Steven Bowditch
77-70=147
+3
Ben Crane
71-76=147
John Huh
74-73=147
Shane Lowry
73-74=147
Hunter Mahan
72-75=147
Scott Piercy
73-74=147
Brandt Snedeker
69-78=147
Jordan Spieth
75-72=147
Shawn Stefani
77-70=147
Michael Thompson
73-74=147
Stewart Cink
76-72=148
+4
Thongchai Jaidee
73-75=148
Anirban Lahiri
76-72=148
William McGirt
75-73=148
Noh Seung-yul
73-75=148
Andrés Romero
72-76=148
Kevin Chappell
77-72=149
+5
Brian Davis
75-74=149
Adam Hadwin
75-74=149
Phil Mickelson (c)
73-76=149
Ryan Palmer
77-72=149
Kevin Streelman
75-74=149
Nick Watney
78-71=149
Jason Day
69-81=150
+6
Will MacKenzie
75-75=150
Tim Wilkinson
73-77=150
Brice Garnett
76-75=151
+7
Retief Goosen
78-73=151
Matt Jones
75-76=151
Sean O'Hair
76-76=152
+8
Camilo Villegas
78-74=152
Luke Donald
77-76=153
+9
Robert Garrigus
75-78=153
Brian Stuard
74-79=153
Daniel Summerhays
75-78=153
Gary Woodland
79-74=153
Aaron Baddeley
78-77=155
+11
Jonas Blixt
77-80=157
+13
WD
Ángel Cabrera
75
+3
Carl Pettersson
77
+5
Paul Casey
79
+7
Darren Clarke
Source: [ 9]
Scorecard
Final round
Hole
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
Par
4
5
3
4
4
4
4
3
5
4
5
4
3
4
4
5
3
4
Fowler
−6
−6
−6
−6
−6
−6
−7
−7
−7
−6
−6
−6
−7
−7
−8
−10
−11
−12
García
−7
−8
−8
−9
−10
−11
−11
−11
−11
−11
−11
−11
−11
−10
−10
−11
−12
−12
Kisner
−9
−10
−10
−9
−8
−9
−9
−9
−9
−9
−9
−10
−10
−10
−10
−11
−12
−12
Haas
−9
−9
−10
−10
−10
−10
−9
−8
−7
−8
−8
−8
−8
−9
−10
−11
−11
−11
Martin
−9
−10
−10
−10
−9
−9
−9
−9
−8
−9
−10
−10
−10
−9
−10
−11
−12
−11
Na
−8
−8
−8
−6
−6
−7
−8
−8
−8
−8
−8
−8
−8
−9
−9
−10
−10
−9
Sabbatini
−6
−6
−6
−6
−6
−7
−7
−7
−7
−8
−8
−8
−8
−8
−8
−8
−9
−9
Kirk
−10
−10
−10
−9
−8
−8
−9
−9
−9
−9
−9
−9
−9
−8
−7
−7
−7
−7
Cumulative tournament scores, relative to par
Eagle
Birdie
Bogey
Double bogey
Source: [ 10]
Playoff
The playoff was the first at The Players to use the three-hole aggregate format, adopted the prior year , which began at par-5 16th hole. After the three holes, Fowler and Kisner were tied, but García missed his birdie putt on 18 to continue and was eliminated. The same three holes were scheduled for sudden-death, but started at the par-3 17th, which both had birdied twice Sunday. Fowler birdied it again (his fifth on the 17th hole in six attempts for the week) to win the title.[ 1] The birdies were a first for the Players; its four previous playoffs, all sudden-death, had no under-par scoring.
García just missed his birdie putt on 18 to continue; his one-handed tap-in did not drop and it was scored a bogey.
Source: [ 10]
Scorecard
Hole
16
17
18
17
Par
5
3
4
3
Fowler
E
−1
−1
−2
Kisner
E
−1
−1
−1
García
E
E
+1
Cumulative playoff scores, relative to par
Source: [ 8] [ 10]
References
^ a b "Rickie Fowler rallies, overcomes 2 in playoff to claim Players" . ESPN . Associated Press. May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2017 .
^ "Rickie Fowler outlasts logjam to win Players Championship" . New York Times . May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015 .
^ "Rickie Fowler wins title after superb finish" . BBC Sport . May 11, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2015 .
^ Biggane, Brian (May 10, 2015). " 'Overrated' Fowler wins The Players Championship in playoff" . Palm Beach Post . (Florida). Retrieved May 2, 2017 .
^ Thompson, Edgar (May 10, 2015). "Rickie Fowler answers critics by winning the Players Championship" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved May 2, 2017 .
^ "Unequaled finish earns Fowler PLAYERS Championship" . PGA Tour . Associated Press. May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2017 .
^ Bamberger, Michael (May 18, 2015). "The Players a player" . Sports Illustrated . Retrieved May 2, 2017 .
^ a b Morfit, Cameron (May 11, 2015). "Rickie Fowler wins Players Championship in playoff" . GOLF . Retrieved May 2, 2017 .
^ "Past Results 1974 – present" . PGA Tour . Archived from the original on September 1, 2020. Retrieved March 1, 2020 .
^ a b c "The Players Championship" . ESPN . (Golf). May 10, 2015. Retrieved May 2, 2017 .
External links