Scott Verplank Leading Prestigious Player’s Championship

Scott Verplank has just made his second eagle of his first round at the prestigious TPC at Sawgrass. The OSU great had a stretch on the front nine where he went five-under in a five-hole stretch.

Scott, who plays out of Oak Tree National and is a former OSU American, currently is through 12 holes in what is considered golf's "fifth major." He is tied for the lead at 5-under par.

Tiger Woods has been up and down but has made an easy eagle and is one two under through eleven ten holes. He started on No. 10 as Verplank started on No. 1.

TPC at Sawgrass is a fabulous high-risk, high-reward Pete Dye course. Dye was also the architect at the Oak Tree course in Edmond when he opened one of his all-time favorite courses. It opened in 1976.

Sawgrass requires a player to hit every club in his bag and allows a player to be aggressive. But if one is not smart, this course with more than ample water can suck you up and spit you out. Eagles will soar this week but so will snowmen-eights.

He has returned several times to see the track and most recently helped re-design a few holes and get it ready to re-open in July as new management aspires to make the course and the club one of the premiere places in golf.

We'll keep you posted as the first day of The Players continues. Scoring conditions are ripe as overnight rains softened the undulating and slick greens.

Your golfing correspondent, Dean