1979 Tournament Players Championship

The 1979 Tournament Players Championship was a golf tournament in Florida on the PGA Tour, held March 22–25 at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach, southeast of Jacksonville. The sixth Tournament Players Championship, it was the third at Sawgrass and Lanny Wadkins won in the wind at 283 (−5), five strokes ahead of runner-up Tom Watson.[1][2][3][4]

1979 Tournament Players Championship
Tournament information
DatesMarch 22–25, 1979
LocationPonte Vedra Beach, Florida
30.189°N 81.370°W / 30.189; -81.370
Course(s)Sawgrass Country Club,
East-West course
Tour(s)PGA Tour
Statistics
Par72
Length7,083 yards (6,477 m)[1]
Field143 players, 71 after cut
Cut147 (+3)
Prize fund$440,000
Winner's share$72,000
Champion
Lanny Wadkins
283 (−5)
Location Map
Sawgrass CC
Location in the United States
Sawgrass CC
Location in Florida

The first two years at Sawgrass had resulted with both winners at 289 (+1), but Wadkins jumped out to a 36-hole score of 135 (−9).[5] Gusty winds and dry greens on the weekend caused high scores, but he held on with an even-par 72 in the final round for a comfortable win.[1][2][4]

Defending champion Jack Nicklaus finished seventeen strokes back, in a tie for 33rd place.

Venue
Main article: Sawgrass Country Club

This was the third of five Tournament Players Championships held at Sawgrass Country Club; it moved to the nearby TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course in 1982. The course length this year was reduced by 91 yards (83 m) to 7,083 yards (6,477 m).[1]

Past champions in the field
PlayerCountryYear(s) wonR1R2R3R4TotalTo parFinish
Jack Nicklaus United States1974, 1976, 197867738278300+12T33
Mark Hayes United States197772757980306+18T60
Al Geiberger United States197571758082308+20T67

Source:[1][2]

Round summaries

First round

Thursday, March 22, 1979

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Kermit Zarley United States66−6
T2Jack Nicklaus United States67−5
Andy North United States
Lanny Wadkins United States
T5Don January United States68−4
Gil Morgan United States
Jim Nelford Canada
Ron Streck United States
T9Brad Bryant United States69−3
Danny Edwards United States
Ed Fiori United States
Dan Halldorson Canada
Phil Hancock United States
Bill Kratzert United States
Wayne Levi United States
Lindy Miller United States
Jack Newton Australia
Jerry Pate United States
Tim Simpson United States
Dave Stockton United States

Source:[6]

Second round

Friday, March 23, 1979

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Lanny Wadkins United States67-68=135−9
2George Burns United States72-66=138−6
T3Dan Halldorson Canada69-70=139−5
Bill Kratzert United States69-70=139
Lee Trevino United States70-69=139
T6Ed Fiori United States69-71=140−4
Mark McCumber United States70-70=140
Jack Nicklaus United States67-73=140
T9Wayne Levi United States69-72=141−3
Andy North United States67-74=141
Dave Stockton United States69-72=141

Source:[5]

Third round

Saturday, March 24, 1979

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo par
1Lanny Wadkins United States67-68-76=211−5
T2George Burns United States72-66-76=214−2
Bill Kratzert United States69-70-75=214
Jack Renner United States73-70-71=214
Lee Trevino United States70-69-75=214
6Gary Koch United States70-72-74=216E
T5Phil Hancock United States69-73-75=217+1
Andy North United States67-74-76=217
Victor Regalado Mexico70-74-73=217
Tom Watson United States70-72-75=217

Source:[7]

Final round

Sunday, March 25, 1979

PlacePlayerCountryScoreTo parMoney ($)
1Lanny Wadkins United States67-68-76-72=283−572,000
2Tom Watson United States70-72-75-71=288E43,200
3Jack Renner United States73-70-71-75=289+127,200
4Phil Hancock United States69-73-75-74=291+319,200
T5Bill Kratzert United States69-70-75-79=295+514,600
Wayne Levi United States69-72-77-75=295
Lee Trevino United States70-69-75-79=295
8Andy Bean United States72-73-74-75=294+612,400
T9Jay Haas United States71-74-74-76=295+710,800
Tom Kite United States72-73-75-75=295
Jack Newton Australia69-74-77-75=295

Source:[1][2]

References
  1. "Lanny Wadkins plays 'best ever,' wins". Spokesman-Review. (Spokane, Washington). Associated Press. March 26, 1979. p. 17.
  2. "Wadkins' effort leaves field in awe". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). wire services. March 26, 1979. p. 7D.
  3. "Wadkins wins Players golf". Chicago Tribune. wire services. March 26, 1979. p. 4, sec. 5.
  4. Jenkins, Dan (April 2, 1979). "Lanny's a two-time winner". Sports Illustrated. p. 24.
  5. "Wadkins beats the wind to grab 3-stroke TPC lead". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). UPI. March 24, 1979. p. 2B.
  6. "Jack says he's 'back' and a 67 proves it". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 23, 1979. p. 6D.
  7. "Wadkins keeps star's role in a pro golf horror shoe". Eugene Register-Guard. (Oregon). Associated Press. March 25, 1979. p. 6E.
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