
Why one tree on a tee box is the talk of TPC Sawgrass ahead of the 2025 Players
Why one tree on a tee box is the talk of TPC Sawgrass ahead of the 2025 Players
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Scottie Scheffler on the pressure of being No. 1 in the world
Scottie Scheffler dished on the challenge of being the No. 1 player in the world at the Players Championship.
A tree that was removed from the sixth hole at TPC Sawgrass in 2014 has been replaced.
The original tree, an oak, was removed due to disease, but a nearly identical tree was transplanted from elsewhere on the course.
The tree is known for impacting players' tee shots, with some pros believing it was an unfair obstacle.
A tree is back at the par-4 sixth hole of the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
For the first time since the 2014 Players Championship, PGA Tour players will have the far-reaching branches of an oak tree planted on the right side of the tees of the 413-yard hole in their view and possibly in their heads when they tee it up in the 2025 Players Championship.
And it won't look much different from the tree that was there from the beginning when the course opened in 1980, just another device by architect Pete Dye to play with everyone's heads on a tee shot that otherwise would be a pretty straightforward 3-wood or iron off the tee from the back tees.
'We certainly felt like Pete Dye left the tree there to be an intregal part of part of the golf course,' said Players executive director Lee Smith on Feb. 10 during a tour of the changes made to the golf course. 'Bringing it back, we always thought, was going to be a great nod to him.'
Book your tee time at TPC Sawgrass today
Replacement tree was close at hand
The original tree developed a disease in 2014, which forced the TPC Sawgrass agronomy staff to remove it when a crack developed in the large overhanging branch. Tour officials feared the branch might eventually snap off during high winds and didn't want to risk injury to anyone.
Parts of the tree were able to be saved to carve and shape for items such as benches at the TPC Sawgrass clubhouse, for souvenirs and display purposes.
But the staff of the Players, the PGA Tour and TPC Sawgrass heard enough input from people who had enjoyed seeing the tree as a landmark on the golf course, even if their golf balls got entangled with the branches or rocketed into the trunk.
Planning began shortly after the 2024 Players and rather than purchase a replacement tree from a nursery, it was decided to find a similar tree on the property and transplant it.
At the same time, they consulted PGA Tour pros, accomplished amateurs and resort players about the location of the tree and its branches, and there was a general agreement that the new tree in the old spot would be the best solution.
They didn't have to look far for another tree — only about 100 yards down the fairway. It was there that the original tree's twin was located.
Smith said it took superintendent Jeff Plotts' staff about a week to complete the process. The transplant was conducted last summer.
'They did a great job finding a tree that looks almost identical to the old tree,' Smith said. 'And now, pros have to hit that stinger tee shot against to avoid the tree limb.'
Not all pros will be pleased
Based on comments in 2015, the first Players Championship without the tree at No. 6, there's bound to be a mixed reaction this week.
"It should never have been there," said Brian Harman during the week of the 2015 Players. "You shouldn't have things like that right in your face on a par-4 tee box."
"It was in your mind but most of the guys never had to worry about hitting it," said Stewart Cink. "We all lay up off the tee on that hole anyway because of the way the bunker is shaped on the left and the palm trees on the right. If you caught [the ball] a little high on the face of your club you could hit it. Not very many guys did."
One in particular was Ernie Els, who made a double bogey after blocking his tee shot directly into the tree.
Historical data suggests No. 6 played easier without the tree. From 1983 to 2014, No. 6 averaged 4.06 strokes. From 2015 to 2024 it was a bit easier at 4.018.
"Yeah, it's good. In a way, it forces you to play the shot," Rory McIlroy said ahead of the first round. "It sort of frames it for you really nicely. You have to flight it a little bit, especially when you play practice rounds all the tee markers are hanging off the back of the box, so I'd say the tee box won't be as far back as I played it yesterday, but you still got to hit it a little -- I certainly have to hit it a little lower than my preferred launch window."
Are there any other iconic trees on the Stadium Course?
A large palm tree is in the middle of a bunker in front and to the left of the 16th green that can affect third shots into the par-5 hole.
The par-5 11th hole has an oak tree in the right rough, with its branches spreading out over the edge of the fairway.
A lone palm tee guards the entrance to the right of the first green.
A large oak is in the right rough on the par-5 ninth hole.
Recommendations are independently chosen by our editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us and our publishing partners a commission.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
2025 U.S. Open purse, payouts: How much is up for grabs this week at Oakmont Country Club?
The third major championship is here, and the USGA is matching last year's record purse in Pennsylvania. The USGA announced on Wednesday that it is offering a $21.5 million purse at the U.S. Open this week. While that's not the largest offered this season on the PGA Tour, it matched the record that the tournament set last year among the four major championships. Advertisement The $21.5 million purse will also send the winner home from Oakmont Country Club outside of Pittsburgh with a $4.3 million check. "We didn't raise our purse this year," USGA CEO Mike Whan said on Wednesday. "When I started at the USGA just four years ago, our purse was $12.5 million, so I feel comfortable that we've been a leader in moving fast and bigger ... We understand the competitive set. We know that this probably isn't really about the money for the person who puts it there, but at the same time, we want the money to be commensurate with the achievement." By comparison, the PGA Tour's signature events carry purses of at least $20 million. The Players Championship leads the way with a $25 million purse, which is larger than the four major championships. The Masters offered a $21 million purse earlier this spring, which sent Rory McIlroy home with a $4.2 million check for his win, and Scottie Scheffler took home $3.42 million for his PGA Championship victory. Scheffler is the betting favorite this week, and it's easy to understand why. The top-ranked golfer in the world has won three of his last four starts without any issue whatsoever. He's finished inside the top-5 in two of his last three U.S. Open starts, too. Bryson DeChambeau isn't far behind, and McIlroy is up there, too — though he's coming off a missed cut at the RBC Canadian Open last week. Here's how much is up for grabs this week at Oakmont Country Club. Advertisement 2025 U.S. Open payouts 1. $4.3 million 2. $2.322 million 3. $1.445 million 4. $1.013 million 5. $843,765 6. $748,154 7. $674,491 8. $604,086 9. $546,720 10. $502,174 11. $458,280 12. $423,729 13. $394,829 14. $364,829 15. $338,332 16. $316,602 17. $299,218 18. $281,834 19. $264,450 20. $247,067 21. $232,073 22. $217,080 23. $202,521 24. $189,048 25. $177,314 26. $167,319 27. $159,713 28. $152,977 29. $146,458 30. $139,939 31. $133,420 32. $126,901 33. $120,382 34. $114,515 35. $109,735 36. $104,954 37. $100,391 38. $96,045 39. $91,699 40. $87,353 41. $83,007 42. $78,661 43. $74,315 44. $69,969 45. $65,623 46. $61,712 47. $57,801 48. $54,107 49. $51,934 50. $49,761 51. $48,457 52. $47,370 53. $46,501 54. $46,067 55. $45,632 56. $45,197 57. $44,763 58. $44,328 59. $43,894 60. $43,459 61. $43,024 62. $42,590 63. $42,155 64. $41,721 65. $41,286 66. $40,851 67. $40,417 68. $39,982 69. $39,548 70. $39,113 71. $38,678


CNET
43 minutes ago
- CNET
U.S. Open 2025: TV Schedule, How to Watch, Stream All the PGA Tour Golf From Anywhere
The 125th US Open takes place this weekend, with Bryson DeChambeau looking to clinch the title for a third time at the Oakmont Country Club in Pittsburgh. Keep reading to find out the best live TV streaming services you can use to watch each day of the tournament live wherever you are in the world, and how to use a VPN if they're not available where you are. The third of the year's majors, sees a 156-man field take on the course's notoriously lightning-fast, sloped greens and its punishing 175 bunkers. This marks a record 10th time the club has hosted the championship. Masters champ Rory McIlroy and world No. 1 Scottie Scheffler, who claimed last month's US PGA Championship title, come into the weekend's action as the big favorites alongside defending champ DeChambeau, while Spainish LIV Golf defector Jon Rahm is also well backed to claim his first U.S. Open title since his triumph at Torrey Pines in 2021. Bryson DeChambeau beat Rory McIlroy by one stroke at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club in North Carolina to claim last year's U.S. Open is the US TV schedule for the U.S. Open 2025? Linear TV coverage of the tournament in the US is split between USA Network and NBC. The tournament's first round on Thursday along with early TV coverage over the weekend is with USA Network, while NBC will air the second, third and final rounds on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Here's the full TV schedule (all times ET): Thursday USA Network: 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday NBC: 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday USA Network: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. NBC: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday USA Network: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. NBC: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Peacock is the tournament's official live-streaming partner, and is offering featured group feeds. There are additional streaming options available via the NBC Sports app and the USGA app. Here's the full streaming schedule (all times ET): Thursday U.S. Open All-Access: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Peacock) U.S. Open Round 1 Coverage: 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Peacock) Featured Groups: 7:17 a.m.; 1:02 p.m. (Peacock, USGA App) Friday U.S. Open Round 2 Coverage: 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Peacock) U.S. Open Round All-Access: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Peacock) Featured Groups: 7:17 a.m.; 1:02 p.m. (Peacock, USGA App) Saturday U.S. Open All-Access: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Peacock) U.S. Open Round 3 Coverage: 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Peacock) Featured Groups: TBD (Peacock, USGA App) Sunday U.S. Open All-Access: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. (Peacock) U.S. Open Round 4 Coverage: 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. (Peacock) Featured Groups: TBD (Peacock, USGA App) How to watch the U.S. Open 2025 online from anywhere using a VPN If you're traveling abroad and want to watch this tournament, a VPN can enhance your privacy and security while streaming. By encrypting your internet traffic, a VPN prevents your provider from throttling your connection and adds protection when using public Wi-Fi, keeping your devices and login credentials secure. VPNs are legal in many countries, including the US and Canada, and are commonly used for online privacy and security. However, some streaming platforms may restrict VPN usage for accessing region-specific content. Before using one, review the platform's terms of service to ensure compliance. If you choose to use a VPN, follow the provider's setup instructions carefully to maintain a secure connection. Be aware that some streaming services may detect and block VPN traffic, so it's advisable to confirm whether your subscription permits VPN use. James Martin/CNET ExpressVPN Best VPN for streaming Price $13 per month, $100 for the first 15 months (then $117 per year) or $140 for the first 28 months (then $150 per year) Latest Tests No DNS leaks detected, 18% speed loss in 2025 tests Network 3,000 plus servers in 105 countries Jurisdiction British Virgin Islands ExpressVPN is our current best VPN pick for people who want a reliable and safe VPN, and it works on a variety of devices. It's normally $13 a month, but if you sign up for an annual subscription for $100 you'll get three months free and save 49%. That's the equivalent of $6.67 a month. Note that ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. 61% off with 2yr plan (+4 free months) See at ExpressVPN Looking for other options? Be sure to check out some of the other great VPN deals taking place right now. Livestream the U.S. Open 2025 in the US NBC will provide the key linear TV coverage in the US, including the tournament's later stages. That coverage will also be available to watch via streaming service Peacock. A big chunk of the tournament's action will be shown live on USA Network, which you can access as part of your cable package or at the NBC Sports website with a valid login. It can also be streamed via Sling TV and other, more expensive streaming TV services. Stream the U.S. Open 2025 in Canada Live coverage of all four days of the 2025 U.S. Open will be available to watch in Canada via TSN, with coverage spanning the sports network's TSN4 and TSN5 linear channels. You'll also be able to stream all the action via the network's online platform TSN Plus. Livestream the U.S. Open 2025 in the UK Golf fans in the UK can watch the tournament live on Sky Sports. The tournament will be broadcast across its Sky Sports Golf and Main Events channels, with further coverage on its Red Button service. Now TV Now Watch the U.S. Open 2025 in the UK for £35 Viewers in the UK will be able to watch the U.S. Open 2025 on Sky Sports Golf, with extensive coverage of each day's play. Subscribers can also stream the action via the Sky Go app. Sky subsidiary Now (formerly Now TV) offers streaming access to Sky Sports channels with a Now Sports membership. You can get a day of access for £15 (perhaps just for the final round) or sign up for a monthly plan from £35 a month to watch all four days of the tournament. See at Now Livestream the U.S. Open 2025 in Australia The U.S. Open can be watched down under on Fox Sports via Foxtel. If you're not a Fox subscriber, your best option is to sign up for the Kayo Sports streaming service. Kayo Sports Kayo Sports Watch the U.S. Open 2025 in Australia for AU$25 A Kayo Sports subscription starts at AU$25 a month and lets you stream on one screen, while its Premium tier costs AU$40 a month for simultaneous viewing on up to three devices. The service gives you access to a wide range of sports, including F1, NRL, NFL, NHL and MLB, and there are no lock-in contracts. Better still, if you're a new customer, you can take advantage of a one-week Kayo Sports free trial. See at Kayo Sports Quick tips for streaming the U.S. Open 2025 using a VPN


New York Post
2 hours ago
- New York Post
How much are last-minute US Open Golf 2025 tickets? See Scottie Scheffler
Vivid Seats is the New York Post's official ticketing partner. We may receive revenue from this partnership for sharing this content and/or when you make a purchase. Featured pricing is subject to change. We're t-minus 24 hours from tee off. On Thursday, June 12, the annual US Open Golf Tournament gets underway at Oakmont, PA's Oakmont Country Club for four days of high-stakes stroke play. Favorites at this year's 72-hole showdown include PGA Championship winner Scottie Scheffler, Masters Tournament champ Rory McIlroy and 2024 U.S. Open victor Bryson DeChambeau. Advertisement Xander Schauffele, Harris English and Shane Lowry are just a few of the other elite linksmen to look out for in Oakmont over the long weekend. 54-year-old Phil Mickelson — playing in his 34th and possibly final U.S. Open — will be there as well. 'I think every player here has the belief in themselves that they can win, myself included,' Mickelson told The Post in an exclusive interview. 'They can visualize it. I can visualize it. I can see it happening. I know what it takes and how to shoot those numbers. Then it comes down to executing when it's time to go execute. Go out and shoot a score.' In total, 156 players will compete for the chance to call themself the champ in Oakmont (which is hosting the tourney for a record tenth time). Advertisement If you want to be there to witness the best in the game live, last-minute single and multi-day US Open tickets are available for purchase. At the time of publication, the lowest price we could find on two-day tickets was $1,289.50 including fees on Vivid Seats. Single-day passes start at $381.95 including fees. For more information, our team has everything you need to know and more about the 2025 US Open below. Advertisement All prices listed above are subject to fluctuation. 2025 U.S. Open Golf Tournament tickets A complete calendar including all tournament dates, start times, and links to the cheapest tickets available can be found here: 2025 U.S. Open Golf Tournament dates Ticket prices start at Two-day pass Thursday, June 12 and Friday, June 13 $1,289.50 (including fees) Two-day pass Saturday, June 14 and Sunday, June 15 $1,435.75 (including fees) Single-day pass Thursday, June 12 9 a.m. $382.75 (including fees) Single-day pass Friday, June 13 7 a.m. $435.40 (including fees) Single-day pass Saturday, June 14 7 a.m. $410.83 (including fees) Single-day pass Sunday, June 15 7 a.m. $381.95 (including fees) (Note: The New York Post confirmed all above prices at the publication time. All prices are subject to fluctuation and include additional fees at checkout.) Advertisement Vivid Seats is a verified secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand. They offer a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and your tickets will be delivered prior to the event. Still curious about Vivid Seats? You can find an article from their team about why the company is legit here. U.S . Open predictions Ahead of the tourney, Post golf expert Mark Cannizzaro shared his thoughts on this year's major competitors at the Major. One of his most interesting takes was that 'it's time for [Xander Schauffele] to be heard this year after winning two majors last year.' Huge golf tournaments in 2025-26 Even after the Jack Nicklaus Medal is handed off to a victor on June 15, there will still be a lot of high-profile action this year and next. Here are just five of the biggest tourneys to look forward to in the coming months. • LIV Golf (June through August 2025) Advertisement • Waste Management Phoenix Open (Feb. 2-8, 2026 in Phoenix, AZ) • The Players Championship (March 9-15, 2026 in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL) • The Masters (April 6-12, 2026 in Augusta, GA) • PGA Championship (May 11-17, 2026 in Newtown Square, PA) Advertisement Want to go to a concert or two, too? Check out our list of all the biggest concerts in 2025 to find the show for you. This article was written by Matt Levy, New York Post live events reporter. Levy stays up-to-date on all the latest tour announcements from your favorite musical artists and comedians, as well as Broadway openings, sporting events and more live shows – and finds great ticket prices online. Since he started his tenure at the Post in 2022, Levy has reviewed a Bruce Springsteen concert and interviewed Melissa Villaseñor of SNL fame, to name a few. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change