Players Championship 2017: Winners & Losers

By Golf Digest

May 11, 2017

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Birdie: Si Woo Kim

In 18 previous events in 2017, Kim had just one top 10, with 11 missed cuts and WDs on his resume. Not that you would have guessed following the 21-year-old's lights-out performance on Sunday, firing a bogey-free 69 en route to a three-shot victory. If you're wondering what spurred this turnaround, look no further than his drives. Entering the week ranked 205th in strokes gained: off-the-tee, Kim finished the tournament second on the week in the category. Kim, who also won last year's Wyndham Championship, is the youngest champ in Players history. -- Joel Beall

Photo By: Sam Greenwood

Bogey: Sergio Garcia

Following a horrendous start on Thursday, Garcia managed to position himself for a run on Sunday afternoon. However, after his round began on auspicious terms with a par-birdie start, the Spaniard's day unraveled quickly, playing the next six holes in six over. Of course, Garcia had an ace earlier in the week, and is still the reigning Masters champ. We're guessing he's going to be OK. -- JB

Photo By: Sam Greenwood

Birdie: Ian Poulter

Poulter didn't win the Players Championship. Conversely, given his plight just three weeks ago -- out of the Players, no card, his American playing future in question -- taking home some serious cash as runner-up secures his tour card for 2018. Moreover, on a day when many in the final groups faltered, the 41-year-old Poulter proved he's not riding into the sunset anytime soon. -- JB

Photo By: Sam Greenwood

Bogey: J.B. Holmes

Holmes, who entered the tournament without a top 10 in individual stroke play this season, started the day as co-leader with Kyle Stanley. That standing didn't last long, as he stumbled out of the gate and never regained his footing. The Ryder Cupper had five bogeys and a double in his first 10 holes, falling off the broadcast's coverage by midday. The final damage: a 12-over 84. -- JB

Photo By: Jamie Squire

Birdie: Dustin Johnson

The World No. 1 has three victories and six top 10s this season, so he isn’t exactly going into each week just trying to crack the top 25. But when your best career finish at the Players Championship is a T-28, you’ll take what you can get. Through 54 holes DJ struggled his way to two-over par, but finally found his form on Sunday. A four-under 68 vaulted him up the leader board and sends him out of Sawgrass on a high note. -- Chris Powers

Photo By: Jennifer Perez

Bogey: Jason Day

Talk about your stark contrasts. A year after capturing his first Players Championship and solidifying his spot atop the world ranking, Day turned in a dud on Sunday this year. Now ranked third in the world, Day's final-round 80 included two double bogeys and a quadruple-bogey 9 on the 16th hole, and was his worst score on tour since an 81 in this event two years ago. -- Sam Weinman

Photo By: David Cannon

Birdie: Rafa Cabrera Bello

Let's be frank: Sunday was not the most aesthetically pleasing of presentations, especially regarding the play of the final five groups. So when Cabrera Bello delivered an albatross at the 16th hole -- the first on that hole in Players Championship history -- and followed it with a birdie at the island green 17th, he had our hearts forever. Just for good measure, after dunking his tee shot at the 18th, the 32-year-old jarred a putt off the green for par. Truly a beacon of light in our darkest hour. -- JB

Photo By: Andy Lyons

Bogey: Patrick Cantlay

Those watching the early telecast saw "Cantlay: -6" on the leader board, along with a handful of shots from the fledgling star. However, his name and appearance disappeared for most of the afternoon thanks to a bogey-double-bogey-double stretch. Cantlay was far from the only victim at Sawgrass on Sunday, but for a guy who was a trendy pick to win it all, the 25-year-old's performance left much to be desired. -- JB

Photo By: Stan Badz

Birdie: Louis Oosthuizen

Oosthuizen is still searching for that elusive American victory, as his finish at the Players is his sixth runner-up finish in the United States. Nevertheless, though he failed to mount a charge of his own, his one-over 73 -- with three bogeys and a double, no less -- is an effort that warrants your applause. -- JB

Photo By: Mike Ehrmann

Bogey: Pat Perez

Perhaps the under-the-radar highlight of the weekend came from Perez, who went out Saturday morning and skyrocketed up the board with a six-under 66, the low round of the day. Unfortunately, he followed it up Sunday with the opposite of what he was looking for, shooting a four-over 76. The two-time tour winner is having one of the best seasons of his career, but he’ll leave Ponte Vedra Beach with a sour taste in his mouth. -- CP

Photo By: Sam Greenwood

Birdie: Brendan Steele

A season that began with such promise, with a win in the opening Safeway Open followed by a couple of top 10s, regained some momentum on Sunday. Steele's four-under 68 was tied for the best round of the day and jolted him up the leader board, good for a career-best finish at the Players. -- SW

Photo By: David Cannon

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