In what year was The Players Championship first played? The answer is 1974.
The tournament debuted as the Tournament Players Championship in 1974, with Jack Nicklaus winning the inaugural edition. It was played at Atlanta Country Club in Marietta, Georgia, rather than at the Florida venue most fans associate with the event today.
The championship moved to Colonial Country Club in Texas in 1975 and Inverrary Country Club in Florida in 1976. It began its long association with the Sawgrass area in 1977, initially using Sawgrass Country Club. The event moved to the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in 1982.
That history explains two frequent mistakes. The Players is not one of golf's four traditional major championships, although its elite field and enormous purse have led to the nickname “fifth major.” Also, the iconic island green on the 17th hole was not part of the inaugural venue; it became part of the tournament's identity only after the move to TPC Sawgrass.