Memorable Moments: Floyd climbs to wn in '81
 
Apr. 26, 2007

Editor's Note: This is the fifth in a series of 12 vignettes about memorable moments in the history of THE PLAYERS Championship. The 2007 event will be played May 10-13 on THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

Raymond Floyd's performance at the 1981 PLAYERS Championship was much different than the way he played the previous week at the Doral-Eastern Open. That week in Miami, Floyd opened with a 6-under 66 and went wire to wire, winning his 12th PGA TOUR event.

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Raymond Floyd's win in 1981 was his only top-10 finish in the PLAYERS.

A week later at Sawgrass Country Club, Floyd found himself tied for 14th after the first round of the last PLAYERS Championship held across A1A from the current TPC Sawgrass. By the midway point of the tournament, Floyd had dropped to19th place and had improved to12th place heading into the final round. Steady rain Sunday forced a Monday finish, which suited Floyd, a 1989 World Golf Hall of Fame inductee, just fine.

By Monday, the rain had stopped but the winds had picked up. Even in tough conditions, Floyd fired a 4-under 68 to force a playoff with Barry Jaeckel and Curtis Strange.

Floyd ended the overtime session quickly at the par-3 15th. After all three players missed the green, Floyd chipped to a foot and made a routine par after both Jaeckel and Strange missed their par-saving putts. Even with a one-footer for the win, though, Floyd took his time.

The winner's official share was $72,000, augmented by a bonus of $250,000. Said Floyd, "When Curtis missed, all of a sudden the cash register started ringing, and I had to back off and think about it a little."