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Editor's Note: This is the ninth 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.

Sandy Lyle had broken through in 1987 to become the first international player to win THE PLAYERS Championship, and four years later, Australian Steve Elkington was the second.

Steve Elkington won THE PLAYERS twice. (WireImage)

Elkington, however, was something of a surprise. In four previous PLAYERS Championships, the Australian's best finish was a tie for 16th in 1990 to go with two missed cuts and a tie for 54th in 1988. Yet, Elkington had shown signs that he had the game to win at TPC Sawgrass, winning the 1990 Kmart Greater Greensboro Open.

At his fifth PLAYERS in 1991, Elkington was tied for second after both the first and second rounds.

He felt good about his position in the 10th tournament held at the TPC Sawgrass, especially after shooting a 2-under 70 in second-round weather featuring wind gusts that reached 43 mph. A disappointed Elkington dropped to a tie for fifth heading into the final round after he shot an even-par 72 Saturday. But his best was yet to come as he would provide PLAYERS fans one of the tournament's most dramatic finishes.

With three holes left to play, Elkington's spirits dropped when he could only par the par-5 16th, the easiest hole of the week. Then at the par-13 17th, Elkington made bogey, leaving him tied for the lead and needing birdie on the 18th to avoid a playoff. The only problem was the 18th is the most difficult hole the Stadium Course has to offer.

That's when Elkington made history. He hit the fairway with his drive, knocked his approach shot onto the green and calmly made his birdie putt to win THE PLAYERS. He defeated Fuzzy Zoeller by a stroke and is still the only golfer to win the tournament by making birdie on No. 18.

Elkington won his second PLAYERS in 1997, while the likes of South Africa's Nick Price, New Zealand's Craig Perks and fellow countrymen Greg Norman and Adam Scott have also taken home the PLAYERS title against one of the best fields in golf.