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By Michael George
Special To PGATOUR.com

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The 17th hole at The Stadium Course usually provides a lot of excitement for the gallery attending THE PLAYERS Championship.

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It's one of the most famous holes in all of golf: The famed par-3 17th hole at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass Stadium Course, site of THE PLAYERS Championship. The setting appears quite tranquil, with beautiful blue water, surrounding hills, a light breeze blowing, birds singing, manicured grass surrounding tall pines and oaks and a definitive, centerpiece island green. Many players saw its dark side Thursday.  • Number Crunch:  Water on 17 • Video:  Water, water everywhere

With Thursday's high winds, a single day record 50 golf balls sailed into the waters surrounding the green. The tournament record of 67 balls is almost sure to fall in the coming days.

A sold-out gallery for Friday's second round at the Tournament Players Club at Sawgrass was ready to see the perils that awaited the players. The fans were treated to sunshine and much less wind.

But, where's the best place to sit and see the action on the famed Island Hole? It depends on who you ask.

For friends and Jacksonville residents Amy Alexander and Vanessa Thompson, they like to camp out at the tee. The two braved a 1½-hour bus ride from the parking lot to be a part of the day's action.

"This is a great place to be," Alexander said. "It's a beautiful day here today and it's very exciting. I like to sit back here at the tee. You get a great view of the shot from the beginning and you can see it all the way to the green."

Thompson also likes the ability to watch 17 and the nearby holes.

"You can see a lot from here," Thompson said. "Not only can you see what's happening here, but you can see everything going on at the 16th green. And, being around this huge gallery is great, very electric. You also get a really cool view of the brand new clubhouse."

Otis Humphrey and Suzanne McEwan are no strangers to The Stadium Course as they have been attending the tournament since 1989. They've seen action from many different angles but prefer the view from behind the green.

"I really like watching the ball come in from the tee," Humphrey said. "Sitting back here gives you a great perspective on just how tough the green is."

McEwan wasn't even a fan of the sport when she first came to the tournament back in 1989.

"I really didn't know what to expect when I first came here," McEwan said. "I started watching and I was hooked right away. I even started to play the sport about eight years ago.

"The best thing about being at this tournament is that you really don't have to be a fan of the sport to have a good time here. There is so much to see and do plus you get to see the best golfers in the world."

McEwan has watched TPC Sawgrass evolve into the state-of-the-art course that it is today.

"There really isn't a bad place to sit when you come to the 17th," McEwan said. "Regardless on whether you sit in the new chalets at the tee, back here in the new grandstands or on the hill, you're going to get a great view."

Humphrey likes coming to 17 because of the unpredictable nature of the hole.

"If there's one word to describe this hole, its drama," Humphrey said. "It's kind of like the intro to the old Wide World Of Sports; it can be the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. A player has to be at his best to be successful at this hole."

Fans who gather and the hill like to socialize and have a good time. So says veteran course marshal Butch Rodgers. Rodgers was assigned to the hill during Friday's second round.

"People love to have a lot of fun when there up here, sometimes, a little too much fun," Rodgers said. "When problems arise, they are dealt with, but 99 percent of the fans are just here to have fun and to watch the action."