THE PLAYERS Championship again pays tribute to the military

THE PLAYERS Championship will once again be the site of a week-long appreciation for the United States Armed Forces with an array of activities throughout the week at TPC Sawgrass.

All active duty, reserve and retired military personnel and their dependents are admitted free to the Tournament all day, every day. Military tickets were made available starting March 1 and are available at military installations.

The Patriots' Outpost, a hospitality venue located between the 16th and 18th fairways, was enlarged this year to accommodate more active, reserve and retired military and their dependents.

The Patriots' Outpost features food, beverages and interactive activities, with financial support provided by many Jacksonville-area companies and individuals.

"To open up their arms and allow us to come in has been tremendous," said Navy Commander Tom Prusinowski, who serves at Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay. "Jacksonville is a huge Navy town and THE PLAYERS has really taken care of us."

The Military Appreciation Day Ceremony, titled a "Salute to Military Families," will be held on Wednesday, May 5, beginning at 5 p.m. at the 18th green. The Military Personnel Color Guard, the Navy Band Southeast and 4Troops, a military vocal quartet, will perform, with a Blue Angels flyover scheduled and comments from PGA TOUR Commissioner Tim Finchem and 1983 and 2000 PLAYERS champion Hal Sutton.

Country music artist Tim McGraw will perform to conclude the festivities.

Wounded Warriors will also be serving as marshals at the 17th hole during the week.

On Saturday, May 1, the weekend before the tournament, "Operation Shower" was scheduled for the Patriots' Outpost as a baby shower was held for 40 expectant military wives whose husbands are deployed.

"We have over 250,000 people in this region that are directly or indirectly tied to the military," Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton said last year. "Our goal in Jacksonville is to be the most military-friendly city in America, and I think the PGA TOUR and THE PLAYERS are living that goal. They're doing everything they can to make sure that those who serve and their families have a great experience. I'm really proud of what THE PLAYERS has done."

In 2009, George H.W. Bush, the 41st president of the United States, was honored with a "Military Tribute" at the 18th hole and was the ninth recipient of the PGA TOUR's Lifetime Achievement Award. The tribute was part of THE PLAYERS Military Appreciation Day.

President Bush, a Navy pilot during World War II, visited the Patriots' Outpost to shake hands and experimented with the F-35 simulator.