Surprisingly low number of water balls at usually daunting 17th

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Francesco Molinari of Italy waits alongside his caddie Jorge Gamarra on the tee at No. 17 on Saturday.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- If there's been one big surprise at THE PLAYERS in 2010, it's been the lack of balls finding the water on the famed 17th hole.

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Third-round coverage

CAN WESTWOOD DO IT?: We've heard it before. Lee Westwood is on the verge of a breakthrough victory. Will it happen this time? Column PHIL'S FOCUS: Phil Mickelson heads into the final round thinking about winning rather than the spoils that come with it. Column MOTHER'S DAY MOTIVATION: Heath Slocum's wife won't be in Ponte Vedra Beach to see the final round, but she'll be on his mind. Story FIRST-TIMER: An unheralded first-time PLAYERS participant is lighting up the Stadium Course. Story NO. 17 ... EASY?: A surprising stat reveals that the 17th hole isn't as daunting as in years' past. Story DON'T COUNT 'EM OUT: If TPC Sawgrass or history has a say, plenty of players still have a shot at the title. Story CONTENDERS CHART: We break down every player within earshot of the lead going into the deciding day. Chart

Going into Sunday's final round, only 20 balls have gotten wet off the tee -- on pace to be the fewest number since 2003 (29), when ShotLink began tracking the stat.

Paul Goydos, who birdied the hole for the third straight day in the third round actually thought the hole played tougher Saturday.

"The greens were starting to dry out," said Goydos, "but I'm still going to try to make four in a row tomorrow."

As the afternoon progressed and winds picked up, players began thinking a little more as they approached the 17th tee box.

Heath Slocum was one of the unfortunate ones to find the drink. He came into 17 on Saturday tied for the lead at 13 under and left with a double bogey to drop to 11 under.

"It's over," said Slocum. "I can't dwell on it. I got to 18 and hit one of my better drives, so I feel like I got it out of my head."

Just before Slocum's group, Bo Van Pelt labored over his tee shot before finally making his club selection, resulting in a par for the third straight day.

"It was similar yardage as the previous two days, but the winds were tricky," said Van Pelt, who came into the clubhouse at 10 under. "Luke (Donald) hit a 52-degree wedge way long. So, I took my time and wanted to be absolutely sure I had the right club. I hit a wedge."

Kenny Perry, who three-putted the green Saturday, but has found the surface all three rounds, thinks he has the answer as to why 17 might be playing easier.

"When we played in March, the winds were swirling," Perry said. "We haven't had those kinds of winds all week. For the last couple of days, it's been downwind left to right, no swirling winds. That's a shot that's easy for most of these guys."

Adam Scott, the 2004 PLAYERS champion, thinks the greens have been a little softer too.

"Most balls struck well have held on the grass," he said. "I've got two birdies and a par, so I'm happy."

John Rollins, who made a difficult downhill birdie on the 17th from about 25 feet in Saturday's third round, cautions the field that although it's been easier, it may not be on Sunday.

"The winds haven't really blown hard as in years past," said Rollins, "but on Sunday it's still not an easy shot to stand up and hit."

Davis Love III, winner at THE PLAYERS in 1992 and 2003, wouldn't be surprised to see the golfers unintentionally flirting with the water on No. 17 on Sunday.

"It could be difficult tomorrow," said Love, who has already checked the final-round weather forecast. "The pin will be back right with possible winds out of the northwest. It's been wedges so far, but we might see some 8-irons hit in there tomorrow."