Ewen Murray reflects on 20 years of memorable moments at The Players Championship and discusses Rory McIlroys decision to opt out of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. The 2016 season is gathering momentum and with the first major of the year behind us, the focus is now on The Players Championship. Like the European Tours BMW PGA Championship, The Players is played at the same venue each year and no doubt Sawgrass will be in fine shape for this years edition.For those who have not had the fortune to play at Ponte Vedra, its a course that has kept pace with modern technology in its 30 odd years, despite the fact its just over 7,000 yards. Craig Perks chipped in twice on his way to a shock victory at Sawgrass in 2002 There have been some amazing finishes down the years. My colleague, Craig Perks victory stands out. The New Zealander required just two putts over the closing three holes en route to victory in 2002. Two years earlier, I can still hear Hal Sutton having struck a six-iron to 18 saying, be the right club today and it was. His playing partner that round, Tiger Woods, gave Hal the thumbs up.There have been many dramatic moments with Sergio Garcia and KJ Choi having to go beyond the 72 holes before celebrating victory. Sergios win took him to No 2 in the world, his highest position so far, while Choi became the first Korean to hold the title. Sergio Garcias Players Championship win took him to second in the world rankings Adam Scott was a young man when he found the water at the last, yet held his nerve to win. Fred Funk was in the autumn of his career when his moment came. Fred had been a Ponte Vedra resident for several years and no doubt, his success was more than popular within the local community.Our own Sandy Lyle won in the eighties, as did Aussie, Steve Elkington, who will be remembered for one of the most sweetly struck long-irons ever seen. A majestic two-iron to the 18th green finished just a few feet from the cup.Yet of all the Players I have attended and I shiver when I say 20, last years edition of the PGA Tours flagship event was the most memorable. Perhaps a rain delay added to the drama as the heavens opened so close to the end. Maybe it was Kevin Kisner trying to make The Players his first win, having come so close on several occasions. But more than likely, it was the truly brilliant play down the stretch from young American star, Rickie Fowler. Rickie Fowler birdied the 17th three times on the final day in his thrilling TPC win last year Great as this game is, there are few moments each season of that quality. It was golf at its best and the way Fowler closed out the 2015 Championship will live long in the memory. Six under for the last six holes, five under for the last four, that had never been done since PGA Tour records began and he birdied the notorious 17th three times on that final Sunday. Any Hollywood script writer would find it hard to come up with these closing lines in the last act.So whos turn will it be this year? Its eyes shut I think with a pin in your fingers! Historically, this tournament has the strongest field, perhaps rivalled by the PGA championship of America, which incidentally, will be played at the end of July this year to accommodate the return of golf to the Olympic Games. Will Jordan Spieth be over his disappointment at Augusta? Will Jason Day add to his recent impressive haul? Will Rory McIlroy find the consistency that has eluded him lately? His final round at Quail Hollow suggest only minor tweaks are necessary. I may add, will Danny Willett go on from where he left off in Georgia? All of course, are more than capable.Never has the game been in better shape. Young players have little fear and plenty of belief. For our young guns, its Ryder Cup year and our captain Darren Clarke will be there to cast his experienced eye over them. What a chance to impress on American soil and in doing so, capture Clarkes attention and join in the bid to retain the Cup in Minnesota. Darren Clarke will be looking for a strong European performance in golfs unofficial This event has been called golfs fifth major. Its not that and never will be, but its just below the four elite events in our sport and to have The Players on your CV is more than desirable.In little more than a week after the conclusion of Sawgrass, the BMW PGA Championship gets under way at Wentworth and many fans will be disappointed to hear the event will go ahead without Rory McIlroy in the field. My Twitter account went red-hot when the news was broken, most saying everyone who is eligible should be at the historic Surrey venue. Rory McIlroy has withdrawn from this months BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Having been a member of the European Tour since its inception in 1971, I believe everyone should play in this iconic event, albeit not the flagship event on our Tour. The fact is, the top players cannot compete every week.Like you, I would like Rory to be there, but lets not forget, he hosts the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open and he has forgone the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational so as he can grace the French Open, which celebrates 100 years of playing at the beginning of July. He will also represent his nation in the Rio Olympics and that is the main reason he will not be at Wentworth. In doing what he is doing, I believe he is supporting his home Tour. McIlroy is still supporting the European Tour, hosting the Irish Open and choosing to play in the French Open over a WGC Some of you may not know that the worlds top 50 are exempt for the BMW PGA. So many of our home-grown players have supported The Players Championship in the past. It would be correct if some PGA Tour players made the effort to support BMW who have been superb sponsors both at home and in the USA.If I was the PGA Tour commissioner, I would advocate that his top 50 players play a minimum of two events worldwide on other Tours during the course of a season, rather than them having to gain release clauses to do so. If the Tours work together, the professional game can only get stronger. We have seen that with the European Tour and the Asian Tour and, because of their alliance, both have benefitted. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem should encourage more players to come to Wentworth Perhaps, there are too many tournaments. Greg Norman stated over 20 years ago that we should ease towards a world Tour. I thought he was correct then and nothing has changed for me to believe otherwise. Both the PGA and European Tours would still remain strong, as they have to, to accommodate all members.The four majors, four WGC events and selected others could form a 20-week season which is about as many tournaments the top players play. Many other issues would have to be assessed; world rankings, qualifying systems, promotion and relegation etc. Maybe the task is too big, too hard, too difficult. It is however, food for thought and Im sure you have many opinions on the subject. Rory is hosting the Irish Open at the K Club next week In between Sawgrass and Wentworth, The Irish Open is to be played out at the K Club. The County Kildare course is relatively young, yet has many historical images. Rory has invited 13-year-old Irish starlet, Tom McKibben to partner him in the pre-tournament pro-am. Rory says he is the future and I wish Tom well alongside his idol.Thats your next three weeks on Sky Sports golf, so enjoy it all from the USA, Ireland and England. You will notice I have given no tips. I keep getting invited to the turf accountants cocktail parties as my awful predictions make then fortunes.I hope you make good choices and, along with the rest of the team, we look forward to your company. In the meantime, keep bashing them down the middle. Also See: Strong finish lifts McIlroy TPC preview Wells Fargo: Day 4 highlights Golf live on Sky Sports 4 http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Josh-Shaw-Jersey/ . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Aj-Green-Jersey/ . LOUIS -- Roman Polak was celebrating even before Alexander Steen scored the winning goal in Saturdays 4-2 win over the Carolina Hurricanes. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Geno-Atkins-Jersey/ . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Carlos-Dunlap-Jersey/ . - Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is not a fan of his teams use of the wildcat formation, saying "it makes you look like a high school offence. http://www.bengalsrookiestore.com/Bengals-Jeremy-Hill-Jersey/ . The injury bothered Bledsoe in the Suns victory over the Clippers on Monday and he sat out the teams home loss to Memphis on Thursday night. Ben Stokes has been ruled out of the final Test against Pakistan due to a calf injury sustained during the second Test at Old Trafford, although England still hope he could be involved in the limited-overs series that follows.Stokes, who missed most of the series against Sri Lanka after suffering a knee injury that required surgery, was making his comeback in Manchester. But he was forced off the pitch midway through a spell of bowling on the fourth day and scans subsequently showed he had torn his right calf. As a result he missed the third Test at Edgbaston and will not play at The Oval.While an ECB spokesman said Stokes would work towards being available for selection for the Royal London ODI series starting later this month, England will be taking no risks with his recovery.Alastair Cook, Englands Test captain, suggested on Tuesday that Stokes latest injury was in some way related to his previous one - perhaps indicating that he might have required more time to retain peak physical condition before returning to international cricket - and stated that England should treat him with care and lets get him back 100 percent before we start talkinng of him playing again.ddddddddddddFollowing the Tests, Englands five-match ODI series against Pakistan starts on August 24 before a one-off T20 on September 7 completes the international season. Pending security assessments they then leave for the tour of Bangladesh at the end of September - a trip that includes three ODIs and two Tests - before a five-match Test series in India.Stokes will be vital to the balance of the side on the subcontinent where England will likely want to field two spinners. The performances of Chris Woakes since his comeback against Sri Lanka mean that they are not without another all-round option, but their combined skills mean England could at some stage field a six-man bowling attack with Stokes considered a good enough batsman to play in the top five.England also confirmed that Adil Rashid had been released to play in Yorkshires Championship match against Warwickshire, starting at Headingley on Thursday. Rashid and Jake Ball were the unused players in Englands squad of 13 for Edgbaston. 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