Were any other readers committed (OK, crazy) enough to stay up for the conclusion of The Players' Championship in Florida last night?
If, like me, you were burning the midnight oil, you'll know it didn't disappoint.
Obviously the Majors are a class apart, but I have to confess that TPC Sawgrass – nicknamed 'the fifth major' has always been my favourite event to watch on the telly. Actually I watched the third round on the laptop while my family were glued to Eurovision, but I digress…
It all harks back to the days when my friends and I played computer golf on the PlayStation on a regular basis. Sawgrass was one of the pre-loaded courses and was always the most fun to play, so although I've never even been to Florida, sad case that I am, I know the course like the back of my hand.
The closing three holes are, IMHO, the best finishing trio in world golf. The 16th is a risk-reward Par 5, reachable in two, but defended with trees and bunkers on the left, and a lake to the right and behind. If you're a couple behind in the final round you can go for broke on the hunt for an eagle, but it's not for the faint-hearted.
The 17th hole is one of the most famous in golf, right up there with the 12th at Augusta. It's only around 130 yards – a gap wedge for most pros – but it's an island green set in the middle of the lake, with the thinnest of walkways ensuring you don't actually need to row out to it to make your putt. Assuming you ever actually stop your tee shot on a green that generally plays like concrete, that is.
Adding to the pressure, for the pros at least, is the grass bank that forms a natural arena around the side of the lake, packed with spectators wanting to see triumphs and disasters just the same,
It may only be 130 yards but there hasn't been a competitive hole in one there since Jimenez in 2002. Couples also famously made par one year by hitting his first into the water, and his third off the tee straight into the cup without even bouncing on the green.
Negotiate those two holes and you have the 18th to come, 450-odd yards of par four with punitive Bermuda grass to the right of the fairway, and the lake lining the left hand side from tee to green. Together, these three holes are surely one of the toughest tests in golf.
As I said at the start, this year's finish was another cracker. It had a great narrative, with former world No1 Martin Kaymer seeking a first significant win since his fall from golfing grace. Keen followers will know he'd been struggling for form since the last Ryder Cup and had slipped to 61st in the world rankings.
At Sawgrass this week, though, he'd looked back to his imperious best, equalling the course record in the first round and never headed, with only US wunderkind Jordan Spieth getting anywhere near him.
Tied well clear of the field at the start of the fourth round, Kaymer had powered on while Spieth eventually faltered, and at the turn on Sunday the German had built a four-shot lead and seemed destined to stroll to an accomplished victory.
But a late charge by Furyk saw him set a clubhouse target of -12, and when Kaymer double-bogeyed the 15th, suddenly the lead was back to one shot.
Golf being the cruellest of sports, the fates decreed that an electrical storm should intervene, bringing a two-hour delay that threatened to push the event into a dreaded Monday finish, something the organisers were naturally keen to avoid.
So in failing light, the players were sent out to try and complete the round. Spieth fell away further but Kaymer struggled to a par on 16 despite an awful putt when he should have chipped (a duffed chip on his double-bogey hole clearly preying on his mind).
Cue the 17th, and Kaymer's tee shot barely cleared the water, caught a wicked bounce on the edge of the pot bunker in front of the green, landed on the putting surface and spun backwards viciously, careering back towards the lake.
As Kaymer watched with visions of his comeback win disappearing into the lake, the ball came to rest in a four-inch stretch of longer grass right on the edge of the water… a reprieve. But then the German fluffed his chip horribly, leaving himself a 20-feet left to right downhill putt with at least six feet of break.
It was a putt you could hit 20 times and not expect to hole, but needing to make it to preserve a lead up the last, and with darkness descending so rapidly even the TV cameras were struggling to adjust despite their electronic trickery, improbably he summoned up the same reserves of courage that saw him hole the winning putt at Medina and sank it.
He still had the 18th to negotiate, but despite leaving his second short of the green, somehow he was never going to be denied and made his par to clinch the title.
A truly gripping finale, and well worth staying up until 1.30am UK-time to watch. Got an opinion on the three hardest finishing holes in world golf? I'd love to hear your thoughts… post them here or email me at simon.leek@essexchronicle.co.uk
