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 Sheldon Rankins Jersey . Goldeyes third baseman Ryan Pineda drove in three runs and the pitching staff didnt allow an earned run, as Winnipeg downed Kansas City 6-3 in American Association exhibition action at CommunityAmerica Ballpark in Kansas. DeMario Davis Jersey . The Spanish champions decision not to sign a defender during the January transfer window may have backfired after Valencia took advantage of a lethargic, uninspired effort by its hosts at the Camp Nou, where former Spain coach Luis Aragones -- who previously coached the Catalan side -- was honoured after his death on Saturday. http://www.officialneworleanssaintsfootb...s-jersey-womens. Nine years later, he might have finally figured it out. He had only five rounds in the 60s in his previous eight trips. Josh Hill Jersey . The defending champions’ roller coaster season included trading offensive star Percy Harvin in the midst of the team’s 3-3 start. That move that reportedly irked several Seahawk players, but one management saw necessary to save the team’s chemistry. Tommylee Lewis Jersey . The Raptors have to get through the pesky New York Knicks Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and can lock up the third spot in the Eastern Conference with a win or a Chicago loss in Charlotte.CAPE TOWN, South Africa - There will be no Didier Drogba and no Samuel Etoo.For the first time in more than a decade, both of Africas most celebrated players will be missing from the African Cup of Nations after retiring from international soccer.Its a chance for other players to make their mark at the continents top tournament. Here are some names to look out for in Equatorial Guinea over the next three weeks:___Yacine Brahimi (midfielder), Algeria:The attacking midfielder is adored in Algeria, not least for ultimately choosing the country of his immigrant parents over his country of birth, France. Brahimi is Algerias playmaker. Much of its hopes of living up to its top-ranking in Africa and winning the title for the first time in 25 years rests on the FC Porto players shoulders — and his combination with Valencias Sofiane Feghouli and Sporting Lisbons Islam Slimani, Algerias so-called golden trio. Brahimi represented Frances youth teams for six years before switching to Algeria. He was Algerias top scorer in African Cup qualifying, and his dribbling skills and clever passing creates goals for others, too. His 25th birthday is the day of the final.___Wilfried Bony (striker), Ivory Coast:Bony may be even more important to Ivory Coast than midfielder Yaya Toure. Without Drogba, Bony could emerge as the Ivorians new No. 1 striker at the African Cup following his stellar year in 2014 with Swansea in the Premier League. Bony scored more goals than any other player in the league last year and could shoot the Ivorians to victory in Equatorial Guinea if he keeps that form going in January and February.___Fabrice Ondoa (goalkeeper), Cameroon:Watch out for Cameroons teenage goalkeeper. A product of the Etoo academy in Yaounde, the 19-year-old Ondoa is now part of the reserve team at Barcelonaa, which he joined when he was 13.dddddddddddd Following a disastrous World Cup for Cameroon, coach Volker Finke gave Ondoa his national team debut in the final round of African Cup qualifying last year. Ondoa responded by conceding only one goal in six games as Cameroon won its group.___Vincent Aboubakar (striker), Cameroon:Cameroon has a new striker, too: Aboubakar has emerged as the likely successor to Etoo. Tall and quick, Aboubakar has the natural qualities that make him very difficult for defenders to stop. But he also has impressive ball skills and a deadly right foot from close range.___Sadio Mane (midfielder), Senegal:The question surrounding Sadio Mane is if he will play. Ruled out of the African Cup with a leg injury by his English club Southampton, Senegal coach Alain Giresse has still picked Mane in his final squad in the hope that he will recover. Mane is a pivotal figure for a new-look Senegal team as an energetic midfielder with a habit of scoring valuable goals.___Seydou Keita (midfielder), Mali:Keita turns 35 a day before the African Cup kicks off, and is back for what might be his last attempt at winning the tournament. Keita was the driving force behind Malis near misses in 2012 and 2013, when the team lost in the semifinals and finished third on both occasions. Used more off the bench now, the former Barcelona player has vast experience in six previous African Cups. Mali may need his calming influence in the centre of midfield as they face Cameroon and Ivory Coast in the group stage.___Associated Press writers Aomar Ouali in Algiers, Algeria, Robbie Corey-Boulet in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, Divine Ntaryike in Douala, Cameroon, and Babacar Dione in Dakar, Senegal, contributed to this report.___Gerald Imray is on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GeraldImrayAPCheap Buffalo Sabres GearWholesale Calgary Flames JerseysCheap Adidas Colorado Avalanche JerseysMontreal Canadiens Outlet StoreWholesale New Jersey Devils JerseysAdidas Arizona Coyotes JerseysCheap Adidas Boston Bruins JerseysCheap Adidas Carolina Hurricanes JerseysChicago Blackhawks Shop Free ShippingWholesale Columbus Blue Jackets JerseysDallas Stars Shop Free ShippingCheap Adidas Detroit Red Wings JerseysAnaheim Ducks Jerseys ChinaWholesale Edmonton Oilers JerseysFlorida Panthers Shop Free ShippingWholesale Los Angeles Kings JerseysMinnesota Wild Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Nashville Predators JerseysCheap Adidas New York Islanders JerseysNew York Rangers Winter Classic JerseysCheap Adidas Ottawa Senators JerseysCheap Adidas Philadelphia Flyers JerseysWholesale Pittsburgh Penguins JerseysCheap Adidas San Jose Sharks JerseysSt. Louis Blues Winter Classic JerseysWholesale Tampa Bay Lightning JerseysToronto Maple Leafs Outlet StoreVancouver Canucks Outlet StoreCheap Adidas Vegas Golden Knights JerseysCheap Adidas Washington Capitals JerseysCheap Adidas Winnipeg Jets Jerseys ' ' '