The fiftieth anniversary of THE PLAYERS Tournament was a magnificent celebratory weekend. I was present in the mix of fans all four spectacular days.
As I ponder all fifty years of THE PLAYERS champions I have painted, I feel great gratitude to John Snow who envisioned the idea of art with text that summarizes the story of the tournament that year. It is always an epic and heroic story – and usually is a nail biter by late Sunday! John Snow’s idea of telling as well as illustrating the story dovetails with my illustration style beautifully. This tradition has successfully continued thanks to the leadership of John Rice and Rob Knox, here with Chris.
As I ponder all fifty years of THE PLAYERS champions I have painted, I feel great gratitude to John Snow who envisioned the idea of art with text that summarizes the story of the tournament that year. It is always an epic and heroic story – and usually is a nail biter by late Sunday! John Snow’s idea of telling as well as illustrating the story dovetails with my illustration style beautifully. This tradition has successfully continued thanks to the leadership of John Rice and Rob Knox, here with Chris.
Reflecting back from now, I love that this PGA TOUR art captures the spirit of what THE PLAYERS is about. The winner is always center, captured immediately after his spectacular win. The painting also tells his bold and valiant story. His portrait is surrounded by glorious flowers of the Sawgrass Stadium with elements like his scorecard, with its rectilinear exactitude reflecting the precision of the game. I love rambling back and forth amid the paintings, perhaps comparing what Tiger and Scheffler did on 17. One can do that in the Sawgrass Gallery of Champions. Then we have the scenes from the day; I love drawing key moments and then savor my time drawing the crowd of always highly individuated characters. The Sawgrass crowds are a great part of the story of THE PLAYERS, of the art.
The Hall of Champions gallery of (thus far!) forty-six paintings is a wonderful space for memories and reflection. I read and ponder the text as I go, smiling as I remember the story of singular years. The art joyously brings one back, remembering giants of the game, men of great spirit and verve. I love my role as a chronologist of THE PLAYERS history, and can’t help but grin with anticipation seeing the placeholders in the Gallery of Champions for the art of the future!