PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Former PGA champion Bob Tway set a dubious record Monday by hitting four balls into the water and making a 12 on the par-3 17th island green at The Players Championship.

The previous record was an 11 by Robert Gamez in 1990.

Tway was at 7 under par, only four shots off the lead, when he came to the 17th hole with gusts up to 25 mph blowing from left to right. His first shot went long and into the water.

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He went to the drop area, 77 yards from the hole, and again went over the green. His next two shots came up short, and he finally hit the back side of the green, 40 feet away. He three-putted for a 12.

Tway was tied for 10th when he stepped on the tee, and tied for 72nd at 2 over par when he left the green.

The 17th hole on the TPC at Sawgrass is perhaps the most notorious in golf, with an island green that sits about 140 yards from the tee. Officials say an estimated 150,000 balls are hit into the water each year by paying customers.

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