Fans set their cowboy boots aside for glow sticks Tuesday, March 10, for the first Electronic Dance Music duo to ever close out THE PLAYERS’ Military Appreciation Ceremony, The Chainsmokers, lighting up the hole no. 17 Island Green.
THE PLAYERS Championship started bright and early at TPC Sawgrass, with fans following players around their practice rounds, grabbing autographs, enjoying food and drinks and taking lots of pictures. But as the clock struck closer to the 5 p.m. ceremony, more fans kept rolling in, young and old, local and tourist.
“We just moved here from Pennsylvania, so this is our first time here and we’re loving it,” said new St. Augustine resident Jen Daley, who after years of watching the tournament on TV with her husband, retired Army veteran Dan Daley, was thrilled to finally visit the course in person.
“We came to watch the ceremony, the flyover and admiral’s speech,” Dan Daley said. “We walked around the course for a bit and it was super. All these people are just amazing.”
The admiral’s speech he referred to was given by retired Vice Adm. and Navy SEAL Philip Gardner Howe III.
“Today is about Northeast Florida coming together to show respect and support for our military and especially their families,” Howe said. “They make so many sacrifices every day, some large, some small, almost all of them unseen. They voluntarily give up so many aspects of normal civilian life in order to serve our country.”
During a brief intermission after the ceremony, Jacksonville Beach resident Marisa Leni began searching for a good spot on the Island Green to enjoy the upcoming Chainsmokers performance.
She had not only been to THE PLAYERS before, but also worked it, and was happy to enjoy that evening simply as a guest.
“I worked with Tropical Smoothie and it was a blast,” she said. “But to be able to be a guest on the greens versus working is a whole different experience.”
Right on time, The Chainsmokers kicked off with the hit song, “Roses.”
The show featured colorful lighting, smoky special effects and the electric dance music duo threw in some remixes featuring John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” Lynyrd Skynyrd's “Sweet Home Alabama,” and the country-rap hit, “Old Town Home,” by Lil Nas X.
Leni said she loved the show. “It was epic.”
