As the world’s golfing elite descend upon the iconic Stadium Course for the start of The Players Championship tomorrow, all eyes will naturally be on the famous 17th island green. Behind the scenes at TPC Sawgrass, a different kind of elite team is already hard at work, and among them is a trailblazer from the heart of Norfolk.
Tiffany Mills, a greenkeeper at Ryston Park, is currently in Florida as part of the elite volunteer agronomy team for the PGA Tour’s flagship event. Her journey from a 9-hole course in East Anglia to what is often referred to as golf’s fifth Major is a significant moment for the industry, as she stands as the only English female joining a team of more than 100 greenkeepers from around the world, and is one of only five representatives selected from the UK.
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She admitted that she was initially nervous about applying because she didn’t come from a world-renowned course, but her third attempt at the application proved successful. Following a rigorous process involving a video showcase and a regional interview at John Deere’s UK headquarters, she was selected to represent the Central Region.
The Players Championship trophy
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Although Mills describes Ryston Park as a lesser-known course, her personal resume is filled with major international experience. She has become a staple of the volunteer circuit at the world’s most prestigious events, having prepared the grounds for the 2019 Solheim Cup at Gleneagles, the 2022 Open at St Andrews, and the 2023 AIG Women’s Open at Walton Heath.
“There’s nothing more exhilarating than preparing a golf course for the best golfers in the world,” said Mills. “The attention to detail at these events is incredible and something you only truly experience when working at the biggest…
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