NBC's Dan Hicks, Tommy Roy always have stories to tell about TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course

Through last week's Cognizant Classic, there were four first-time winners on the PGA Tour in nine events. While fans may wonder where the stars are so far this season, it's not that big an issue for NBC lead golf announcer Dan Hicks and producer Tommy Roy when they come to The Players Championship.

That's because regardless of who's in contention late Sunday afternoon — a future World Golf Hall of Fame member or a Tour rookie that fans are scrambling to Google on their smartphones — there's always a superstar in the mix: the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.

"The course is the star," said Hicks, who has been the lead announcer since 2000. "I can't wait to get there every year. I think Nos. 16, 17 and 18 are the best three finishing holes in golf and the entire course is gorgeous, captivating, as big a star as any player."

Roy, a Ponte Vedra Beach resident who has been the NBC golf producer at The Players since 1993, said it almost doesn't matter who's hitting shots into the Island Green from the first round through the fourth round: the potential for drama is always there.

"Whoever the player is, a star or the lowest-ranked player in the field, they're going to have to get through those holes to win this thing," Roy said. "It will be dramatic, for sure. No matter who's on the 17th tee, watching them grinding over that shot is interesting to watch."

Pete Dye designed ‘the ideal course’ for TV

It's not just the final three holes. The entire course lends itself to marvelous shots that capture the human drama of players trying to win the PGA Tour's Gold Standard, which begins on March 14.

Former PGA Tour commissioner Deane Beman and architect Pete Dye designed the course for spectators with its Stadium concept. But they also designed a course that is a perfect fit for TV.

"I do believe that this is an ideal course for television," said Roy, who has 29 Emmy awards. "It's got everything you want. It's telegenic, the easy holes are easy, the hard holes are hard, there's a lot of movement and disasters are waiting everywhere."

Hicks likes the mix of winners this season

Hicks doesn't lament the number of first-time winners on the Tour, such as Jake Knapp and Austin Eckroat, with players such as defending champion Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, Patrick Cantlay and Jordan Spieth seeking their first victories of the season.

Instead, he sees it as his job and that of the rest of the NBC talent to tell their stories.

"The season has been a good mix of players and the unexpected happening," Hicks said. "I love telling stories and introducing guys the viewer might not know well. It's my job to make people care about them."

Hicks had an example: Knapp, the former UCLA star who won the Mexico Open and whose swing has been compared so frequently to two-time Players champion Fred Couples that NBC put Knapp's swing in slow motion next to that of Couples.

"He's got that effortless power," Hicks said. "He's got the potential to be a superstar. He's got an incredible game with an incredible personality. Rory said the kid's got charisma, a natural cool vibe about him and I think the audience is going to really connect with him when he gets in contention and wins more. I think he's one guy who's going to take it to the next level."

If Scottie Scheffler putts well, watch out

Hicks said if Scheffler continues to consistent ball-striking he's displayed over the past three years, he'll be right there on Sunday.

"We say it almost every week ... if Scottie has a decent putting week, just a little above average, he wins golf tournaments," Hicks said. "I don't think we've seen the level of ball-striking consistency he's had since Tiger."

A defending champion has never won The Players. Hicks said the reason is simple.

"It's the golf course," he said. "It doesn't care if you're long. It doesn't care if you've got a good short game. Then you throw in the best field in golf and they get tested on that place every year. The course puts stress on every club in the bag."

NBC will use a drone at the Island Green

The Players being the PGA Tour's marquee event also means NBC has used the event to unveil new technology in bringing the broadcast to millions of homes in the U.S. and to more than 200 countries worldwide.

This year will be no different. Among the enhancements Roy and his crew will have at their disposal will be using a drone for footage of players at Nos. 16, 17 and 18.

The cable that carried a camera over the water between the 16th and 17th greens will now be used between No. 9 and 18.

Another camera is being added at No. 17 so NBC can bring viewers Trace Technology and zoom shots at the same time.

"We should be getting some real cool shots in the bowl," Roy said, referring to the amphitheater setting behind the 16th green and the entire 17th hole."

Roy likes other parts of the course

Roy said there are exciting production values at other parts of the course. Two of his favorites are hole Nos. 2-4 and 11-13.

"No. 2 is a reachable par-5 and the third green has a very sharp design, with the bunker on the left. We like to start wide on shots of players on the tee and get the image of the clubhouse in the background, then push down to the tee box. No. 4 isn't the craziest drive out there, but some really crazy stuff can come up on the second shots, with the way they play the slope."

Roy said the pros can play catch-up ball at the par-5 11th hole and the drivable par-4 12th hole and maybe on the par-3 13th.

"No. 11 can be eagle or double-bogey, 12 is the same sort of thing, but if you hit just a little bit of a hook, it can go in the water," Roy said. "At No. 13, when they put that pin on the left side on Sunday, there's a chance for a 1."

Hicks and Roy will be working their 32nd Players together.

"This tournament has gotten more and more prestigious in the 50 years it's been played," Hicks said. "It's right there at the top of the list for everyone to win."

Who's going to be the sidekick for Hicks this week?

Golfweek.com first reported on Friday that Kevin Kisner will be given another shot at replacing Paul Azinger as the lead analyst beside Hicks, and also will work with another former Tour winner, Smylie Kaufman on “Friday Happy Hour” at the Island Green on Golf Channel and Peacock.

NBC later confirmed the report in a press release.

Roger Maltbie will return as an on-course reporter during Thursday and Friday coverage on Golfweek and Peacock and Gary Koch will join Mike Tirico in the booth on those days.

Kisner, who lost to Rickie Fowler in four playoff holes in the 2015 Players, worked for NBC at the Sentry and the WM Phoenix Open this season. He is not eligible for the tournament and is No. 397 on the World Golf Rankings.

Hicks said he has enjoyed the audition process that has seen Kisner, Luke Donald, caddie Jim "Bones" Mackay and Brandel Chamblee work with him on NBC Tour broadcasts.

"They call them auditions but it's the real thing," Hicks said of the process. "They're doing live tournaments rather than getting in a studio and taking practice runs. There's nothing that can replicate the real thing. These guys are getting real reps in and I'm having a blast working with them."

Hicks said it may be close to the time when NBC makes a final decision and golfweek.com reported that Kisner might be offered the job.

"Eventually you want to get into a rhythm with one person," said Hicks, who worked with Johnny Miller for nearly a decade."I think the audience has really enjoyed it. It's been a fresh take, a fresh feel and kind of nice to mix it up. We're going to continue this process until we feel comfortable ... until someone is the guy. There's no real timetable."

Golfweek.com contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: NBC's Dan Hicks, Tommy Roy will work their 32nd Players together