Misc. Players Clippings

I really enjoyed some of the preview coverage for this year's Players. On top of the previously noted Goydos features, check out Phil Richards's interview with Pete Dye who says TPC Sawgrass is the worst ground he's ever worked with. And look at that photo of Pete almost naked out in the dirt. Guess all the rattlers had been rounded up by that point.

There is this entertaining grilling about his renowned car rental usage.

PARTNERS MAGAZINE: Do you still rent your cars?

DYE: Sure do.

PARTNERS MAGAZINE: Why not buy or lease?

DYE: Never have. I got to thinking, if I bought a new car, how much would it cost me to own a new car and pay the insurance and upkeep and this and that, and then everywhere I go, I'd have to rent a car. So if I go down to Indianapolis Airport and take off for four or five days, I'd have to pay a premium just to park the car, and then wherever I went, Jacksonville or Timbuktu, I'd have to rent a car. So finally it dawned on me to quit worrying about it, and wherever I was I'd walk into National Car Rental and rent a car, even if I stayed here in Indianapolis for four or five days. I finally figured out in the long run it costs less.And wherever I am I have a car. I just take the first car in line. I get the car and then I park it and I never remember what it is. Nowadays, with keyless entry that honks the horn, I finally can find my car. I'm always honking the horn all over the parking lot.

Bob Goalby remembers first commissioner Joe Dey's influence on the PGA Tour despite never using words like conterminous.

Garry Smits reports on the NBC conference call, where it's hard to argue with the point Johnny Miller raises about Tiger and TPC Sawgrass.

Miller stopped just short of suggesting that Woods not even carry a driver next week.

"He should hit a lot of stinger 3-woods and long irons to give himself the best chance to win," Miller said.

"Forget the driver."

Maltbie said the Stadium Course is "very constricting" on Woods.

"It doesn't seem to be the course he likes to play," Maltbie said. "It's not a knock on the course."

Cody Barden, Jeff Klauk's instructor, reminds us that it hasn't been an easy road to the Players for young Klauk, who grew up playing and mowing the course.

Rich Lerner was at TPC Sawgrass on Monday and asked five players the same questions. It makes for a fun read, especially the answers about No. 17.

Thanks to reader Tim for Robert Beck's dawn to dusk image stitching of the scene at No. 17. Let's hope they didn't pay for the accompanying music. And make sure you go the full five minutes! Great stuff at the end.

Michael Bamberger tells us about Jacksonville and the PGA Tour's influence there:

It would be hard to estimate, or overstate, what the PGA Tour has done to promote local growth. The town's golf vibe helped spark the building of Panther Creek and Deercreek and other golf-and-housing developments that avoid the word Olde. Fancy doesn't sell in Jacksonville.