   
| Blog: Practice at THE PLAYERS  Editor's Note: The best players in the world are hitting THE PLAYERS Stadium Course to get in some practice before THE PLAYERS Championship begins on Thursday. PGATOUR.com Interactive Producer T.J. Auclair is there with them and he's filing a blog all day long to keep you close to the action. All times are eastern.  Players test out the new putting green near the first tee. (Condon/WireImage)
3:47 p.m. -- In case you were wondering how hard Sawgrass is playing this week, here's what Padraig Harrington had to say -- if he were playing a good 11-handicapper on a regular course he'd give him eight shots. On this course? Harrington said he'd give that same 11-handicapper 30 shots. It must be tough out there! 3:32 p.m. -- So how do the players feel about the players? During an interview, Briny Baird was asked about the new look of the clubhouse. He said that the clubhouse now matches the tournament -- it's huge. He went so far as to say the Masters is the only other tournament in the world he'd rather win more than THE PLAYERS. And yes, that includes the other three majors. 3:11 p.m. -- Talk about a change of pace --- just a little while ago Boo Weekley could be overheard talking to a friend about different types of bullets to use for hunting. Now instead of guns and ammo of the firing variety, the Verizon Heritage champ is trying out some new ammo in the form of putters for the players. Not sure how much work he's getting in because every time I look over the four guys behind him are doubled over in laughter. You've got to love Boo. 2:43 p.m. -- After working hard at the chipping area for a couple of hours, Ernie Els was headed to the practice green, but not before stopping to see some fellow South Africans along the fence to sign some autographs and pose for some pictures. 2:17 p.m. -- I walked over the hill and found the party. The practice green is an extremely busy place this afternoon. Every putter manufacturer in the industry has its gear spilling out of golf bags completely surrounding the green. Sergio Garcia - decked out in loud red attire -- has three putters resting on his leg, while stroking another with his new left-hand low grip. Just to the left of Sergio, Mike Weir is working on his three-footers, while off in the distance Jesper Parnevik is using an interesting device with two marbles to keep is stroke on-line. 2:05 p.m. -- It's truly remarkable to look around the tournament course and realize the astonishing renovation it has undergone over the last year. The place just looks seamless -- like everything has been here for years and years. 1:50 p.m. -- Moving along from one par 3 to another. I've just arrived behind the green at No. 3 after spending some time over at 17. There's water here at 3, but it should never really come into play... Unless those three caddies from earlier are playing it. Even still, missing the green spells trouble, as the land falls away from the green on every side, almost like an upside down coffee mug. No. 3 is nestled right behind the teeing area of the driving range. The wind is far more present here now than it was just a few minutes ago at 17. As for the weather, it's still gorgeous, but it looks like the clouds could be making a comeback. There aren't a whole lot of players on the range this afternoon. It seems as though many of them got their work in this morning and then left to rest up. Bubba Watson was pulling out around noon, not too long after finishing his practice round this morning with Tiger and Craig Perks. 1:30 p.m. -- Seems like those caddies may have started a trend here on 17. Since they went through, four groups have passed and six balls have found the water, including two by Olin Browne. The group with the biggest following I've seen today just finished 17 -- two-time winner Davis Love III, '98 champ Justin Leonard and Camilo Villegas. 12:55 p.m. -- Here's some fun - Brandt Snedeker, Peter Lonard and Nathan Green all hit the green with very good tee shots, all within 20 feet. Then they let their caddies take a crack at the daunting par 3. Drink, drink, drink - thanks for coming. Here's to hoping these three loopers have better success in the caddie shootout on Wednesday. It certainly can't get much worse. 12:46 p.m. -- OK, since 17 wasn't much fun this morning --Tiger, Bubba and Perks all found dry land with their first shots -- I've made the trek back out to the island green in hopes of seeing some adventures. So far, no luck. The wind is down considerably compared to this morning and Geoff Ogilvy, Trevor Immelman and Nick Watney are all safely on the green. As Ogilvy and Watney went up to the green, Immelman stayed behind for a second to take a little swing lesson from David Leadbetter. The crowds are still pretty thin, which makes the experience of taking in this magnificent hole all the more enjoyable. 11:24 a.m. -- Tiger is back out after a short break to get in some more work on that all-important short game. He's hanging out near the chipping area fielding a couple of interviews while trying to spot Stevie and... his golf clubs. 11:20 a.m. -- There are many great sites at TPC Sawgrass, but one of the best is the Circle of Champions monument that sits between the driving range and the first tee. The Circle of Champions is basically a circular stone wall with a mounted plaque of each PLAYERS champion and his winning score. The neatest thing about this monument is the center. Along with a few palm trees flies the flag of the reigning champs home country. This year, the Canadian flag is flying high after the win by Stephen Ames in 2006. 10:54 a.m. -- Just talked to Joe Durant on the range. He was leaning on a club and staring at the new clubhouse and wondered, "Does the guy that wins this week get to live in there for the year?"  (WireImage)
10:41 a.m. -- A player's head, putter and wedge may be his three biggest assets on the course. With that, it's really no surprise to see mind-game guru Bob Rotella, putter-master Scotty Cameron and wedge-doctor Bob Vokey making the rounds on the range to see if their guys need anything. 10:36 a.m. -- It's often said that Vijay Singh is the hardest working player on TOUR. No one can question that. But if there's a close second, it's got to be Jesper Parnevik. Jesper is a true range-rat. He's alone with his caddie Lance Ten Broeck at the far-end of the range right now and Ten Broeck just walked over with five bags of range balls. Add those five to the three that were already there and -- well -- Ten Broeck might want to get comfortable because they're going to be a while. 10:26 a.m. -- What a difference a year makes. Masters champ Zach Johnson is on the range and instead of Zach Johnson he looks more like Vince from the hit-show Entourage. There's a beefy following of fans behind the fence watching Johnson, but he's also got about six others conversing with him between each swing. It looks like he's loving life since snatching up his first major. 10:19 a.m. -- The world's No. 1 player heads through the zoo of supporters on his way to the interview as his practice round comes to a close. As quiet and peaceful as his morning was, it's apparent that he's back to being a rock star. 10:16 a.m. -- With the unbelievable new clubhouse set as the incredible backdrop, the threesome tees off on the devastatingly difficult 18th where you cannot miss left because of the enormous lake. Great drives for all three players. The crowds all along 17 are jockeying for a peek and a picture of Tiger. Tiger's second flew through to the back of the green, where he hit a few different shots while focusing intently not so much on the shot as the line the ball followed. Woods was joking with Tom Lehman's caddie -- Andy Martinez -- about the speed of the greens. Martinez is out studying the course for his boss, who is probably a little jet-lagged after playing in Italy last week. 10:01 a.m. -- Looks like Bubba is re-enacting the "better than most" putt Tiger dropped in the third round on his way to winning in 2001. He raised his arms from the spot and got a chuckle from Tiger and Perks. Tiger knocked the bunker shot close, but went straight back to the putter and is putting some serious work in on this green. Perks is spending a lot of his time on the front left portion of the green. 9:55 a.m. -- Ah, finally. The moment we've all been waiting for - the world-famous island-green 17th at Sawgrass. This ought to be fun. That wind is whipping. The crowds are still shockingly thin and the newly installed bleachers left of the green aren't quite filled in yet. Tiger knocks a tiny draw into the front right bunker. Perks goes with a draw to the front of the green. Bubba unleashes one pin high and left with a short iron. Three dry balls on this hole? Maybe it's not as hard as it looks. Or, maybe that's the "one difference" between hackers and TOUR pros. 9:49 a.m. -- The 16th hole at Sawgrass marks the start of one of the greatest three-hole closing stretches in all of golf. It's reachable by the longer players in two, depending on the wind direction, but the lake that guards the right side will certainly make players think twice. Tiger was the lone player to get home in two in this group, sending a fairway-wood to the back of the green. Today he's not interested in eagles, he's interested in studying the course. So, he puts an examining stroke on the ball and moves quickly behind to see how it breaks near the hole before moving to other locations, including another bunker. Perks is spending a lot of time putting, while Bubba is working the Texas wedge from the fringe -- that'll be a common theme this week, with the grass mowed down so close by the greens. 9:38 a.m. -- Up on the 16th tee, Woods and Perks are talking strategy. Whatever they discussed, Tiger didn't follow. After a not-so-hot shot with a three-wood, he quickly called on Stevie for a second ball and striped it.  Stephen Ames destroyed a star-studded field to win the 2006 PLAYERS by six shots. (WireImage)
Bubba proceeded to murder driver yet again without destroying his back with that vicious swipe of his -- a feat almost as unbelievable as the new greens being within an eighth of an inch of the contour of the old greens. 9:34 a.m. -- TOUR players are always working endlessly on their short-game, but it seems as though -- particularly with this threesome -- they're spending even more time chipping and putting than usual. Probably has to do with all the changes made here at Sawgrass in the last 12 months, including reconstruction of EVERY green. They're now firmer and faster than ever and as President of PGA TOUR Course properties David Pillsbury noted at a reception on Monday night, the reconstructed greens are within one-eighth of an inch of the contour of the old greens. That's amazing. That makes them the same old "new" greens. 9:27 a.m. -- Bubba just absolutely thumps it. He jumped all over his drive on 15. Perks just hit his approach... Hold on, I'm checking... OK, it's just been confirmed -- when Perks' approach found the green, Bubba's tee shot hadn't landed yet. OK, maybe he's not that long. 9:23 a.m. -- Don't believe me about the Kentucky plate? How else would I know the state slogan is, "unbridled spirit"? 9:20 a.m. -- Man, does Bubba hit it far! Even after the ball Tiger hit, Bubba caught the back side of the hill and trumped Tiger by about 40 yards. Of course, Tiger stuffed his second to the delight of the onlookers, but Bubba's second wasn't too shabby either. Tiger drained the putt and quickly moved off the green to putt in some more work on that magical short game. Near the 15th tee there's a gentleman sporting a blue TW Nike hat and -- with a very Flavor-Flav like fashion statement -- there is a license plate dangling from his neck. It's a Kentucky plate that reads "TIGR ED." 9:14 a.m. -- Maybe it's no big deal to the course maintenance guys at Sawgrass, but I'd imagine it's got to be pretty cool to turn off your mower on the tee box so that Tiger Woods can hit his tee shot -- and a gorgeous one at that, maybe his best of the day -- as opposed to a couple of hackers. Come to think of it, when hackers play they usually have to ask the workers to turn the mowers off. They don't have "the focus" that Tiger does as our friend so eloquently noted a few holes back. 9:05 a.m. -- If ever there were a time to watch Tiger up close, this is it. The crowds are filling out a little, but they're still thinner than Charles Howell III. 9:01 a.m. -- At the beautiful par-3 13th, with water hugging the hole all the way up the left side, none of the guys have found the green. Not surprising considering the silly hole location, which is sitting front and center on the top of an unforgiving crest. Tiger missed back left and has plenty of green to work with. Perks and Bubba missed back left and have tighter lies. I guess the one difference between these guys and me is that all three nestled it close. "The one difference..." My favorite line of the day so far! 8:55 a.m. -- That wind must be blowing. Tiger hit driver off the tee at the 358-yard 12th and still has a good 80 yards left in. After the tee shot, Tiger and Stevie were in a conversation about the wind direction, as Stevie jotted more notes. Stevie is the Tiger Woods of caddies. Walking ahead to the green, another fan is overheard telling a friend, "that's where we'd be." Luckily he was pointing to the knolls of rough and bunkers in front of the green instead of Tiger and Bubba's tee shots. I wonder if that's the one difference between Tiger and this guy. I wish the sun would make up its mind. It's peeking through the clouds now and just made the temperature feel about 10 degrees warmer. The jacket is coming off for the third time this morning. I know, watch Tiger practice from inside the ropes and continually have to put the jacket on and off -- tough life. As Bubba and Perks head to 13, Tiger is rolling some putts with one hand and examining the contours of the tricky green. 8:40 a.m. -- From about 150 yards away, it's impossible to miss the electric pink shaft of Bubba Watson's driver, which is laced. Perks? Not so much. His drive sails well right and hits a tree -- solidly -- and jumps into the waste area just before the fairway. That hard knock may have been symbolic of Perks' struggles since his lone TOUR win here at The PLAYERS in '02 when he played a magical final three holes with a chip in for eagle at 16, a birdie putt bomb at 17 and a chip in for par at 18 to seal a two shot win. Since then, his game seems to have left him. As they walk to their balls, it sounds like Tiger and Bubba are jawing at one another. If it's about their tee shots, Bubba won that battle, pink shaft and all. He's 30 yards in front of Tiger. Walking to the green, one spectator is telling a friend, "the difference between Tiger and us is his focus." Yeah bud, that's the ONE difference -- and 57 TOUR wins, including 12 majors. Other than that, it's about the same. After his win in Charlotte last week, Tiger must be bored -- he's practicing a lot from the sand and offering some tips to Perks, who appears to be all ears. By the way, those glorious blue skies didn't last long. Suddenly Sawgrass is covered by clouds and that wind is picking up a tad. Bubba is practicing some pitch shots from a collection area behind the green and to the right on 11 -- the only place to miss long with your second shot on this hole. As one shot sails to the crest of the hill toward the hole, Tiger playfully knocks it out of the air and back to Bubba's feet. Did I mention that the wind has kicked up? Brrrr. 8:15 a.m. -- Well, it was two shots off the tee with a fairway wood for Tiger. The first one sailed wide right and he quickly asked his caddie for another ball while the first tee shot was still in flight. The second ball was much better and found the first cut on the right. Tiger's second shot with what looked to be an 8-iron drew some "ooooooooooooohs" as it deposited into the front right bunker 50 yards short of the green. He spun his third off the rough and into another bunker before asking Stevie for another ball and shaking his head. He's Tiger -- a ball that goes from one bunker to the next 50 yards from the green isn't supposed to happen. From the second bunker, Tiger hits about half a dozen practice shots, while Perks works on his putting and big Bubba tests chip shots from various locations. Tiger's coach Hank Haney is standing just off the green with a close eye on his star pupil, while Stevie walks off yardages and checks out potential pin positions to scribble into his notebook. 8:10 a.m. -- Tiger is nice and loose on the 10th tee, joking around with long-hitting Bubba Watson and 2002 players champ, Craig Perks. The threesome is waiting to hit, as Furyk and Wilson are ahead. The crowd isn't quite as massive as it appeared when these three walked up to the tee -- maybe about 100 or so -- but it's building with each passing second. 8 a.m. -- Under cloudless blue skies on a cool, breezy morning, players are all around, fine-tuning their games for this week's PLAYERS Championship. The majestic new clubhouse is quite a sight in the morning, sitting about 100 yards behind the 18th green and adjacent to the practice range. On the hunt for Tiger, who always practices early, I came across Jim Furyk and Mark Wilson teeing off on 10. Looks like Tiger isn't far behind as a massive crowd is making its way to the 10th tee. |
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