Laughter Abounds at THE 2009 PLAYERS Championship

Golf is a serious game especially for the world’s best golfers at THE PLAYERS Championship on arguably the most difficult golf course in the world. Golf is also a humbling game in that to play it effectively over a period of time you have to incorporate humor in order to survive its hardships on one’s body, mind and spirit.

Laughter as a result of player comments about most everything was evident around THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass and in the Media Center throughout the 2009 PLAYERS Championship. Here are some of the more notable humorous comments throughout the week.

Guess which player was the funniest at the end of the week.

Tiger Woods when asked about his second shot on No. 14 that went in the hole for a practice round eagle. “I had the right distance.”

Tiger Woods when asked about the Feherty interview after his loss at the Quail Hollow Championship. “Well, it's typical. David kind of—he kind of lost his train of thought.”

Tiger Woods the family man when asked about moments of mayhem at home with the wife and kids. “Yeah, I might do another session of cardio or something.”

Phil Mickelson when asked if he was aware that he was farther than Tiger Woods off just about every tee in the final round at the Masters.” I kept having to wait for him to hit, sure.”

Phil Mickelson played a practice round with Sean O’Hair whom he was paired with in the final round of the 2007 PLAYERS which he won when O’Hair triple bogeyed No. 17. When asked if he referenced that final round. “No, we didn't talk about '07. And if you realized he won last week, I was asking him questions.”

David Toms, an LSU graduate, in the press conference announcing the new PGA TOUR charity campaign “Together We Can” spoke about the foundation he started after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in August 2005.

“Other things that we do with my foundation, we run a golf tournament in Birmingham, Alabama, of all places, because I'm not a big Alabama fan.”

Zach Johnson a native of Cedar Rapids, Iowa in the press conference announcing the new PGA TOUR charity campaign “Together We Can” spearheaded a relief effort when the Cedar River crested 22 feet above flood level in June, 2008 speaking about the John Deere Classic. “I know it's not a highlight on most of the guys' schedules, but it is on mine.”

Jeev Milka Singh, an international player, when asked about the hot and humid weather. “Playing in Malaysia. I think when we play the Malaysian Open it's this humid, but Malaysian Open would be another five, six degrees hotter and more humid.”

Padraig Harrington finished eighth at the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage when asked what he remembers about Bethpage. “I remember a double bogey at the last hole. I was in fourth place.” Then when asked if he gets any heckling from the New York crowd? “(No,) they're mostly Irish.”

Ben Crane after making nine birdies and 170 feet of putts in an opening round of 65 on Thursday when asked how often would he say he felt that way with his putting? “Oh, maybe once every six years.”

Ben Crane when asked about his least favorite subject- is he playing at the same pace now or any faster than in previous years? “I haven't been on the clock in quite a while. So that's good. Yeah, I mean ever since the "incident", I've made a big effort to pick up the pace.

And so it's getting better. (Ed. Note- “the incident being the last round of the 2005 Booz Allen Classic at Congressional Country Club where Crane’s playing partner Rory Sabbatini played ahead on hole No. 17 and admonished Crane for his slow play afterwards.)

Richard S. Johnson who is listed as 5’7” in the media guide trying to explain why he gave up Swedish handball. “Yeah, you've got to jump. That's why I quit, because I wasn't that high. I had a little height disadvantage.

Commissioner Tim Finchem during announcement that Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) will be replacing Mercedes Benz as the title sponsor in the opening event of the 2010 season at Kapalua when asked if it seems like the PGA TOUR is crossing a line that hasn't been crossed before.

“Well, I don't know what line it is, but it doesn't trouble me. What we're hoping (for) in the new future we'll be announcing sponsorships with CBS, NBC and Comcast. Nothing would delight me more about questions of conflict of interest.

Retief Goosen after Saturday’s round when asked how he thought the golf course would play on Sunday. “A bit like that cart path. So we'll practice our chipping on a cart path tonight.”

Kevin Na who missed a makable birdie putt on No. 9 on Saturday when asked if it was a bad read and the fault of his caddie. “Yes yes, definitely. It's never my fault.”

Kevin Na after Saturday’s round with leader Alex Cejka at 11-under par with a five stroke lead. “Give me 9-under I'll sit in the clubhouse.”

Alex Cejka after finishing Saturday’s round at 11-under with a five stroke lead. “I'm pretty happy with an even par round. I was trying to hang in there like a pit bull in the double digits, so I'm very pleased.”

Alex Cejka when asked by a reporter what year and course it was that he played with Tiger Woods in the British Open. “I don't remember what I had for dinner last night, and you ask me that.”

Alex Cejka when asked about the mental challenges of playing with a five-shot lead. “You know, I don't know. I've never had a five-shot lead.”

Vijay Singh after shooting a Sunday 67 was asked about the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course: “Well, it's playing different. I came here this week thinking I was a member, but I played like a guest.”

Henrik Stenson’s pre-shot routine is to take the opposite end of the club and swing it without the resistance of the club head. One reporter asked him a question during the Sunday champion’s interview, “As well as you were playing, could you have hit the ball with that end and still won?”

When questioned what his schedule will be leading up to the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in June Henrik Stenson replied “I'm going to go to the Bahamas tomorrow, practice some bunker shots there for a week.”

A reporter commented on Henrik Stenson’s notoriety for having hit out of a hazard at Doral in only his underpants and asked him if he considered stripping down and jump into the lake at No. 18 for old time's sake? Stenson replied “I'll save it for a day with a bit of drizzle.” (Ed. Note… Americans aren’t sure why this is funny.)

Stenson was asked about his conversation and strategy on the 17th tee with female caddie Fanny. “As I said, with a four-shot lead, (and) two (holes) to go, it's just about not making anything stupid. It was never going to be a problem reaching unless I hit the big ball before the little one.”

(Ed. Note…. The tee markers at TPC Sawgrass are not big balls- what did he mean and why is it funny?)

Henrik Stenson after winning the WGC-Accenture Match Play in 2007 declined PGA TOUR membership even though playing in the States would have reduced his travel time. “I guess if I would have taken up the membership, I would have spent less time in the air in one sense, but I would have been stuck with you guys (the media) the whole time.”

Stenson brought his whole family over to the U.S. for THE PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass which is within a couple miles of the Atlantic Ocean.

“They came over a few days earlier, and it's his (father’s) 60th, and we obviously had a great time. We rented a house on the beach that I might have to buy now. No, it's just great to win in front of your family and friends, obviously. I've managed to win in front of my wife and daughter before, even though she wasn't born.”

Stenson when asked what is the degree of his three-wood and how far does he hit it replied “It's 13 degrees, and I hit it far.” (Ed. Note Shotlink would attest to that fact as Stenson’s three-wood on No. 18 earlier in the week was measured at 318 yards or something like that.)

Note that the winner in the end does get the last laugh!

Andy Reistetter is a freelance golf writer. He follows the PGA TOUR volunteering for the tournaments and working part time for NBC Sports, CBS Sports, and The Golf Channel. He resides in Jacksonville Beach, FL near the PGA TOUR headquarters and home of The PLAYERS Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach.

He enjoys pursuing his passion for the game of golf and everything associated with it. He can be reached through his website www.MrHickoryGolf.net or by e-mailing him to [e-mail]