Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium covering the Jaguars in the NFL draft. This is his second entry after Jacksonville selected Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey with the 8th overall pick.
Wow! The Jaguars really do expect to win now and wasted no time with the first bold move of the NFL Draft.
By moving up from the 26th spot to the Baltimore Ravens' No. 8 slot to select Florida defensive end Derrick Harvey, the Jaguars took a major step toward fixing the weakest part of their team -- a pedestrian pass rush.
Not only did the Jaguars get a premiere pass-rusher, they got away with not having to give up their second-round pick in the process. Surrendering two third-round picks and a fourth-rounder to move up 18 spots in the first round was almost a steal.
"When you have that opportunity, you take advantage of it," said Jaguars' coach Jack Del Rio. "We didn't think we had enough ammo to get into the top 10. We weren't going to give away the whole draft."
Another factor that makes this trade a bonanza for the Jaguars is, given the depth of their roster, there's no guarantee that the third and fourth-round picks would have much of an impact or even make the team at all.
"We felt it was a reasonable trade," said James Harris, the Jaguars' vice-president of player personnel. "Defensive linemen can go any place. If we wait to [the 13th pick], we may miss him. We had him clumped in with a group of guys in that [bottom of the top-10].
"We're not sure if two third-rounders could come in and make the team. This was about evaluating our team and looking to strengthen it."
Harvey figures to fortify a Jaguars' pass rush that finished tied for ninth in the NFL with 37 sacks last season, but had a difficult time in the 31-20 AFC playoff loss to the New England Patriots. Quarterback Tom Brady completed 26 of 28 passes and was never sacked after John Henderson got to him on the opening play.
The Jaguars gladly let former Florida Gator Bobby McCray, a part-time starter at defensive end, walk into free agency after he registered just three sacks in 2007 after a 10-sack season the year before. At minimum, Harvey will come in and be a situational third-down pass rusher, but he should immediately challenge for a starting spot.
Del Rio said he didn't think the Jaguars "had the ammo" to get up into the top-10 of the draft, but they found a willing partner in the Ravens, an organization where Harris and Del Rio were both employed before coming to Jacksonville.
In Jaguars' history, the two draft-day trades that brought the Jaguars huge impact players were quarterback Mark Brunell in 1995 (for a third and fifth-round draft pick) and running back Fred Taylor in 1998 (for quarterback Rob Johnson).
For the first time in the Jack Del Rio regime, they made a bold trade that could net a similar result.
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Tough call, but Falcons had to take Ryan
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is over at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium to cover the NFL draft. This is his early first-round entry for Saturday April 26.
When former Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith took the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job, there were so many holes to fill that it'd be hard to miss with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
As tempting as it was to take LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, and the Falcons needed an impact interior lineman to replace Rod Coleman, they did the right thing by selecting Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.
The NFL is a quarterback-driven league and the Falcons couldn't afford to gamble that whoever is their second choice (Joe Flacco or Brian Brohm) would be available with the 34th overall pick.
You could argue that the Falcons' starting quarterback will struggle mightily in 2008 no matter who it is, but if Atlanta's brass is convinced that Ryan has the right stuff to be successful, then it's imperative you grab him because nothing is more important than having stability under center.
I believe Ryan has the makeup to be a good one because he made Boston College a relevant team despite not having any big-time weapons. Other than tackle Gosder Cherilus, the Eagles weren't a club loaded with future NFL prospects. Yet Ryan had a knack for pulling out close games when his team needed big drives in the closing minutes.
This marks the sixth consecutive draft that a quarterback has been taken in the top three picks. The jury is still out on the last three quarterbacks that were the first to go off the board -- JaMarcus Russell, Vince Young and Alex Smith -- but the Cincinnati Bengals' Carson Palmer (2003) and the New York Giants' Eli Manning (2004) eventually validated the position in which they were chosen.
Smith has a huge rebuilding job ahead. It may be a couple years before the Falcons can recover from the debacle of Michael Vick's professional decline and the bizarre departure of former coach Bob Petrino.
By taking the best quarterback in this draft, the Falcons took the necessary gamble to eventually get back on track.
When former Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith took the Atlanta Falcons head coaching job, there were so many holes to fill that it'd be hard to miss with the No. 3 overall pick in the NFL Draft.
As tempting as it was to take LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey, and the Falcons needed an impact interior lineman to replace Rod Coleman, they did the right thing by selecting Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.
The NFL is a quarterback-driven league and the Falcons couldn't afford to gamble that whoever is their second choice (Joe Flacco or Brian Brohm) would be available with the 34th overall pick.
You could argue that the Falcons' starting quarterback will struggle mightily in 2008 no matter who it is, but if Atlanta's brass is convinced that Ryan has the right stuff to be successful, then it's imperative you grab him because nothing is more important than having stability under center.
I believe Ryan has the makeup to be a good one because he made Boston College a relevant team despite not having any big-time weapons. Other than tackle Gosder Cherilus, the Eagles weren't a club loaded with future NFL prospects. Yet Ryan had a knack for pulling out close games when his team needed big drives in the closing minutes.
This marks the sixth consecutive draft that a quarterback has been taken in the top three picks. The jury is still out on the last three quarterbacks that were the first to go off the board -- JaMarcus Russell, Vince Young and Alex Smith -- but the Cincinnati Bengals' Carson Palmer (2003) and the New York Giants' Eli Manning (2004) eventually validated the position in which they were chosen.
Smith has a huge rebuilding job ahead. It may be a couple years before the Falcons can recover from the debacle of Michael Vick's professional decline and the bizarre departure of former coach Bob Petrino.
By taking the best quarterback in this draft, the Falcons took the necessary gamble to eventually get back on track.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Florida State needs to show Parker tough love
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette provides weekly commentary on various issues for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Thursday April 24.
It'll be interesting to see what the disciplinary measures will be for one of Florida State’s most skilled players, receiver/running back Preston Parker, after this week’s arrest on marijuana possession and a felony charge of carrying a concealed firearm. Under new athletic director Randy Spetman, FSU football has an opportunity to continue a makeover of its wrist-slapping reputation in the punishment department.
Not that schools like Florida, Miami, Tennessee and Georgia are any tougher on star players who wind up on a police blotter, but those athletic departments aren’t being presently weighed down by an academic scandal. Parker picked a bad time to be piling on a football program that is in recovery mode.
On the disciplinary scale, Parker’s case is as high-profile as it gets for any Seminole athlete. If all that matters to FSU is the 2008 won-loss record, Parker will be suspended for no more than a game or two.
But if Parker is either dismissed or misses a good chunk of the season, it’d be a clear message to all FSU athletes — and not just the ones sidelined for cheating in an online music course— that there’s serious consequences for bad behavior across the board.
In the long run, the football program may be better off if the hammer comes down on Parker.
It'll be interesting to see what the disciplinary measures will be for one of Florida State’s most skilled players, receiver/running back Preston Parker, after this week’s arrest on marijuana possession and a felony charge of carrying a concealed firearm. Under new athletic director Randy Spetman, FSU football has an opportunity to continue a makeover of its wrist-slapping reputation in the punishment department.
Not that schools like Florida, Miami, Tennessee and Georgia are any tougher on star players who wind up on a police blotter, but those athletic departments aren’t being presently weighed down by an academic scandal. Parker picked a bad time to be piling on a football program that is in recovery mode.
On the disciplinary scale, Parker’s case is as high-profile as it gets for any Seminole athlete. If all that matters to FSU is the 2008 won-loss record, Parker will be suspended for no more than a game or two.
But if Parker is either dismissed or misses a good chunk of the season, it’d be a clear message to all FSU athletes — and not just the ones sidelined for cheating in an online music course— that there’s serious consequences for bad behavior across the board.
In the long run, the football program may be better off if the hammer comes down on Parker.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Prepare to be blown away by Masters
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at the Masters and providing daily content for jacksonville.com This is his entry as play begins Sunday April 13.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Judging by how the flags are flapping at 11 a.m. by the main scoreboard, the champion of the 72nd Masters may feel more like a survivor than a winner.
It's a Winnie the Pooh kind of day for the final round at Augusta, with west winds gusting from 20-30 miles per hour. So don't look for 12 of the 45 golfers to post scores in the 60s like they did in Saturday's third round.
It may not be as bad as last year's third round when champion Zach Johnson shot a 76 and the field scoring average was 77.352, the highest average since the 1982 opening round. But expect scores today to plummet significantly from Saturday, which could bring leaders Trevor Immelman (11-under-par), Brandt Snedeker (9-under), Steve Flesch (8-under) and Paul Casey (7-under) back to the field.
Strong winds could be a huge boost for Tiger Woods, who is six shots off the lead at 5-under, and is the only player in the final three groups to have any experience being in final-round contention at a major.
Who will win the Masters? The answer may be blowing in the wind.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Judging by how the flags are flapping at 11 a.m. by the main scoreboard, the champion of the 72nd Masters may feel more like a survivor than a winner.
It's a Winnie the Pooh kind of day for the final round at Augusta, with west winds gusting from 20-30 miles per hour. So don't look for 12 of the 45 golfers to post scores in the 60s like they did in Saturday's third round.
It may not be as bad as last year's third round when champion Zach Johnson shot a 76 and the field scoring average was 77.352, the highest average since the 1982 opening round. But expect scores today to plummet significantly from Saturday, which could bring leaders Trevor Immelman (11-under-par), Brandt Snedeker (9-under), Steve Flesch (8-under) and Paul Casey (7-under) back to the field.
Strong winds could be a huge boost for Tiger Woods, who is six shots off the lead at 5-under, and is the only player in the final three groups to have any experience being in final-round contention at a major.
Who will win the Masters? The answer may be blowing in the wind.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
An error-Philed day at the Masters
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at the Masters and providing content for jacksonville.com This is his entry on Saturday April 12 following third-round play.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It wasn't as bad as giving away the 2006 U.S. Open on the final hole at Winged Foot, but Phil Mickelson's prodigious drop from contender to near afterthought in the third round of the Masters makes you wonder if all is right with Lefty.
On a day where soft conditions enabled most players on the leaderboard to post numbers in the 60s, Mickelson blew himself out of any realistic chance of winning a third green jacket by firing an inexplicable 75.
"I felt like I was going to have a good round today," said Mickelson. "I don't know what to say."
Mickelson got within two shots of the lead with a birdie at the par-five second hole. But every time he appeared to gain momentum, he gave it away with self-destructive play in what really wasn't difficult circumstances.
He caught a bad break at the par-five No. 8 hole, hitting the pin with his short approach shot, and the ball bounced back much further from the hole. He ended up three-putting for bogey, missing the par attempt from three feet.
Two more bogeys at No. 10 and 12 were followed by birdies at 13 and 14, but by that time, most of the leaders were running further away and Tiger Woods also passed him. Then came the final dagger on a rough day, a double-bogey at the par-three 16th after he plunked his tee shot into a bunker and a three-putted.
Suddenly, the Phil Mickelson that was starting to close the wide gap between him and Woods a couple years ago is looking shakier than ever on the big stage.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- It wasn't as bad as giving away the 2006 U.S. Open on the final hole at Winged Foot, but Phil Mickelson's prodigious drop from contender to near afterthought in the third round of the Masters makes you wonder if all is right with Lefty.
On a day where soft conditions enabled most players on the leaderboard to post numbers in the 60s, Mickelson blew himself out of any realistic chance of winning a third green jacket by firing an inexplicable 75.
"I felt like I was going to have a good round today," said Mickelson. "I don't know what to say."
Mickelson got within two shots of the lead with a birdie at the par-five second hole. But every time he appeared to gain momentum, he gave it away with self-destructive play in what really wasn't difficult circumstances.
He caught a bad break at the par-five No. 8 hole, hitting the pin with his short approach shot, and the ball bounced back much further from the hole. He ended up three-putting for bogey, missing the par attempt from three feet.
Two more bogeys at No. 10 and 12 were followed by birdies at 13 and 14, but by that time, most of the leaders were running further away and Tiger Woods also passed him. Then came the final dagger on a rough day, a double-bogey at the par-three 16th after he plunked his tee shot into a bunker and a three-putted.
Suddenly, the Phil Mickelson that was starting to close the wide gap between him and Woods a couple years ago is looking shakier than ever on the big stage.
Playing the Masters waiting game
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at the Masters and providing content regularly for jacksonville.com This is his entry immediately following a rain delay on Saturday April 12.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Immediately after heavy rain began pelting Augusta National and the horn sounded at 1:01 p.m. to delay the third round, I sought refuge on the porch near the player's locker room, where caddie Jeff Willett was pleased to be relatively dry.
That's because Willett's boss, Masters first-time participant Brian Bateman, was "about 30 seconds away" from having to tee off No. 1 when Augusta National officials sounded the horn.
"It would have been about a five-wood [for the second shot] into the green [on No. 1] because it was into the wind," said Willett. "That hole is hard enough as it is without having to play it under these conditions. You could make double or triple [bogey] easy."
Bateman, who was scheduled to tee off at 1:00 p.m., stands at 1-over-par 145. Play is scheduled to resume at 1:40 p.m.
As umbrella-clad spectators were scurrying toward the exit in front of us, gingerly walking down a muddy hillside, Willett was grateful for the stoppage in play. He said he's been at other tournaments where rain simmilar to what drenched Augusta National didn't force a delay.
Stay tuned for further updates from Times-Union golf writer Garry Smits and myself later in the day.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Immediately after heavy rain began pelting Augusta National and the horn sounded at 1:01 p.m. to delay the third round, I sought refuge on the porch near the player's locker room, where caddie Jeff Willett was pleased to be relatively dry.
That's because Willett's boss, Masters first-time participant Brian Bateman, was "about 30 seconds away" from having to tee off No. 1 when Augusta National officials sounded the horn.
"It would have been about a five-wood [for the second shot] into the green [on No. 1] because it was into the wind," said Willett. "That hole is hard enough as it is without having to play it under these conditions. You could make double or triple [bogey] easy."
Bateman, who was scheduled to tee off at 1:00 p.m., stands at 1-over-par 145. Play is scheduled to resume at 1:40 p.m.
As umbrella-clad spectators were scurrying toward the exit in front of us, gingerly walking down a muddy hillside, Willett was grateful for the stoppage in play. He said he's been at other tournaments where rain simmilar to what drenched Augusta National didn't force a delay.
Stay tuned for further updates from Times-Union golf writer Garry Smits and myself later in the day.
Singh, Singh-ing In The Rain
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at the Masters and all week, providing content for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Saturday April 12.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Over an hour after the third round commenced Saturday, one of the more popular gathering spots at the Masters during a steady drizzle was the putting green.
Ponte Vedra Beach resident Vijay Singh, along with India's Jeev Milkha Singh, were honing their putting strokes while waiting to tee off. Fans completely engulfed the putting green, two and three rows deep in some spots, to watch the pair, along with defending U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera.
Many spectators hang around the putting green, which is just behind the first tee, while waiting for their favorite players to tee off. Tiger Woods (one-under-par 143) goes off at 1:10 p.m., while Vijay Singh and fellow Ponte Vedra Beach resident Jim Furyk will tee off together at 1:30 p.m. While Singh was putting around noon time, Furyk was in the locker room making adjustments to his equipment.
Right now, there's a steady drizzle, but the good news is lightning has so far stayed out of the area. Play will likely go on as scheduled as long as a downpour doesn't drench the Augusta National layout or lightning stays at least seven miles out of the area.
Leaders Trevor Immelman (136, eight-under-par) and Brandt Snedeker won't tee off until 2:40 p.m. CBS coverage begins at 3:30.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Over an hour after the third round commenced Saturday, one of the more popular gathering spots at the Masters during a steady drizzle was the putting green.
Ponte Vedra Beach resident Vijay Singh, along with India's Jeev Milkha Singh, were honing their putting strokes while waiting to tee off. Fans completely engulfed the putting green, two and three rows deep in some spots, to watch the pair, along with defending U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera.
Many spectators hang around the putting green, which is just behind the first tee, while waiting for their favorite players to tee off. Tiger Woods (one-under-par 143) goes off at 1:10 p.m., while Vijay Singh and fellow Ponte Vedra Beach resident Jim Furyk will tee off together at 1:30 p.m. While Singh was putting around noon time, Furyk was in the locker room making adjustments to his equipment.
Right now, there's a steady drizzle, but the good news is lightning has so far stayed out of the area. Play will likely go on as scheduled as long as a downpour doesn't drench the Augusta National layout or lightning stays at least seven miles out of the area.
Leaders Trevor Immelman (136, eight-under-par) and Brandt Snedeker won't tee off until 2:40 p.m. CBS coverage begins at 3:30.
Friday, April 11, 2008
A Trip back In Jacksonville golfing time
Florida Times-Union sports colunist Gene Frenette is at the Masters and provides content for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Friday April 11.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- In 1994, Trip Kuehne was engaged in one of the most memorable duels in golfing history when he nearly took down Tiger Woods in the U.S. Amateur Championship at the TPC Stadium Course.
Woods had to rally from six shots down at one point, finally taking control behind a putt for the ages from the fringe at the par-3 17th hole.
Friday afternoon, the 35-year-old Kuehne closed the chapter on his competitive golf career with another bitter disappointment: he failed to make the Masters cut after a double-bogey at the par-three 16th hole, finishing three shots out of playing on the weekend.
Kuehne, whose only previous Masters appearance came in 1995 as the reigning U.S. amateur runnerup, had publicly stated that his amateur career would be over after this tournament. He was a bit emotional after his 150 total (six-over-par) wasn't good enough to extend his play for two more days.
"[I'm] sad it's over," Kuehne said. "All I wanted was an opportunity on the back nine here to make the cut. I had it and just didn't quite get it done. But it was a hell of a ride, but I guess this is the way it ends. I think this is the way you're supposed to ride away."
Despite coming from a golfing family -- brother Hank is a PGA Tour player and sister, Kelli, is on the LPGA Tour -- Kuehne bypassed the opportunity to turn pro and is a successful fund manager with Double Eagle Capitol in Dallas.
Ironically, Kuehne came within a foot of a double eagle Friday at the par-five 13th. He settled for an eagle to get to four-over-par, but his wayward tee shot into the water on No. 16 ended his quest to make the cut.
"I did what most amateur golfers do, they shank or hit bad shots and, unfortunately, I picked a very inopportune time to hit it sideways," said Kuehne. "That's the regret I'll always take with me, not playing 16 when it's such a perfect hole for me."
While Tiger Woods, who shot 71 Friday and stands at 1-under-par, is seven shots off Trevor Immelman's lead, the Masters leaderboard is well stocked with left-handers as two-time champion Phil Mickelson, Steve Flesch and Mike Weir (2003 winner) are all in the top eight after two rounds.
Check out my column in Saturday's Times-Union on Flesch and his caddie, Jacksonville resident Paul Fusco, who played a big part in Flesch recording the low round of the tournament (67) by nudging him into the right club selection that led to his eagle-3 at the 13th hole.
T-U golf writer Garry Smits will also provide his usual large dose of Masters coverage for the remainder of the tournament.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- In 1994, Trip Kuehne was engaged in one of the most memorable duels in golfing history when he nearly took down Tiger Woods in the U.S. Amateur Championship at the TPC Stadium Course.
Woods had to rally from six shots down at one point, finally taking control behind a putt for the ages from the fringe at the par-3 17th hole.
Friday afternoon, the 35-year-old Kuehne closed the chapter on his competitive golf career with another bitter disappointment: he failed to make the Masters cut after a double-bogey at the par-three 16th hole, finishing three shots out of playing on the weekend.
Kuehne, whose only previous Masters appearance came in 1995 as the reigning U.S. amateur runnerup, had publicly stated that his amateur career would be over after this tournament. He was a bit emotional after his 150 total (six-over-par) wasn't good enough to extend his play for two more days.
"[I'm] sad it's over," Kuehne said. "All I wanted was an opportunity on the back nine here to make the cut. I had it and just didn't quite get it done. But it was a hell of a ride, but I guess this is the way it ends. I think this is the way you're supposed to ride away."
Despite coming from a golfing family -- brother Hank is a PGA Tour player and sister, Kelli, is on the LPGA Tour -- Kuehne bypassed the opportunity to turn pro and is a successful fund manager with Double Eagle Capitol in Dallas.
Ironically, Kuehne came within a foot of a double eagle Friday at the par-five 13th. He settled for an eagle to get to four-over-par, but his wayward tee shot into the water on No. 16 ended his quest to make the cut.
"I did what most amateur golfers do, they shank or hit bad shots and, unfortunately, I picked a very inopportune time to hit it sideways," said Kuehne. "That's the regret I'll always take with me, not playing 16 when it's such a perfect hole for me."
While Tiger Woods, who shot 71 Friday and stands at 1-under-par, is seven shots off Trevor Immelman's lead, the Masters leaderboard is well stocked with left-handers as two-time champion Phil Mickelson, Steve Flesch and Mike Weir (2003 winner) are all in the top eight after two rounds.
Check out my column in Saturday's Times-Union on Flesch and his caddie, Jacksonville resident Paul Fusco, who played a big part in Flesch recording the low round of the tournament (67) by nudging him into the right club selection that led to his eagle-3 at the 13th hole.
T-U golf writer Garry Smits will also provide his usual large dose of Masters coverage for the remainder of the tournament.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Typical Tiger, slow out of the Masters gate
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette is at the Masters this week and will offer a regular blog from Augusta National for jacksonville.com This is his entry for Thursday April 10.
If you were expecting the best golfer in the world to open the Masters by drawing thunderous applause with his spectacular shot-making, then you're not familiar with Tiger Woods' first-round history at Augusta National.
Woods, a four-time Masters champion, finished with an even-par 72 Thursday and in a 19th-place tie, but that's a familiar spot for the perennial favorite at this venue. In 13 previous appearances at Augusta National, Woods was a cumulative nine-over-par in the first round, but still wound up winning the event three times (1997, 2001, '05) despite posting his worst score in the opening round.
So shooting even par on a day when the average score was 74.18 isn't that big of a deal. In fact, Woods' 72 easily puts him in striking distance to make a move on co-leaders Justin Rose and Trevor Immelman (both shot 68) and the 16 other players who posted scores in the red numbers.
Like most competitors in the 94-player field, Woods found scoring conditions less than ideal because the sun-baked greens became firmer as the day wore on. In the few instances where he had very makeable birdie putts, he either barely missed (No. 2, 9, 10, 12 and 16) or misread from a short distance (a 10-footer at No. 11).
As it was, Woods still had a respectable 28 putts on the treachorous greens, which tied for 15th. As he said afterwards: "I played a lot better than what my score indicates. I hit putts really well and just nothing kind of went."
If those makeable birdie putts start falling, expect Woods to be in a familiar position at the Masters come the weekend: either at or near the top of the leaderboard.
Check out the Times-Union's Masters coverage in Friday's paper, including my column on the difficulty of trying to follow Tiger Woods around Augusta National with its massive galleries. T-U golf writer Garry Smits also will provide a recap of the first round, plus Masters notes and a sidebar story on defending tournament champion Zach Johnson.
If you were expecting the best golfer in the world to open the Masters by drawing thunderous applause with his spectacular shot-making, then you're not familiar with Tiger Woods' first-round history at Augusta National.
Woods, a four-time Masters champion, finished with an even-par 72 Thursday and in a 19th-place tie, but that's a familiar spot for the perennial favorite at this venue. In 13 previous appearances at Augusta National, Woods was a cumulative nine-over-par in the first round, but still wound up winning the event three times (1997, 2001, '05) despite posting his worst score in the opening round.
So shooting even par on a day when the average score was 74.18 isn't that big of a deal. In fact, Woods' 72 easily puts him in striking distance to make a move on co-leaders Justin Rose and Trevor Immelman (both shot 68) and the 16 other players who posted scores in the red numbers.
Like most competitors in the 94-player field, Woods found scoring conditions less than ideal because the sun-baked greens became firmer as the day wore on. In the few instances where he had very makeable birdie putts, he either barely missed (No. 2, 9, 10, 12 and 16) or misread from a short distance (a 10-footer at No. 11).
As it was, Woods still had a respectable 28 putts on the treachorous greens, which tied for 15th. As he said afterwards: "I played a lot better than what my score indicates. I hit putts really well and just nothing kind of went."
If those makeable birdie putts start falling, expect Woods to be in a familiar position at the Masters come the weekend: either at or near the top of the leaderboard.
Check out the Times-Union's Masters coverage in Friday's paper, including my column on the difficulty of trying to follow Tiger Woods around Augusta National with its massive galleries. T-U golf writer Garry Smits also will provide a recap of the first round, plus Masters notes and a sidebar story on defending tournament champion Zach Johnson.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Tiger: The Master Dominator off the course, too
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette offers weekly commentary on various topics and he's in Augusta this week for the Masters. This is his post for Wednesday April 9.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- If you think of the Masters tournament as golf's version of "American Idol," then Tiger Woods is Kelly Clarkson and every winner after her rolled into one.
As is the case at most major golf venues, there's a Woods addiction and everyone must get their fix, including the media.
When Woods held his pre-tourney news conference Tuesday morning, every seat in the 175-chair press room was filled and there were probably another 30-50 people standing. So all those numbers you hear about how Woods drives up television ratings at tournaments where he's playing, it also extends to his drawing power outside the ropes.
And just as Woods has been on a dominant run since last summer, winning eight of his last 10 tournaments since the PGA Championship, he blows the field away in press conference attendance.
Four hours after Woods' question-and-answer session with the media ended, two-tie U.S. Open champion and two-time Masters runnerup Ernie Els had his scheduled media session in the same room, just 100 feet from where the working press sits each day to write their stories.
Do you know how many showed up to hear Els speak? A grand total of 18, and it was a similar number for Adam Scott, the 2004 Players champion, when he conducted his session. At least the room was about half-full hen two-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson and defending champion Zach Johnson had their media sit-down time.
But it's a testament to Woods' stardom and television's all-Tiger, all-the-time mentality that golf's No. 1 attraction has created such an attention monopoly.
If it's like this at the year's first major, imagine how much it'll ratchet up at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, the British Open at Royal Birkdale and PGA Championship at Oakland Hills if Woods' quest to win the Grand Slam in one calendar year actually happens.
Woods hasn't backed off his comment earlier this year that winning all four majors in 2008 is "easily within reason."
Nothing seems out of bounds when it comes to what Tiger can pull off on a golf course. That's why the attention he receives from fans and media at the Masters is well beyond reason.
AUGUSTA, Ga. -- If you think of the Masters tournament as golf's version of "American Idol," then Tiger Woods is Kelly Clarkson and every winner after her rolled into one.
As is the case at most major golf venues, there's a Woods addiction and everyone must get their fix, including the media.
When Woods held his pre-tourney news conference Tuesday morning, every seat in the 175-chair press room was filled and there were probably another 30-50 people standing. So all those numbers you hear about how Woods drives up television ratings at tournaments where he's playing, it also extends to his drawing power outside the ropes.
And just as Woods has been on a dominant run since last summer, winning eight of his last 10 tournaments since the PGA Championship, he blows the field away in press conference attendance.
Four hours after Woods' question-and-answer session with the media ended, two-tie U.S. Open champion and two-time Masters runnerup Ernie Els had his scheduled media session in the same room, just 100 feet from where the working press sits each day to write their stories.
Do you know how many showed up to hear Els speak? A grand total of 18, and it was a similar number for Adam Scott, the 2004 Players champion, when he conducted his session. At least the room was about half-full hen two-time Masters champion Phil Mickelson and defending champion Zach Johnson had their media sit-down time.
But it's a testament to Woods' stardom and television's all-Tiger, all-the-time mentality that golf's No. 1 attraction has created such an attention monopoly.
If it's like this at the year's first major, imagine how much it'll ratchet up at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, the British Open at Royal Birkdale and PGA Championship at Oakland Hills if Woods' quest to win the Grand Slam in one calendar year actually happens.
Woods hasn't backed off his comment earlier this year that winning all four majors in 2008 is "easily within reason."
Nothing seems out of bounds when it comes to what Tiger can pull off on a golf course. That's why the attention he receives from fans and media at the Masters is well beyond reason.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Jaguars break bank for Del Rio, what about Garrard?
Florida Times-Union sports columnist Gene Frenette offers his weekly opinions on various topics for jacksonville.com This is his version posted for Thursday April 3.
Now that the Jaguars have given head coach Jack Del Rio a generous contract extension, worth over $20 million for the 2009-12 seasons, now comes the harder negotiation: reaching an agreement with quarterback David Garrard.
Based on conversations with Times-Union sources familiar with the negotiations, the Jaguars and Garrard have made progress toward a new deal, but remain significantly apart on the guaranteed money. Garrard is hoping to approach the $30 million in guarantees that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo received last October on his $67 million contract. So far, the Jaguars are nowhere near that ballpark, which means that this negotiation could last a while longer because Garrard is believed unwilling to accept a deal significantly below Romo's.
Garrard is signed through next season and then becomes an unrestricted free agent, but the Jaguars could slap the franchise tag on him in 2009, but that tab will run somewhere in the $12-13 million range.
It's in both the Jaguars' and Garrard's best interest to lock up a deal before training camp for several reasons. One, the team has plenty of salary cap room and Garrard is anxious to sign a contract that will provide him a lifetime of financial security. For another, neither side wants an unresolved contract issue lingering all season with the franchise quarterback when the Jaguars figure to be a Super Bowl contender.
There's no way to accurately predict when, or if, the richest contract in team history will get done. Albert Irby, Garrard's agent, says the ball is in the Jaguars' court at this time. The Jaguars have declined to comment on the negotiations.
At Thursday's news conference announcing Del Rio's extension, owner Wayne Weaver said he hopes Garrard's deal will be done "sooner than later." It was a quick non-answer to a question that could remain up in the air beyond the April 26-27 NFL draft unless the two sides can quickly bridge the gap.
The Jaguars took care of Del Rio in a big way, giving him a whopping extension when you consider that the only NFL coaches averaging over $5 million per year have already won a Super Bowl. Del Rio's extension, which doesn't include the $3.5 million salary he was set to earn next season, is almost identical to the four-year, $21 million extension that the New York Giants gave former Jaguars' coach Tom Coughlin after winning this year's Super Bowl.
Del Rio reached the $5 million contract neighborhood that he was seeking. Now the question is: Will the Jaguars pony up to help Garrard reach his financial goal?
With the recently released police report involving Jaguars cornerback Brian Williams, which outlines his profane, sexually explicit and degrading comments toward women as detailed in policeman E.E. Bridges' notes from a September, 2006 drunken driving arrest, it puts the Jaguars in a difficult public relations dilemma.
There's no possible way to defend anything about a DUI, followed by allegations that Williams berated an officer of the law in such a distasteful manner.
Weaver and Del Rio properly condemned the things reportedly said, but they also didn't want to appear to take anybody's side because both stated that Williams denies making the racist and sexist remarks that were outlined in a front-page story in Wednesday's Times-Union.
Since Williams or his attorney, Hank Coxe, have yet to make a public statement to refute Bridges' account, it only magnifies the public sentiment building against the Jaguars' starting cornerback. There's no denying that Williams was in an impaired state at the time he rammed his vehicle into Bridges' patrol car, and he initially pleaded guilty to the charge, receiving a six-month probation sentence and suspended license.
A few weeks later, Williams withdrew his plea and in January, a judge approved it over the state's objections. At the time of his arrest, it was known that Williams verbally confronted the officer, but the details of what was said didn't become known until this week.
No matter how much Williams may deny the allegations, it's going to be a he-said, he-said situation. And given that Williams initiated the whole mess with his poor choices, it's going to be hard to take the word of an impaired NFL player over a sober police officer.
Williams has now received two rounds of negative publicity, and there remains the matter of whether the Jaguars or NFL commissioner Roger Godell will ultimately take any punitive measures as this case moves forward.
You have to figure Williams regrets a lot of things since his arrest. The biggest may be not sticking to his original plea so that this mess would have never come back to haunt him again.
With three of my original Final Four teams still in the hunt -- I picked Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA and Texas (Elite Eight loser to Memphis) -- I'm not going to change my position now.
I took Kansas to beat UCLA for the title before the tournament started. Even though North Carolina and Memphis have played better to this point, I'm sticking with the Jayhawks to cut down the nets Monday night against the Bruins.
On the NCAA women's tournament, there's a reason for Jacksonville hoop fans to tune in Sunday night when former Ribault High star Erica White, the senior starting point guard at LSU, closes out her college career with a fourth consecutive Final Four appearance. The Lady Tigers play defending national champion Tennessee in the second semifinal at 9:30 p.m., preceded by Connecticut-Stanford.
Another big day for White, along with former Ribault star Shante Williams of Florida State, will be next Wednesday (April 9) when the pair could become the first players from Jacksonville to be taken in the WNBA draft.
Now that the Jaguars have given head coach Jack Del Rio a generous contract extension, worth over $20 million for the 2009-12 seasons, now comes the harder negotiation: reaching an agreement with quarterback David Garrard.
Based on conversations with Times-Union sources familiar with the negotiations, the Jaguars and Garrard have made progress toward a new deal, but remain significantly apart on the guaranteed money. Garrard is hoping to approach the $30 million in guarantees that Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo received last October on his $67 million contract. So far, the Jaguars are nowhere near that ballpark, which means that this negotiation could last a while longer because Garrard is believed unwilling to accept a deal significantly below Romo's.
Garrard is signed through next season and then becomes an unrestricted free agent, but the Jaguars could slap the franchise tag on him in 2009, but that tab will run somewhere in the $12-13 million range.
It's in both the Jaguars' and Garrard's best interest to lock up a deal before training camp for several reasons. One, the team has plenty of salary cap room and Garrard is anxious to sign a contract that will provide him a lifetime of financial security. For another, neither side wants an unresolved contract issue lingering all season with the franchise quarterback when the Jaguars figure to be a Super Bowl contender.
There's no way to accurately predict when, or if, the richest contract in team history will get done. Albert Irby, Garrard's agent, says the ball is in the Jaguars' court at this time. The Jaguars have declined to comment on the negotiations.
At Thursday's news conference announcing Del Rio's extension, owner Wayne Weaver said he hopes Garrard's deal will be done "sooner than later." It was a quick non-answer to a question that could remain up in the air beyond the April 26-27 NFL draft unless the two sides can quickly bridge the gap.
The Jaguars took care of Del Rio in a big way, giving him a whopping extension when you consider that the only NFL coaches averaging over $5 million per year have already won a Super Bowl. Del Rio's extension, which doesn't include the $3.5 million salary he was set to earn next season, is almost identical to the four-year, $21 million extension that the New York Giants gave former Jaguars' coach Tom Coughlin after winning this year's Super Bowl.
Del Rio reached the $5 million contract neighborhood that he was seeking. Now the question is: Will the Jaguars pony up to help Garrard reach his financial goal?
With the recently released police report involving Jaguars cornerback Brian Williams, which outlines his profane, sexually explicit and degrading comments toward women as detailed in policeman E.E. Bridges' notes from a September, 2006 drunken driving arrest, it puts the Jaguars in a difficult public relations dilemma.
There's no possible way to defend anything about a DUI, followed by allegations that Williams berated an officer of the law in such a distasteful manner.
Weaver and Del Rio properly condemned the things reportedly said, but they also didn't want to appear to take anybody's side because both stated that Williams denies making the racist and sexist remarks that were outlined in a front-page story in Wednesday's Times-Union.
Since Williams or his attorney, Hank Coxe, have yet to make a public statement to refute Bridges' account, it only magnifies the public sentiment building against the Jaguars' starting cornerback. There's no denying that Williams was in an impaired state at the time he rammed his vehicle into Bridges' patrol car, and he initially pleaded guilty to the charge, receiving a six-month probation sentence and suspended license.
A few weeks later, Williams withdrew his plea and in January, a judge approved it over the state's objections. At the time of his arrest, it was known that Williams verbally confronted the officer, but the details of what was said didn't become known until this week.
No matter how much Williams may deny the allegations, it's going to be a he-said, he-said situation. And given that Williams initiated the whole mess with his poor choices, it's going to be hard to take the word of an impaired NFL player over a sober police officer.
Williams has now received two rounds of negative publicity, and there remains the matter of whether the Jaguars or NFL commissioner Roger Godell will ultimately take any punitive measures as this case moves forward.
You have to figure Williams regrets a lot of things since his arrest. The biggest may be not sticking to his original plea so that this mess would have never come back to haunt him again.
With three of my original Final Four teams still in the hunt -- I picked Kansas, North Carolina, UCLA and Texas (Elite Eight loser to Memphis) -- I'm not going to change my position now.
I took Kansas to beat UCLA for the title before the tournament started. Even though North Carolina and Memphis have played better to this point, I'm sticking with the Jayhawks to cut down the nets Monday night against the Bruins.
On the NCAA women's tournament, there's a reason for Jacksonville hoop fans to tune in Sunday night when former Ribault High star Erica White, the senior starting point guard at LSU, closes out her college career with a fourth consecutive Final Four appearance. The Lady Tigers play defending national champion Tennessee in the second semifinal at 9:30 p.m., preceded by Connecticut-Stanford.
Another big day for White, along with former Ribault star Shante Williams of Florida State, will be next Wednesday (April 9) when the pair could become the first players from Jacksonville to be taken in the WNBA draft.
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