PGA TOUR NOTEBOOK \ Players Championship

Mud problems: Ernie Els warned it could be a sloppy, muddy opening round at The Players Championship. Turns out, the Big Easy was right. Several players, including Els, Tiger Woods and Vijay Singh, had problems with mud clumps sticking to golf balls and altering shot flights Thursday at the TPC's Stadium Course. Woods mentioned the glop four times during his brief interview after the round. "I just tried to get by with some mud balls," said Woods, who shot a 2-under 70. Rain hit the Jacksonville area Monday and Tuesday, drenching a course designed to handle the water. Still, the fairways were mushy, meaning second shots were adventures pros aren't accustomed to -- and certainly not at a tournament considered by many the fifth major. Singh said he had a lot of "suspect lies." "You can hit all the fairways you want in conditions like this," he said, "it doesn't matter (because) there's mud on the ball." Singh overcame the problems for a 5-under 67, three shots behind leader Steve Jones. On Woods' final hole, the ninth, he said he cut a shot he normally wouldn't to offset the mud on the ball's right side. "It started out cutting and ended up hooking left," he said. Woods made the birdie. Fred Funk, who calls Ponte Vedra Beach home, said the conditions were better than he expected. "It was surprising how dry it was for the amount of rain we had," he said.
Uncle knows best: If Brett Quigley succeeds this week, he'll know who to thank. "My crazy uncle, for sure," said Quigley, referring to Uncle Dana, who's won nine times on the Champions Tour, including this year's MasterCard Championship. The younger Quigley said his uncle pushed him to get off the range and onto the course during the winter. It must have helped. Quigley shot a 5-under 67 and stood three strokes off the lead at The Players Championship. Brett typically takes four weeks off after the season and then starts his range work. His uncle challenged him to change this year. Brett listened and says it's paying off in an improved game. "I probably only practiced two hours in two months," Brett said. "Instead I played every day and hit a bunch of shots and learned how to score again."
Duval doings: The fans gathered around the first tee recognized the face and the name of David Duval, who grew up in Jacksonville and remains a favorite in these parts. But he was introduced as being from Denver, where he moved last year after getting married. And the game doesn't look familiar. Duval won The Players Championship in 1999 to rise to No. 1 in the world, but is mired in a massive slump brought on my injuries and confidence. "I'm playing good golf," Duval said. "I've just got to do it out on the golf course."
Do it again: John Daly played the first hole twice Thursday. He hit the ball down the fairway and had a two-putt par on No. 1. Then on the adjacent par-5 second, his tee shot went left into a tree, ricocheted left, bounced off a cart path and landed in the rough on the No. 1, about 20 yards away from his opening drive. Blocked by trees, he figured his best option was to play down the first fairway. He went too long into the rough, then chip over the trees just short of the hazard on the second fairway, hit onto the green and made bogey. "Always wanted to play the first hole backward," Daly said to himself after hitting the third shot.
Associated Press
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