by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Long rough, fast greens, Sunday pins and chilly temperatures. Sounds like a typical media day outing at The Players Championship. At least one of those aspects should change forever starting next year.
Tuesday’s media outing at the Stadium Course featured a nearly tournament ready Stadium Course and some of the coolest temperatures of the winter. While the course will always be tough — especially for many who only get to play it once a year — the decision to move the Players to May starting next year means an April media day outing and likely warmer temperatures. And, that suits most fine.
“The first time I played in this I was working in Tallahassee and I was so excited,” said Ch. 30/47 sports anchor Lee Gordon. “My news director and I left at 5 a.m. so we could be here on time. I had never been so excited to play a round of golf, but we knew the weather might be an issue.”
Gordon said on the way over they drove through torrential rain and played through a steady rain. Combined with cool temperatures, it wasn’t exactly golf weather.
“I am looking forward to the tournament moving to May. It should be about 85 degrees each day,” said Gordon.
Mike Dempsey of AM-1460 has played in the media outing several times and has seen the gamut of weather: rain, wind, cold, sun — and combinations of the above. He says the weather doesn’t matter; getting to play the Stadium Course for nothing is the attraction.
“Last year the wind was blowing and three or four years ago it rained the whole time,” he said. “But, this is a treat and it is such a privilege to be able to play out here regardless of the time of year. It’ll be nice to play in April from here out. When it’s warmer the course will play a little faster.”
Mike DiRocco of the Times-Union was playing in media day for the first time but he’s covered the tournament several times. He says the move to May will prove good for fans and the media alike.
“When your nose is running, it is not fun to be out when it’s cold. During the tournament, when it’s cold and rainy, you can only sit around for long before you run out of things to do,” he said. “It’s a good move for all. No more sweatshirts after this year.”