Kevin Na, did the fans Take it too far ?

Everyone agree’s Kevin Na has some problems, plays too slow. Compared to the average club golfer all the pro’s play too slow, at my club anything over four hours is frowned upon. They do not apply that logic to the professionals, even Tiger Woods struggled around our track, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club. He was even quoted as saying he would never play there again, a sad comment from a man who was paid a large sum of money just to turn up. The club itself  did not benefit financially from his appearance, the debt that club still carries dates back to Tigers appearance.

Getting back to the heckling Kevin Na experienced on Sunday at The Players, no it should not have happened, but it has happened in the past and no one said anything against it at the time. In fact the media said it was all his own fault, because he did not interact correctly with the crowd. I am referring to the nasty heckling Colin Montgomerie suffered at the hands of the American crowds, no one then said it was distasteful. I think that taunting Colin with shouts of Mrs Doubtfire, was even more cruel than the crowd singing to Kevin Na. The only difference between these two samples is one of the recipients was European and the other American. Apparently we should all feel sympathy for the American, but the foreigner is fair game.

So in answer to the title, no I don’t believe the fans took it too far, I was only surprised that during Tiger’s highly publicized indiscretions, the gallery did not start singing, Tiger, Tiger burning bright, who you taking to bed tonight.

THE PLAYERS Championship @ TPC Sawgrass · Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, third round comings and goings.

Kevin Na lead the Players Championship at the conclusion of the third round on Saturday, at TPC Sawgrass. Kevin shot a -4 under par round of 68 to top the leaderboard with a total score of  -12 under par. He leads by one shot from Matt Kuchar who had a third round of -3 under par for 69, and a tournament score of -11 under par.

Kevin Na Lyons/Getty Images

Kevin  took an incalculable number of waggles as he set up over the ball, backed off the shot if he didn’t feel comfortable and a couple of times purposely missed so he could start over. Not sure if the swing over the ball could be interpreted as an air shot, that is a decision for the marshals to ponder over. Kevin’s group were on the clock for the entire back nine, while Kevin himself was swishing away irritatingly and erratically.

On the 16th hole. He made an unsuccessful appeal, claiming he went over the allotted time because his caddie’s shadow was in the way. Kevin tried to explain his behavior,

“There’s so much on the line that I just have to sometimes back off. Or I’ll force myself to take it back, and on the way down I’ll pull up and go over the top of the ball. As ugly as it is, and as painful as it is, believe me, it’s really tough for me. And I’m trying. Trust me, I get ripped a lot. I know TV, Twitter and fans are tired of me backing off. I understand people being frustrated with me backing off, but all I can tell you guys is honestly, I’m trying. And it’s hard for me, too. But just bear with me, and hopefully we get that tomorrow round in. I know it’s frustrating. It’s frustrating for me. I want to pull the trigger. It’s getting better little by little. Hopefully, it will go away by the end of the year.”

Matt Kuchar had an up and down round that he called exciting;

“It was exciting. A lot of birdies and a lot more bogeys than I normally make. But I knew today was going to be a tricky day. I knew there were going to be a lot of bogeys. I knew there were dangers around every corner.”

Rickie Fowler is in third spot, and just three shots off the lead after a marvelous third round of -6 under par, for a 66. It was the lowest round of the day and gives him a tournament total of -9 under par. Rickie is trying to win his first two tournaments back to back, a feat that has not been accomplished since David Duval did it in 1997.

Rickie thinks he is the underdog in this tournament;

“I feel like I’m in a kind of underdog position, maybe overlooked at the start of the week. Won last week, maybe a little tired, I’m ready to go. Like I said last week, it’s all about giving yourself chances out here, and I gave myself a chance last week on Sunday and took advantage of it. Go out tomorrow, have some fun, give it our best shot and see where that puts us.”

Outside of these three players I can not see anyone else contending for the title tomorrow. I have a sneaking suspicion that Rickie Fowler will find the desire to win again.

THE PLAYERS Championship @ TPC Sawgrass · Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

   

The second round of The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach florida, finished with a three way tie at the top of the leaderboard. Zach Johnson, Kevin Na and Matt Kuchar are all level pegging at -8 under par for the tournament, but lead by only one shot from Harris English.

Zach Johnson had the round of the day with a marvelous -6 under par for 66, while Kevin had a -3 under par 69, and Matt with around of -4 under par 68.

First round leader Ian Poulter slumped to a tournament score of -3 under par, shooting a miserable +4 and 76 on the day. Joining him at -3 under par for the championship are Luke Donald and Lee Westwood, all three of them will hope hope to improve their positions before the start of the final round on Sunday. As they say in golfing circles, Saturday is “Moving Day.” With Rory missing the cut here it is inevitable that Luke will return to the number one ranking.

Ehrmann/Getty Images

Last weeks winner Rickie Fowler is also on -3 and will look to improve tomorrow, it is always hard to feature the week after your win, especially your first win on Tour.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickleson are lurking back on -2, and both would need something magical to contend for the Championship, but these things do sometimes occur in golf.

Making it to the weekend on the cut line are Justin Rose, and ex champion Sergio Garcia. Biggest surprise of the day was Rory McIlroy shooting a +4 over par second round of 76, to miss the cut. He was not alone in the big name bracket to miss the weekend, he was joined by, Ernie Els, Reteif Goosen, Padraig Harrington,Louis Oosthuizen, Graeme McDowell, and last weeks European Tour winner, Francesco Molinari.