Kite has fast start at TPC

Posted 1:39PM on Thursday 21st March 2002 ( 23 years ago )

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLORIDA - Almost every time Tiger Woods steps on a golf course, there's some kind of history on the line. The next challenge for the world's best player: to become the first player to win back-to-back titles at The Players Championship. Play at the richest tournament in golf began Thursday, but was quickly delayed by rain. Tom Kite, the 1989 champion, got off to a fast start, completing his first nine holes in 3-under-par 33. Padraig Harrington birdied three straight holes and sat at 3-under through five. Woods' 12:30 p.m. EST tee time was delayed to 3 p.m. after heavy rains drenched the TPC at Sawgrass course, causing a 2 1/2 hour delay. The Players Championship offers a $6 million purse, and always boasts the best field of the season, with 48 of the world's top 50 in attendance this year. Woods refers to it as the fifth major, which makes this prime territory for him. Last week in Orlando, he became the first player to win the Bay Hill Invitational three straight times. With that victory, he became the first player to win three tournaments three times in a row (Firestone, Memorial). Naturally, the topic of another repeat is a hot one. ``Any time you win on a golf course, you're going to have that confidence when you go back,'' Woods said. ``And if I've done it before, I can do it again. That's the kind of sense that I have.'' When asked Wednesday, Woods refused to list the TPC at Sawgrass as on par with the toughest tests in the game - the U.S. Open, the Masters and the British Open. He's in the minority. Ernie Els called TPC at Sawgrass ``a little monster,'' with its 6-inch-high rough, its ball-swallowing pot bunkers, its small, undulating greens and enough nooks and crannies to throw even the best players off their games. And don't forget No. 17 - the signature par-3 island hole. ``When you play on Tuesday and Wednesday, it's a pretty easy hole, a little flip 9-iron, no big deal,'' Woods said. ``You get out there in the tournament, and all of a sudden, there's a pin location that's tucked in the corner or over a slope, and the green seems to shrink up a bit.'' As with any tournament, there's a good chance the final two holes will determine the winner on Sunday. No. 17 and the 447-yard 18th are among the toughest finishing holes in golf. The par-5 16th also is a factor. It's considered very reachable in two. Anyone who goes eagle-birdie on 16 and 17 can coast through No. 18 for a victory, the way Fred Couples did in 1996. Couples, a two-time champion in this tournament, finished 10th the next year. In a field where almost everyone is a contender, Els has to be considered one of Woods' top challengers. The Big Easy won at Doral and in Dubai this year, before finishing ninth last week at Bay Hill. ``I've had a pretty good run,'' Els said. ``But as I've said before, this kind of golf course is a real little monster. You've got to really play well here.'' David Duval, who won here in 1999, has struggled this season, failing to make the top 10 and even missing a cut for the first time in more than a year. Phil Mickelson has never finished higher than eighth here. He was in Augusta for a practice round Wednesday. With the Masters only three weeks away, all eyes are on Woods. He's spending extra time at the TPC at Sawgrass practice area working on some of the short-game stuff that might help him at Augusta National next month. He has been credited with actually trying shots he'll need at Augusta in these leadup tournaments, although he insists some of those stories are overblown. What can't be denied is the fact that Woods is rounding into form. He also has the longest active streak at The Players Championship with eight consecutive rounds at par or better. He finished second to Hal Sutton two years ago. ``I've always tried to get my game ready for the four majors, and that's what I try to do,'' Woods said. ``Then hopefully, I can win a few tournaments along the way.''

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