Woodland sizes up the Phillies
Though he has had a breakthrough season this year on the PGA Tour, Gary Woodland still misses the two team sports - baseball and basketball - that he played as a youth.
Though he has had a breakthrough season this year on the PGA Tour, Gary Woodland still misses the two team sports - baseball and basketball - that he played as a youth.
Over the weekend, Woodland hung out with his best friend, Oakland Athletics reliever Joey Devine, and went to Citizens Bank Park to see all three games between the Phillies and the A's.
"Watching baseball all weekend, I missed it a little bit," Woodland said. "It was great to get out. I miss being around teams, and obviously I'd played team sports my whole life. To be around the guys and hang out was definitely a nice change."
The Kansas-born Woodland, who won the Transitions Championship and has four other top-10 finishes this year, said that golf "gets pretty lonely sometimes" but that he enjoys the competition and the big events.
As for the Phillies, Woodland said: "They're pretty good. Obviously, they have a power lineup. Their pitching is awesome, probably the best rotation in baseball. The stadium was beautiful. Oakland is struggling right now, and [the Phillies] are still selling out that stadium."
A Philadelphia welcome
Hunter Mahan was giving some information about himself to the hundreds of people who turned out for the Golf Association of Philadelphia's junior clinic at Waynesborough Country Club when he revealed he was from Dallas.
Asked whether he was a Cowboys fan, Mahan replied, "Yes, I'm a Cowboys fan."
Several good-natured boos were offered in response.
"This is the way Philly is," Mahan said. "It's a sports town, a passionate sports town. Any athlete likes to play here because the people really enjoy their sports. It's a great place to have a golf tournament."
Furyk the server
Jim Furyk slid into his chair at a table with other golfers Tuesday night at Morton's Steakhouse in King of Prussia.
A few hours later, the West Chester native and eight other PGA members acted as servers for 150 guests as part of a benefit for Children's Miracle Network and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.
"I was shy when I first got on tour," Furyk said. "I always enjoyed playing with the kids and being around them."