Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the PGA Championship from Atlanta Athletic Club, Atlanta, GA – Round Two
(4-7:40 p.m. ET) – Friday, August 12, 2011
TNT’s Third Round coverage of the PGA Championship continues Sat., August 13 from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. ET.
QUOTE OF THE DAY:
Feherty on what’s in store this weekend: “I didn’t really expect to see a leaderboard with so few major champions on it. It leads me to believe that this golf course is leaning towards those that don’t have the big egos and don’t take every shot, but take smaller steps. It could come down to a race at the end between a bunch of guys that haven’t won before. Pretty much anyone that makes the cut has a chance.”
Announcers: Ernie Johnson, Ian Baker-Finch, Bill Kratzert and Jim Huber joined by Jim Nantz, David Feherty, Peter Kostis, Peter Oosterhuis and Gary McCord
Baker-Finch on Scott Verplank leading the round at -5: “Kind of a coincidence that we had Rory Mcllroy yesterday afternoon with the wrist and forearm issues and now we have the leader Scott Verplank — who has lived his life with wrist and forearm issues — leading this championship by a shot.”
McCord on the competitive play for the lead: “We have a tournament, we have 13 guys within two shots of the lead; this is wide open. This is going to be fun to watch.”
Baker-Finch on Tiger’s performance during the second round: “What a mixed bag for Tiger today. Majestic drives, perfect tee-shots mixed in with very average stuff.”
Feherty on Gary Woodland: “He is just waiting to be one of those to burst out of the pack. You can sense it.”
Baker-Finch on the bunkers on the course: “I think they are hazardous. They are way too pretty. I think the biggest mistake they make is trying to make the bunkers so pretty that they rake all the sand off the faces. That’s why we see so many buried lines.”
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At the Turn presented by ING
Johnson, Baker-Finch
Baker-Finch on the rapidly changing leaderboard: “It has been a topsy turvy afternoon, lots of different story lines and unexpected views of different players on top of the leaderboard. It is really amazing to me that it is not the bombers we have noticed up there aside from Adam Scott. It has been the strategists the guys that plod their way around.”
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Feherty on this being Tiger’s worst performance: “So many areas of life before you rebound you have to hit rock bottom and I’m just wondering if this week is rock bottom for Tiger. He was so angry and just dispirited. At his press conference last night you had the sense that he is infuriated with himself and that he feels he has to go a different way. I don’t know. But I do know you have to hit bottom sometime.”
TNT’s Jim Huber interviews Jason Dufner (-5) following his second round
Dufner on his performance: “I had a really nice round today. I was able to get the ball on the fairway which makes it a little bit easier to score around this golf course.”
Dufner on improving his performance: “The summer’s been rough. I played really well until May. I had four missed cuts coming into this event but three weeks off seemed to be the cure for me.”
Dufner on preparing for the 93rd PGA Championship: “I came in the Friday before Tournament week. I’ve been here practicing and just preparing for this golf tournament and getting ready to compete.”
TNT’s Jim Huber interviews Adam Scott (-2) following his second round
Scott on his 18th hole performance: “I hit it out of position and didn’t have much of an option with the punch out and I just hit it too hard. It was a tough hole and it got me today.”
Scott after winning the Bridgestone Invitational last week trying to repeat: “It is very tough to win any week, let alone two in a row. It is certainly a bit of a letdown after having a big win. You are on Cloud 9 and then you have to come back down to earth, which isn’t a problem but it is tough because everyone plays so good.”
Feherty on Tiger being mentally unprepared: “There are these flashes of brilliances. There is no question that his confidence has been affected by it. But that is something that someone with his ability can get back. If he is physically healthy, he needs to get his head back into the right shape. There is nothing wrong with his swing, it is how he is thinking about it that is his problem at the moment.”
Oosterhuis on Tiger competing next week in the Wyndham Championship: “It is not going to do anything for his confidence. He needs to get away, spend some time and reassess things and get comfortable before he competes again.”
TNT’s Jim Huber interviews Keegan Bradley (-5) following his second round
Bradley on having a 64 on his scorecard: “I just played spectacularly and most importantly putted the ball great. I stayed out of trouble but I also made make some really good putts for par. Out here, it is something major if you can do that.”
TNT’s Jim Huber interviews Jim Furyk (-4) following his second round
Furyk on his second round performance: “I’m happy with my round. I got off to a good start. I birdied a couple holes early on. Then when I made a few mistakes, I could relax because I realized I had a little cushion.”
Furyk on assessing the field going into the weekend: “It is bunched up. I’m happy with the position I’m in. I really struggle with getting through Thursday and Friday. I’m happy with my position, trying to do a lot of the same things I did today and just try to play solid golf. Keep the ball in front of you and try not to make too many mistakes.”
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