Golf Digest Search Results

Maurice Jones-Drew makes TPC's 17th look easy

Wed, 08 May 2013 21:55:00 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The untucked t-shirt and unbalanced follow through were a quick giveaway that the shot didn't come from a PGA Tour pro. The result, however, was one that any golfer with a name on his bag this week would have paid handsomely for.

Maurice Jones-Drew, the face of the Jacksonville Jaguars for the past seven seasons, riled up his hometown fans, but this time, without wearing pads. The three-time Pro Bowl running back borrowed a 9-iron from Jonathan Byrd during Wednesday's practice round at TPC Sawgrass and stuck a shot to about 10 feet on the famed island-green, par-3 17th hole.

"I was sweating," said Jones-Drew of the shot that was playing about 150 yards to a back pin. "I literally dropped about five pounds when I got over the ball. And I almost swung out of my shoes."

Maurice Jones-Drew, right, wearing grey t-shirt, watches Stewart Cink.

Jones-Drew said he tries to play golf as much as possible in the NFL's off-season, but it's been tough with him rehabbing a left foot injury that caused him to miss most of the 2012 campaign. He doesn't have an official handicap, but says he usually shoots in the high 80s to low 90s.

Byrd, playing with Stewart Cink and Zach Johnson, was impressed by Jones-Drew's shot, telling him, "You can borrow my clubs anytime." Byrd followed the football star by hitting his shot inside of Jones-Drew, but Cink and Johnson didn't come close in their attempts. Neither did more than half of the field's caddies, who found the water with their attempts -- a Wednesday tradition at the Players.

Jones-Drew said he frequently attends the Players and enjoys following golfers from his alma mater, UCLA, as well as watching the action on No. 17 in particular. Now, he'll have his own memory of the hole to share with his fellow Bruins.

Related: Our favorite gridiron golfers

"I was very nervous," Jones-Drew said. "But hopefully, that shows everyone how easy it is."

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Golf & Football: The NFL's Top Gridiron Golfers

Alex Myers — Fri, 04 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT

We are at that point in the calendar when the remaining NFL teams are desperately hoping to extend their season a couple of weeks and into the Super Bowl. But that's not to say life is so bad in the off-season, especially when there is golf involved. Here we look at how some of football's best measure up when trading their cleats for soft spikes.

Video: The NFL Network takes on TPC Sawgrass

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 20:46:00 GMT

By Alex Myers

A trip to Jacksonville to cover the lowly Jaguars for a Thursday night game likely wouldn't do much to raise the pulse of the NFL Network's crew. However, a detour during the day probably did.

Related: The top gridiron golfers

Ahead of the tilt between the host Jags and the Indianapolis Colts, analysts Rich Eisen, Deion Sanders, Kurt Warner and Steve Mariucci all went to TPC Sawgrass for a closest-to-the-pin contest on the famed 17th hole. Here's a brief look at how the group fared when taking aim at the treacherous island green:

Ponte Vedra resident and 16-time PGA Tour winner Jim Furyk was on hand to help the guys face one of golf's most daunting shots. As you can see, his expert advice didn't help much, especially for Mariucci, who managed to keep his first shot dry -- by dribbling it so badly that it stayed on the tee box.

The star of the video turned out to be NFL Network host Rich Eisen, who after doing his best Jim Nantz "Hello, friends" impersonation, stuck his first attempt to about five feet from the hole. Meanwhile, Sanders decided to not even try, but instead, stuck to his favorite hobby: fishing. But casting his lure from the walkway to the island green proved fruitless for one of the game's all-time best defensive backs.

The foursome's efforts were broadcast during the postgame show on NFL Network -- and that's a good thing. After another poor effort by the Jaguars in a 27-10 loss, this wound up being the night's most entertaining highlight package.

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Mickelson to attempt $1-million shot on Monday Night Football

Thu, 04 Oct 2012 20:20:00 GMT

By Alex Myers

Every shot Phil Mickelson takes in a tournament has big bucks riding on it. Heck, so do all the ones he attempts during his famous early-week money matches with fellow PGA Tour players.

But this time, it's not his money.

Mickelson will hit a 100-yard shot for charity during halftime of tonight's NFL Monday Night Football game between his hometown San Diego Chargers and the Denver Broncos. The lefty will take aim from one of Qualcomm Stadium's end zones and fire at targets in the other. Based on which target he's able to hit (we're assuming there won't be a Webb Simpson-like Ryder Cup shank), that's how much his sponsor KPMG will donate to First Book, a non-profit organization which provides new books for children in need.

Related: The best NFL cities for golf

Dubbed the "KPMG Chip4Charity" on the company's website, the shot could be worth as much as $1 million or 400,000 books. Phil, we hope you've been practicing. . .

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(Photo by Getty Images)

Weekend Getaways: 10 Great Towns For the NFL and Golf

Alex Myers — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 13:00:00 GMT

Want to pair the NFL with great golf? Here are 10 towns to consider

Bridgestone Golf, NFL enter licensing agreement

John Strege — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 20:07:00 GMT

By John Strege The NFL and golf have a history of partnerships, the latest involving Bridgestone Golf, which has announced it has become an official licensee of NFL logo golf balls and golf bags....

Golf helping NFL coach get over lockout woes

Sun, 15 May 2011 15:04:00 GMT

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Even amid a growing crowd on Sunday at the Players, Jack Del Rio couldn't help but stand out. Walking the course in a Jacksonville Jaguars polo, the burly head coach of the hometown NFL team seemed to be enjoying himself on a beautiful day, chatting with fans and taking in the action.

"I love golf and I love being able to come out here and see the best players in the world going at it," he said before adding that TPC Sawgrass' Stadium Course is "a great place to watch the best play."

With the NFL currently locked out while the owners and players struggle to come to terms on a new collective bargaining agreement, Del Rio has more time on his hands. But that's not why he's here. This is the ninth straight year he's attended the tournament, a streak that began when he took the Jags job in 2003.

"It's something I look forward to," he said. "It's a good time socially, but it's a great time just being out here."

John Smoltz's rough Nationwide Tour debut

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:18:00 GMT

John Smoltz's Nationwide Tour debut began in promising fashion. The ending, however, did little to justify the future Hall-of-Fame pitcher's spot in the event.

Playing in the South Georgia Classic on a sponsor's exemption, Smoltz, who carries a plus-2 handicap, started on the back nine and parred his first two holes before birdieing No. 12 to get into red figures. The rest? Well, it was ugly.

Over the final 15 holes, Smoltz didn't record another birdie while racking up nine bogeys and two double bogeys. The final number, 84, looked more like the reading from a radar gun after one of his sliders towards the end of his baseball career.

Interview with former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer

Matt Ginella — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:00:00 GMT

Former NFL quarterback and ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer on his NFL career, competing against tour players, and his own aspirations as a golfer.

Golf Digest's Ranking of 150 Athlete Golfers

Research by Lisa Furlong and Craig Bestrom — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Our ranking of the top 150 athlete-golfers is merely a sampling of those who play this great game. We also included a golfer or two from sports other than the big four of baseball, football, basketball and hockey.