logo
NOTES AND QUOTES – THE 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON GOLF CHANNEL (SECOND ROUND)

NOTES AND QUOTES – THE 2025 PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP ON GOLF CHANNEL (SECOND ROUND)

NBC Sports14-03-2025

'Are you kidding me? I've got goosebumps, guys! Sorry I wasn't looking, JT – I was trying to be a broadcaster.' – Smylie Kaufman on Justin Thomas' birdie at 17 during Happy Hour, prior to tying the course record with 10-under 62
'I think his whole goal was getting off to a nice start today where he could get the momentum going, and then turn the brain off and ride from there.' – Rickie Fowler during Happy Hour on Thomas' 10-under 62
Live From THE PLAYERS – Saturday at 10 a.m. ET, Leading into Third Round Coverage at 2 p.m. ET Live on NBC and Peacock
STAMFORD, Conn. – March 14, 2025 – NBC Sports presented comprehensive coverage of the second round of The PLAYERS Championship from The Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., on GOLF Channel. Golf Central Live From THE PLAYERS followed with post-round coverage.
Saturday's coverage from TPC Sawgrass begins at 10 a.m. ET on GOLF Channel with Live From THE PLAYERS followed by live third round coverage at 2 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.
Dan Hicks, Terry Gannon and Steve Sands handled play-by-play duties, while Brad Faxon, Curt Byrum, Gary Koch, and Notah Begay III served as analysts. Jim 'Bones' Mackay, Smylie Kaufman, John Wood, and Roger Maltbie served as on-course reporters, while Cara Banks handled reports and interviews.
Today's championship coverage also featured the latest edition of Happy Hour with Smylie, as 2015 PLAYERS Champion Rickie Fowler joined Smylie Kaufman and Kevin Kisner alongside the 17th hole.
Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee, Paul McGinley, Johnson Wagner, and Todd Lewis, anchored Live From THE PLAYERS post-round coverage on GOLF Channel. Following are notes and quotes from today's coverage.
The PLAYERS Championship – Second Round Leaderboard
ON JUSTIN THOMAS (-4. SECOND ROUND 62 TO TIE COURSE RECORD)
Rickie Fowler on how to stay present during an exceptional round: 'I think his whole goal was getting off to a nice start today where he could get the momentum going, and then turn the brain off and ride from there...if it's not broken, don't fix it and just go from there.'
Kaufman on the energy as Thomas came to the 17th hole at 10-under on his round: 'How about the buzz on this hole right now?'
Kisner: 'The whole vibe changed when this group got to the tee. I stood up just because I felt like I had to.'
Kaufman on Thomas making birdie at 17 during Happy Hour to go to 11-under on his round: 'Justin Thomas at the 17th to get to 11-under! Are you kidding me? I've got goosebumps, guys! Sorry I wasn't looking, JT – I was trying to be a broadcaster.'
Kisner: 'You can't make it more center cut than that....and he gave us a little shoutout there.'
Fowler: 'This is a lot easier than hitting shots (laughs).'
Koch on Thomas hitting his second shot in the water on 18th hole: 'It has to be a shock to the system. When so many things have gone right and you've done everything you expect...you've got to regroup. The first real adversity that he has faced all day long. It's very easy to keep it in your mind and second-guess it...take your time and get refocused.'
Wood after Thomas' pitch shot on 18th hole to two feet: 'JT marked his ball, came over to the back of the green, looked at me and just gave me a big wink. He is cold.'
ON AKSHAY BHATIA (-11, T-1st)
Maltbie on Bhatia's decision to lay-up on the 18th hole en route to a birdie: 'I really like the way he thought this one out. He certainly had the distance to be able to reach the green with his second shot, but he really thought it through. You know, today's player's first tendency is to be very aggressive, and I think he made a very wise play in leaving it back there and giving him something he can spin.'
Bhatia to Banks post-round on the 18th hole when his third shot clipped a tree: 'I believe this is one of the best par fives in the world. I was telling my caddie that and he said, 'Oh maybe it was just a little good luck there talking good about the hole.' But yeah, very lucky. Kind of when it's your day and you get some of those breaks, it's huge out there and so it's nice to finish with a birdie.'
ON MIN WOO LEE (-11, T-1st)
Lee to Banks post-round on his use of the 2-iron: 'I love the course, I love how it shapes, and the 2-iron becomes a weapon especially when it gets a little firm, which it has. It's nice to bomb the 2-iron and then have short irons. I love hitting driver of course, but some holes it doesn't let you do it so it's quite nice to hit that 2-iron and get it down there.'
Begay III: 'He really seems to have found a nice groove out here in this difficult layout that takes players quite a few years to get to know and to get comfortable on…Just such a tremendous talent.'
ON RORY MCILROY (-9, T-4th)
Begay III: 'If you got up bright and early to catch the early action, you got to see something special from Rory getting things off to a quick start...Rory had a little bit more control over the driver more so than he did yesterday.'
McIlroy to Banks post-round on his driving today: 'Much better off the tee today. Golf's an amazing game. I obviously didn't shoot quite as good of a score as yesterday, but I felt like I played much better. So, I'm really encouraged with how I hit it off the tee and the work that I did last night. I've got a good feel for it now and hopefully that can continue into the weekend.'
ON SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER (-5, T-17th)
Begay III on Scheffler: 'We're starting to see some definite flashes of some good golf from Scottie, especially in the wedge area. You start to sync up the wedges, you know your sequence is in a good spot.'
--NBC SPORTS--

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MSU hockey to face Ferris State in Great Lakes Invitational this year
MSU hockey to face Ferris State in Great Lakes Invitational this year

USA Today

time18 minutes ago

  • USA Today

MSU hockey to face Ferris State in Great Lakes Invitational this year

MSU hockey to face Ferris State in Great Lakes Invitational this year The Great Lakes Invitational returns for its 59th installment on December 28-29, 2025 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids! We'll take on Ferris State at 7:00 p.m. on Dec. 28 in a field that also features Michigan Tech and Miami. Tickets go on sale in September at… — Michigan State Hockey (@MSU_Hockey) June 9, 2025 The 59th annual Great Lakes Invitational was confirmed on Monday, with the Spartans' matchup for the event announced as well. The official schedule and details for this year's Great Lakes Invitational has been announced, with the Spartans set to face in-state rival Ferris State in the semifinals. Michigan Tech will play Miami (OH) in the other semifinals matchup, with the Spartans playing one of those two teams in either the championship or third-place game. The tournament will be held on December 28 and 29 at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Mich. Michigan Tech and Miami (OH) will meet in the first semifinal on December 28 at 3:30 p.m. ET, with the Spartans and Bulldogs playing in the second game that'll begin at approximately 7 p.m. ET. The winners of the semifinal matchups will play in the championship game at 7 p.m. ET on December 29, while the two losers will play prior to that in the consolation game at 3:30 p.m. ET. Michigan State captured its first Great Lakes Invitational championship since 2009 this past season, beating eventual national champion Western Michigan in the finals. The Spartans will again be a contender to win this event, with Michigan State expected to be a preseason top five team again this upcoming season. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Robert Bondy on X @RobertBondy5.

Watch: Anthony Carrigan launches 'Twisted Metal' Season 2 race
Watch: Anthony Carrigan launches 'Twisted Metal' Season 2 race

UPI

time21 minutes ago

  • UPI

Watch: Anthony Carrigan launches 'Twisted Metal' Season 2 race

1 of 5 | Anthony Carrigan, seen at the 2020 Screen Actors Guild Awards, joins the cast of "Twisted Metal" Season 2. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo June 9 (UPI) -- Peacock released a clip from Twisted Metal Season 2 on Monday. The new season premieres July 31. The clip features new cast member Anthony Carrigan. Sporting a long-haired wig, Carrigan's character, Calypso, starts a demolition derby. John Doe (Anthony Mackie) rides shotgun for Quiet (Stephanie Beatriz) amid purple smoke and machine gun fire, while Sweettooth (Joe Seanoa with the voice of Will Arnett) launches missiles from the eyes of the clown on his ice cream truck. The Peacock action comedy, based on the Playstation video game series, premiered in 2023 and was renewed in December of that year. Season 2 features 12 new episodes. Season 2 guest stars include Mike Mitchell, Saylor Bell Curda, Patty Guggenheim, Tiana Okoye, Richard De Klerk, Michael James Shaw and Lisa Gilroy. Michael Jonathan Smith is the showrunner and executive produces with Mackie, Arnett, Rhett Reese and Paul Wernick, and more. Phil Sgriccia and Bill Benz each direct four episodes while Iain MacDonald and Bertie Ellwood direct two each. Marvel stars walk the red carpet Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr. (R), and his wife, Susan Downey, attend the premiere of "Avengers: Endgame" in Los Angeles on April 22, 2019. Downey, in 2024, announced that he will be returning to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the villainous Dr. Doom. Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo

2025 Libema Open: Virtanen [101st] vs. Etcheverry [62nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview
2025 Libema Open: Virtanen [101st] vs. Etcheverry [62nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview

USA Today

time21 minutes ago

  • USA Today

2025 Libema Open: Virtanen [101st] vs. Etcheverry [62nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview

2025 Libema Open: Virtanen [101st] vs. Etcheverry [62nd] Prediction, Odds and Match Preview No. 101-ranked Otto Virtanen will meet No. 62 Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the Libema Open on Tuesday, June 10. Virtanen is favored (-185) in this match versus Etcheverry (+140). Tennis odds courtesy of BetMGM Sportsbook. Odds updated Monday at 10:35 AM ET. For a full list of sports betting odds, access USA TODAY Sports Betting Scores Odds Hub. Otto Virtanen vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry matchup info Tournament: Libema Open Libema Open Round: Date: Tuesday, June 10 Tuesday, June 10 Court Surface: Grass Watch the Tennis Channel and more sports on Fubo! Virtanen vs. Etcheverry Prediction Based on the implied probility from the moneyline, Virtanen has a 64.9% to win. Virtanen vs. Etcheverry Betting Odds Virtanen vs. Etcheverry matchup performance & stats

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store