Tee Times for The Players Championship

This week the PGA makes it’s annual stop at the TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The season’s unnoficial “fifth major” is full of everyone from the top player in the world (Tiger Woods), to two first time winners on tour (Billy Horschel and Derek Ernst). Here is a look at some of the feature pairings for this weekend’s event, including Thursday and Friday’s tee times.

Tiger Woods, Matt Kuchar, Brandt Snedeker (1:49pm Thursday and 8:39am Friday)- Kuchar is the defending champion at this event. Although he won last year’s event he hasn’t had a lot of succes at Sawgrass. Before last year’s win, he had only three top-25 finishes since 2001. Woods and Snedeker haven’t fared much better. Since his lone win here in his historic 2001 season Woods has struggled to get comfortable on the TPC course. In his last five appearances, the Jupiter Island resident has posted a tie for 40, two withdraws, a tie for eighth, and a tie for 37th.

TPC SawgrassRory Mcllroy, Adam Scott, Steve Stricker (8:39am Thursday and 1:49pm Friday)- Scott is making his first start since his historic Masters win a few weeks ago. History doesn’t bode well for Scott at this event. Only one player has won the Masters and then gone on to win The Players in the same season (Woods in 2001). Mcllroy’s game has come to form nicely as of late. Since withdrawing from The Honda Classic in March, the Palm Beach Gardens resident has four top 25 finishes, including a 10th place finish at last weekend’s Wells Fargo Championship.

Lee Westwood, Nick Watney, Ian Poulter (1:18pm Thursday and 8:08am Friday)- Watney and Westwood were both in contention on Sunday at last week’s Wells Fargo Championship. Watney finished in a tie for 10th, while the Old Palm resident finished in a fourth place tie. Poulter has taken some time off since he missed the cut at the Masters.

Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Jim Furyk (8:08am Thursday and 1:18pm Friday)- Fowler has struggled at times since getting his first tour win last year At Quail Hollow. The Loxahatchee River resident already has three top 10 finishes this year though and will look to get his second career win this weekend. Furyk is one of the many local Jacksonville area players competing this weekend. That hasn’t always lead to a lot of success on this course though. Furyk will look to change that this weekend at his local course.

Ernie Els, Dustin Johnson, Billy Horschel (8:29am Thursday and 1:39pm Friday)- This pairing features two local Palm Beach County golfers and a first time winner. Els (Jupiter) has not made the cut at the TPC Sawgrass since 2009. Already with three top 25 finishes this year, Els will look to change his luck around at The Players this year. Johnson has four top 25 finishes this year but hasn’t had a lot of success at this event. The Loxahatchee River resident has yet to card a top 25 finish at this event. Horschel is another local Jacksonville product. He lives down the street and was “quite bummed” that he didn’t get to play in the event last year. Well, he won his first tour event two weeks ago and will look to finally take a crack at this challenging TPC course.

For a complete list of tee times and coverage of The Players Championship, visit www.pgatour.com.

SUNSET CELEBRATION SAILFISH MARINA RESORT THURSDAY EVENINGS

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These are the months to come out on any Thursday evening to enjoy the most unique creations of locals from around the area. Art including: blown glass, wooden sculptures and pottery, silver and gold jewelry all grace the waterfront location!  On Thursday evenings at the Sailfish Marina, www.sailfishmarina.com, you will find musicians, like Clark Rodriguez, signing and playing his guitar.  You’ll hear sounds of your favorite Jimmy Buffet inspired tunes or steel drums playing on the boardwalk as the sun sets colorfully in the western sky. You will also see lazy pelicans bobbing around in the water hopping to catch a scrap of fish food some amber jacks were too slow to scoop up.

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In this tropical locale, on Singer Island, people come from all over to browse the 35 artists that come from as far away as Seattle, WA to exhibit their craftsmanship and artistry.  The Sailfish Marina Resort offers a classic South Florida setting of fresh seafood restaurant and yachting marina.  The restaurant faces Peanut Island on the Intracoastal Waterway and just south of the resort is the Lake Worth inlet.  There is plenty of seating area inside, as well as outside; to watch all the boats cruise by.  There is not a bad seat in the house.  If a sit down dining experience isn’t in the plan for the night, the restaurant sets up a stand along the waterfront selling their famous “Grouper Dogs” and delicious Conch Fritters! It’s the perfect place for a casual tropical night reminiscent of Old Key West.

Stroll the docks, take in the art, enjoy the music and you’ll be sure to find treasure here.  Whether you buy some art or just browse, stop by on any Thursday evening at sunset.  Bring the family, even the family pet on a leash is welcome and don’t forget to feed the fish off the docks!

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Paella Party at the Jupiter Lighthouse- June 29!

If you love international cuisines, pencil this event into your calendar. Saturday, June 29 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the historic Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse is the“Ponce Paella Party”!   Different people of all ethnicities and ___paellafrom all over Florida, will come out to celebrate the significance of the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de Leon arrival from Spain to Florida’s east coast, as well as Florida’s rich heritage and cultural diversity.

This paella fiesta is sure to be a blast of flavor and fun. What is Paella? Paella is a Valencian (east coast of Spain) rice dish. Many non-Spaniards view paella as Spain’s national dish, but most Spaniards consider it a regional dish. Comprised mostly of rice dish, cooked over an open fire, in a traditional paella pan, it can include an infinite amount of different ingredients. Some traditional ingredients include olive oil, onions, peppers, garlic, tomatoes, chicken, seafood, mussel, clams, lobster, shrimp, pork are added to create a unique entrée. Paella’s  can range from a strictly vegetarian paella with artichokes and beans to paella de marisco (seafood paella) which would contain a mix of fresh fish, shrimp, clams and mussels or just a meat paella with rabbit.  There are so many versions of paella as there are chefs.

This paella grill party will offer surf and turf options. “Senior Barry’s Barra” will be pouring festive Spanish Sangria, wine, margaritas, and coronas on the lighthouse deck. Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in the piñata prize raffle.  If you ever wanted to watch paella being made, step by step, this is the event for you.

Tickets are limited. $40 per person.  Advanced purchase required by June 22nd.  For information and tickets to Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse “Ponce Paella Party” or call 561-747-8380 ext. 101.

 

Tee Times for the Zurich Classic of New Orleans

Here is a look at some of the key pairings and tee times for the first two rounds of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Ernie Els, Rickie Fowler, Michael Thompson (12:30pm Thursday and 7:30am Friday)- All three in this pairing have a connection to the South Florida community. Els and Fowler are residents here (Els in Jupiter and Fowler on the Loxahatchee River), and Thompson one the Honda Classic at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens. Els competed in this event for the first time last year, losing in a playoff to the winner Jason Dufner, while Fowler finished in a tie for 10th.

Frenchmans Reserve (6)Justin Rose, Keegan Bradley, Billy Horschel (12:40pm Thursday and 7:40pm Friday)- Keegan Bradley has five top ten finishes already this year including four in his last five events. The Tequesta resident missed the cut at the event last year. Rose also has been playing well as of late. He has three top tens in his last five starts and is coming off a tenth place finish in New Orleans last year. Horschel is still looking for his first win on tour and has had several near misses this year. He missed the cut here last year but in his last three tournaments in 2013 he has a second, third, and ninth place finish.

Jason Dufner, Bubba Watson, Nick Watney (7:30am Thursday and 12:30pm Friday)- All three in this group are past Zurich Classic winners. Dufner is the defending champion, defeating Ernie Els in a playoff last year. Watson won the event in 2011 when he beat Webb Simpson in a playoff as well. Watney is the only one of the three to win in regulation when he won in 2007 by three shots.

Guan Tianlang, Henrik Norlander, Justin Bolli (1:40pm Thursday and 8:40am Friday)- The 14 year old Tianlang was the youngest ever to compete in and make the cut at the Masters and will look to do more of the same this week. He will be featured in an international pairing with Norlander from Stockholm, and Bolli from Greenville, South Carolina.

For a complete list of tee times and pairings visit www.pgatour.com.

Tiger Woods Wins Player of the Month Honors For March

Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam win Battle at BighornJupiter Island resident Tiger Woods won the PGA Tour’s Avis Player of the Month Honors for the month of March. Woods had quite the month of March. He entered two tournaments during the month, winning them both.

He won the WGC Cadillac Championship in Doral at the beginning of the month and then two weeks later he won the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill. He was even part of the team that won the Tavistock Cup the day after the event at Bay Hill. The Tavistock Cup is an exhibition event held right down the road from Bay Hill at Isleworth Golf and Country Club. While it is not a sanctioned PGA Tour event, it does involve PGA Tour players.

In addition to his multiple victories, Woods also moved to the top of two key lists. With his victories, he took over first in the FedEx Cup standings as well as returned to number one in the world golf rankings. For the world golf rankings, it was the first time Woods, a member at the Medalist Club, was at the top of the list since 2010.