FanHouse Richard Johnson

Working as a golf writer online, there are basically two rules you should know. First, anything Tiger Woods does is worth posting. Second, if isn't about Tiger, you damn well better mention the guy, because page views feed the kids, and Tiger equals page views.

The interesting part about that is, people get upset about it. "Why are you talking about Tiger?!" "Why not mention the leaders?"

As a golf fan first and writer second, I find myself reacting that same way to the television coverage. As I'm viewing the Players Championship right now, Tiger is seven shots back of the leader, Alex Cejka, yet we have seen every single swing Tiger has made. At that same time, I haven't seen but a handful of Ian Poulter shots, and he sits in second place alone.

TPC Sawgrass is supposed to be brutal. It's supposed to be nasty. For heaven's sake, it's supposed to be the fifth major! Well, unless the fairways and greens are soft and the wind doesn't blow.

Ben Crane, who started on the back nine in the first round of the Players Championship, turned at 3-under 33, but went on a tear from there, making five birdies in six holes on his way to a 7-under 65 and the first-round lead. Crane, who hasn't won on tour since 2005, noted after his round that the greens were perfect, "like putting on the hood of your car," and the low scores the first day indicated that.

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Tiger Woods has played in The Players Championship 12 times, and has never broken 70 in any of his first rounds. On a calm Thursday that gave up some very red numbers, Woods continued his trend of taking a mild approach, carding a 1-under 71 on an up-and-down day.

Woods' round was highlighted with an approach shot on the par-5 16th hole that ended up three feet away for a kick-in eagle. Tiger followed that up with a solid 9-iron on the 17th hole's island green to just outside 10 feet, but a nasty horseshoe left Woods with just another par.

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