Defending champ Funk takes some time for himself
Fred Funk was driving his 7-year-old Lexus with 30,000 miles on the odometer past the TPC at Sawgrass recently when he hit the brakes, popped his fist through the open sunroof and pointed at a banner hanging from a light pole. It was an image of Funk punching the air after sinking the winning putt at last year's Players Championship. The driver in the car behind Funk flashed his lights, acknowledging one of the most popular champions in the tournament's history.
Funk was on his way to dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House after spending a week at home being Fred Funk. That meant giving more time to others than to himself, which is what happens when you win the fifth biggest tournament in professional golf in your own backyard at age 48.
Most of last week was dedicated to fulfilling media requests, helping charities and reviewing business opportunities. He spent a day with The Golf Channel, a day with "PGA Tour Sunday," consulted with Arnold Palmer's design team and attended a board meeting for the J.T. Townsend Foundation, created to offset the financial needs of a local high school football player who was paralyzed making a tackle. Funk's Skins Game and Presidents Cup proceeds went to Townsend, but this is more than just throwing money at a medical hardship. He took Townsend to see the movie "16 Blocks" one night, sitting next to the 19-year-old in the handicapped section, helping him with his Slurpee. On Saturday Funk and wife, Sharon, hosted an all-day cookout for Townsend's family.
"He just hasn't given up on life," Funk said during lunch at Pablo Creek GC, the premier club in Greater Jacksonville, where he is a member. "They told him he'd never be able to talk, never be able to breathe without a respirator, never be able to move his arms. He's talking, breathing on his own, and he's got some mobility."
At the Stadium Course during the week, Funk watched Vijay Singh working 9 to 5, but it wasn't until Sunday afternoon at Pablo that Funk was finally able to concentrate on his golf. Although he turns 50 in June, he's still not certain what career path to take. Length is not an issue on the Champions Tour, but committing to that circuit is an admission of age. "Jack [Nicklaus] told him at the Presidents Cup that when it came time [to switch tours], he'd know," Sharon Funk said.
One hint came at Doral, when Funk drew Retief Goosen for the third round of the Ford Championship. Goosen, who played with Bubba Watson the day before, told Funk he was tired of being outdriven by 40 yards. Funk laughed. "Retief, you're 40 to 50 yards past me!" he said. "How do you think I feel?"
A slow start to the year and seeing what Loren Roberts has done on the Champions Tour is another tug toward easier money. But watching Luke Donald win the Honda Classic on a leaderboard full of non-bombers, gives him hope that his better days won't be spent from the senior tees, in front of senior crowds, playing for senior purses, although none other than Scott Verplank joked that he would caddie for him at the U.S. Senior Open at Prairie Dunes.
Last year's Players was proof that, on certain tracks, the power game is overrated. Funk won on the Stadium course by a stroke over Donald, Verplank and Tom Lehman, with Joe Durant two back. He credits Pete Dye for designing a course that has stood the test of time. "There's no substitute for length, it's a huge advantage," Funk said. "With that being said, there are still enough holes [at Sawgrass] where it's a position course and less a one-dimensional course where it's just bombs away."
This will be the last Players in March, which should suit Funk even better. May is a drier month in Ponte Vedra, meaning the Stadium course will be faster and accuracy at more of a premium. Based on what Funk saw of the course last week, some of those traits should be evident this year. "It's playing a lot firmer," Funk said. "Hopefully, Mother Nature allows it to continue."
Renovations to the course and a razing of the clubhouse will commence after next week's tournament. Five of the seven fairways on the front side have already been recapped with sand, so if it rains during Players week, as it seemingly does every year, drainage will be less of an issue. Funk is also looking forward to the new Champions locker room, slated to open in 2008.
But what he's not looking forward to is the challenge of 7,455 yards at the Masters and some of the other bomber's courses on the schedule. "It would be nice if they had a special locker room in Augusta for just making the cut," he said. "I'd feel pretty proud of it, too."
Tim Rosaforte is a senior writer for Golf World magazine
