Smylie Kaufman excited to host ‘Happy Hour’ at TPC Sawgrass | Live From The Players | Golf Channel

Smylie Kaufman discusses his anticipation for hosting Friday’s ‘Happy Hour’ alongside Kevin Kisner from the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass. #GolfChannel #LiveFromThePlayers #SmylieKaufman
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Smylie Kaufman excited to host ‘Happy Hour’ at TPC Sawgrass | Live From The Players | Golf Channel
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CHAMPIONSHIP. THE FIRST TRUE STADIUM COURSE DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE OVERALL ON-SITE FAN EXPERIENCE. I’LL TELL YOU SOMETHING ELSE THAT HAS IMPROVED THE OVERALL ON-SITE FAN EXPERIENCE. THAT IS THE ADDITION OF MR. SMYLIE COFFMAN TO THE NBC BROADCAST. HE’S BEEN A COMPLETE BREATH OF FRESH AIR.

HE IS BRINGING IN YOUNGER AUDIENCE, AND IT IS EXCITING, HIS COMMENTARY. I’LL TELL YOU WHAT. HE IS EVEN REUNITED WITH MR. KEVIN KISNER LIVE THIS WEEK FROM THE 17th HOLE FOR ANOTHER ONE OF HIS WHAT IS BECOMING QUITE THE HAPPY HOUR.

SO, SMYLIE, SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON THE DESK. I KNOW YOU’VE GOT A BUSY WEEK. YOU JOINED US YESTERDAY AS WELL. SO FAR WHAT DOES THE LAST THREE DAYS LOOK LIKE FOR YOU HERE. >> JUST CHECKING OUT THE GOLF COURSE, TALKING TO THE PLAYERS.

I THINK EVERY PLAYER, WHEN THEY GET TO TPC SAWGRASS AND TO THESE FACILITIES, IT’S THE BEST WEEK OF THE YEAR TO WORK ON YOUR GAME AND TO GET EXCITED ABOUT THE WEEK AHEAD. AS YOU MENTIONED WITH THE HAPPY HOUR, GOT MY RUNNING MATE, KEVIN KISNER BACK.

SO, DONE A LITTLE PREPARATION FOR 17 ON FRIDAY. WE GOT OUR WORK CUT OUT FOR US. WE SET A PRETTY HIGH BAR OF WHAT PEOPLE TO EXPECT FROM US TOO. SO, WE’LL SEE IF WE CAN LIVE UP TO THOSE EXPECTATIONS. >> WE DID ZERO PREP LAST TIME.

WE DIDN’T KNOW WHO WAS COMING THROUGH WHEN THEY CAME THROUGH. WE WERE JUST LIKE, ALL RIGHT. COMING THROUGH. >> SOMETIMES THAT’S THE BEST TELEVISION, MAN. >> I TELL YOU, IT WAS — YOU KNOW, WE IMMEDIATELY HAD A PRETTY GOOD CHEMISTRY. I’VE ALWAYS BEEN VERY CLOSE WITH KEVIN KISNER.

HE’S VERY EASY TO GET ALONG WITH. ONE OF THE MOST-LIKED PGA TOUR PLAYERS OUT THERE. SO, THERE WAS NO SURPRISE THAT HE WAS EASY TO, KIND OF, PLAY OFF OF ON 16 THAT DAY. >> WHERE ARE YOU GUYS GOING TO BE LOCATED OUT HERE? DO YOU KNOW EXACTLY?

>> I’M TOLD ABOUT 128 YARDS AWAY, KIND OF, RIGHT ABOVE THE BEND. SO, IT’S PROBABLY THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE, I’D SAY, MARK. >> IS EVERYBODY GOING TO HAVE TO STOP — YOU SAID LAST WEEK EVERYBODY HAS TO WAVE TO YOU. DOES EVERYBODY HAVE TO STOP NOW?

>> I’LL ATTELL YOU WHO’S NOT GOG TO STOP, THE GUY WHO HITS IN THE WATER. >> DROP ZONE. >> THEY’RE STOPPING IN THE DROP ZONE. THE CADDIES WILL HAVE THEIR HANDS IN THEIR YARDAGE BOOKS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW FAR AND AWAY THAT SHOT WILL PLAY.

LUCKILY AS A PLAYER HERE, I NEVER HIT IT IN THE WATER, SO I DON’T KNOW WHERE THE DROP ZONE IS. >> I’VE ONLY HIT ONE BALL IN MY TIME IN THE WATER HERE. BUT I CAN PROMISE YOU THAT HAPPY HOUR CAN VERY QUICKLY TURN INTO

UNHAPPY HOUR, VERY QUICKLY ON THIS HOLE. >> THAT’S THE ONLY THING I’M CONCERNED ABOUT FOR YOU, BROTHER, DOWN THERE. HEY, SO WHAT ARE THE PLAYERS SAYING? YOU TALK TO A BUNCH OF PLAYERS. WHAT ARE THEY SAYING ABOUT THE CONDITIONS AND WHAT’S GOING ON

OUT THERE SO FAR EARLY THIS WEEK? >> YOU KNOW, SINCE THE CHANGE TO MARCH, I WOULD SAY ONE OF THE BIG QUESTION MARKS IS HOW FIRM THE GREENS ARE GOING TO PLAY. I THINK THAT WAS THE ONE BIG THING I’VE HEARD FROM PLAYERS IS

THAT THE GREENS ARE STILL A LITTLE ON THE SOFT SIDE. THEY ALSO SAID THIS IS THE FASTEST THEY’VE SEEN THE GREENS ON A MONDAY AND A TUESDAY AND A WEDNESDAY TO THIS POINT. SO, WE HAVE THE GREEN SPEEDS UP, FIRMNESS ISN’T QUITE THERE.

YOU KIND OF EXPECT THAT TO CHANGE AS THE WEEK GOES ON, THE SUN SUCKING THE MOISTURE OUT OF THE GREENS. BUT ALSO A LITTLE BIT OF ROUGH ON SOME OF THE HOLES, LIKELEFT OF 4 IS JUST REALLY BRUTAL. 14’S ALWAYS HAD SOME OF THE

WORST ROUGH ON THE GOLF COURSE. >> ON THE RIGHT SIDE. >> YEAH, ON THE RIGHT. AND HONESTLY, TOO, ONE OF THE THINGS WHEN I COME BACK HERE AND I SEE THE GOLF COURSE, THE PINE STRAW IS VERY AUGUSTA-LIKE IN HOW DEEP AND THICK IT IS, WHERE

YOUR FOOTING GETS ALL SCREWED UP. >> IT’S CUSHY. >> IT’S CUSHIONY. >> YOU CAN HIT A TON OF SHOTS IN THE PINE STRAW BUT YOU CAN ALSO SLIP AND HIT IT 50 YARDS BEHIND YOU. >> THIS IS A LEGENDARY LAYOUT THAT PETE DYE PUT TOGETHER.

IT IS NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED. A LOT OF PLAYERS COME OUT HERE WHEN THEY MAKE THEIR FIRST COUPLE OF APPEARANCES AND THEY DON’T REALLY LIKE IT. IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO LEARN THIS COURSE. HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR THIS CHALLENGE? >> IT DEFINITELY IS.

IT STARTS OFF THE TEE. YOU JUST HAVE TO BE SO COMMITTED TO YOUR TARGETS OUT THERE BECAUSE SO MANY OF THE HOLES CALL FOR YOU TO HIT A FADE. THE NEXT ONE CALLS FOR YOU TO HIT A DRAW OFF THE TEE. SO, YOU HAVE TO HIT ALL THESE

TYPES OF DIFFERENT SHOTS AND YOU CAN’T HAVE ANY DOUBTS. I THINK THAT’S THE ONE COOL THING ABOUT THIS COURSE, THAT PETE DYE MAKES YOU CHALLENGE THE CORNERS OF THE DOGLEG. IF YOU’RE ABLE TO CHALLENGE THE CORNERS, YOU’RE GIVEN A BETTER ANGLE INTO THE GREEN AND A

BETTER SCORING OPPORTUNITY. SO, I WOULD SAY THAT A LOT OF THESE GUYS ON MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME JUST VISUALIZING THE SHOTS THEY HAVE TO HIT, WHAT CLUB IT’S GOING TO BE, AND JUST EITHER HITTING A DRAW AND MAKING SURE

IT DOESN’T CROSS THAT LINE OR NOT BAILING OUT. BECAUSE THAT’S THE ONE THING PLAYERS DON’T WANT TO DO IS GET OVER THESE SHOTS AND HAVE THAT MOMENT OF DOUBT AND BAIL. SO, THEY WANT TO BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT THEY’RE GOING TO BE

ABLE TO SHAPE IT THE PROPER WAY. >> SO, WERE YOU SUPERSTITIOUS AT ALL IN YOUR PREPARATION. YOU NEVER HIT A BALL IN THE WATER HERE. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS DID YOU EVER PRACTICE A SHOT FROM THE DROP AREA. >> MARK, I DON’T EVEN KNOW WHERE

THE DROP AREA IS. THE SAME THING GOES FOR, LIKE, 12 AT AUGUSTA. NOBODY EVER PRACTICES OVER THERE TO THE RIGHT BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENS IN THEIR PRACTICE ROUND IF YOU GO OVER THERE AND DUMP THAT IN THE WATER, THEN YOU’RE GOING TO BE THINKING ABOUT THAT.

SO, THAT’S SOMETHING YOU NEED TO DO WHEN, YOU KNOW, IT’S NOT A TOURNAMENT WEEK. YOU COME HERE A LITTLE EARLY, HIT SOME SHOTS FROM THERE, MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS. I DON’T THINK YOU WANT TO PUT THRE