WATCH: Tiger Woods pulls Kevin Na’s leg in memorable Players moment
Tiger Woods and Kevin Na shared one of the greatest light-hearted moments in The Players’ history in 2019.
Na drew a few chuckles for the enthusiastic retrieval of his ball after making a putt on the 17th at TPC Sawgrass.
Woods just couldn’t resist pulling Na’s leg moments later as he comically rushed to retrieve his ball.
The players shared a good laugh about it, though it probably helped that neither of them was really troubling the leading pack at the time.
Next March, The Players will be contested for the 51st time.
Last year’s champion, Scottie Scheffler, finished five strokes clear of runner-up Tyrrell Hatton after shooting 69 in the last round to finish at 271 (−17). It was Scheffler’s first Players Championship title.
After joining LIV Golf, defending champion Cameron Smith was suspended by the PGA Tour, making him the first player not to defend the title since 2014. Smith was among several players who were not allowed to compete due to their LIV Golf deals. The runners-up and third-place finishers from 2022, Anirban Lahiri and Paul Casey, were among the other ineligible players.
Scheffler remains one of the players to watch on the PGA Tour in 2024 and will be a danger at all the big events.
He has targeted continued improvement despite his recent successes.
“I’m just hoping to improve,” Scheffler said after winning The Players.
“I’m just trying to get a little bit better at a time, not overthink things and fortunately, I’ve been able to see some good results and enjoy some wins.
“I think I’m just comfortable with where my game is. I feel like I’m improving. I’m definitely learning more and more the more I get into contention. I would say I maybe am a bit more comfortable knowing what I need to do.
“I get excited for a good hard test. I feel like that I can find a way to make pars and hang in there. I like the challenge of harder golf courses. This tournament feels like a major championship to me.”
Scheffler might hope to pace himself a little better through the 2024 season to mount a serious Major challenge.
“It’s a really hard sport. I had put myself in a position all year to where I had a chance to win the FedExCup, and I wasn’t able to get it done. By the time I got home, I was worn out,” he said.
“I was mentally and physically drained, emotionally drained. East Lake was pretty challenging for me to handle.
“It was obviously very sad and hard and I didn’t expect things to finish that way. But the hard times make the good times that much sweeter.
“I never really thought that much of myself. I always just tried to stay in my own little bubble. I just keep trying to get a little bit better. I never really looked too far ahead.
“I did a good job of being a good junior, then I was a pretty good college player, then I played good on the Korn Ferry Tour.
“I always believed that I could make it out here and play well on the PGA Tour but I never expected it. It’s kind of hard to describe the feeling.”
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