Q&A: NHL players talk about taking on TPC Sawgrass

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Editor's note: Jeff Schultz and Eric Fehr, who play for the NHL's Washington Capitals, left frigid D.C. during the All-Star Break to come to sunny Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and play THE PLAYERS Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass. Ironically, they had to endure a two-hour frost delay before teeing off on the course that hosts the PGA TOUR's signature event, THE PLAYERS Championship.

After their rounds, the two took time to talk to PGATOUR.COM. The 6-foot-6 Schultz is a defenseman and is in his second year playing for the Caps. Fehr, who is 6-4, plays right wing and is also in his second season in the NHL.

PGATOUR.COM: How did you play today?

PGA TOUR

Jeff Schultz.

SCHULTZ: The round started off a little shaky. I haven't golfed in probably about four months. I didn't know what to expect coming out here but after I got off the first couple of holes it was a lot of fun. I had a good group here and a good caddy helping us out. So you couldn't have asked for a better day.

PGATOUR.COM: What did you think about the 17th hole? I hear you had a 10-foot birdie putt there.

SCHULTZ: It wasn't as hard as I thought. But I guess if you've got a couple of stroke lead coming down the last day and everybody watching you, I can see why they call it one of the hardest holes in golf. It's a tough green to read. I was able to par it. It was the highlight of my day.

PGATOUR.COM: Who are the five best golfers in the NHL?

SCHULTZ: I couldn't tell you. I don't know. I guess on my team (they would be) Matt Bradley, Dave Steckel, assistant coach Dean Evason and I'd like to think, maybe myself. Those are about the only guys I know who play golf.

PGATOUR.COM: What's your handicap?

SCHULTZ: My handicap is probably a 10. I don't play enough to kind of have a handicap.

PGATOUR.COM: How did you get started playing golf?

SCHULTZ: My dad and my mom both golfed. It was something we wanted to do as a family. Every Sunday growing up we'd go to the golf course and take lessons. That's kind of how I got into it. I was able to be a junior member at a private club and that's how I got to be more serious about it.

PGATOUR.COM: What similarities do you see between golf and hockey?

SCHULTZ: You're both trying to hit a little thing into a hole or a net. But where hockey is a team game, golf is more of an individual game. In hockey you've got the fans screaming at you but in golf it's quiet. I enjoy doing them both.

PGATOUR.COM: I heard one of your teammates, Alex Ovechkin, made a hole-in-one on a practice swing. Is that true?

SCHULTZ: It was his first time ever golfing. It was at our Capitals Charity Classic golf tournament and he was a celebrity on a par 3. He was there all day. He got a hole-in-one the first time he ever played golf. It was one of those unique things.

PGATOUR.COM: Does he still brag about it?

SCHULTZ: Yeah, he does. He's such a gifted individual at all the sports he plays that something like that was bound to happen.

PGATOUR.COM: If you could play with any TOUR pro, who would it be?

SCHULTZ: Obviously, it would be Tiger woods, the best player in the world. I can see what all the pros go through now, especially on this course, it's pretty incredible. Maybe the conditions aren't the same that they play but now I appreciate how hard it is for them to play this course.

PGATOUR.COM: Who would be in your dream foursome?

SCHULTZ: Myself, my dad, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson -- to see both Tiger and Phil battle it out.

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PGATOUR.COM: How did you play today?

FEHR: Today was awesome. I played this course on video games a couple of times but I was a little bit better on the video game. But I had a lot of fun today.

PGATOUR.COM: What did you think of the 17th hole?

PGA TOUR

Eric Fehr.

FEHR: It was awesome. I ended up putting one in the water, just missed the green, but I ended up parring it after that. It's a very beautiful hole.

PGATOUR.COM: Care to reveal your score?

FEHR: I haven't added it up but I'm hoping it's under 100.

PGATOUR.COM: Who are the five best golfers in the NHL?

FEHR: I've heard Brett Hull's pretty good. Wayne Gretzky, Ben Clymer, he used to play for the Capitals, and then I don't know. There are quite a few guys who play golf (well), but I'm definitely not one of them.

PGATOUR.COM: Who's the best player on your team?

FEHR: Probably David Steckel. He's pretty close to scratch. I've played with him quite a bit.

PGATOUR.COM: Does he give you strokes?

FEHR: He doesn't give me strokes. He gives me tips, is what he does, and that's about it.

PGATOUR.COM: What similarities do you see between golf and hockey?

FEHR: I think it's kind of the swing -- a slap shot and a golf shot. To me I putt like I'm playing hockey. I put my hand on the bottom of the putter.

PGATOUR.COM: If you could play with any TOUR pro, who would it be?

FEHR: I really like Fred Couples and you'd have to put Tiger Woods in there. Maybe someone like Ernie Els or Vijay Singh, too.

PGATOUR.COM: What's your handicap?

FEHR: Probably between 15-20 -- not great

PGATOUR.COM: You're Canadian. Are you a Mike Weir fan?

FEHR: I'd love to play with Mike Weir. I've followed him. I've seen that he's won some big tournaments. For Canada, when we see him play, that's really great how he represents our country. He's really the only guy, him and Stephen Ames. He's a great player.

PGATOUR.COM: Have you ever played with Gretzky?

FEHR: No. I would pretty much be up for playing with anybody.

PGATOUR.COM: How did you get into the game?

FEHR: We have a lot of spare time in the summers. I just wanted something I could do away from hockey and this is definitely it. I was probably around 13-14 when I started playing. It's not that big in Canada because of the weather, but those four months of summer are a great time.