One of the enjoyable parts of media access at events like the PGA Championship is the insight you gain while sitting in player news conferences.  Today, Tiger Woods and Padraig Harrington commented on a light moment on the course during the opening round of the 91st PGA.

On the 11th hole, Alavaro Quiros from Spain nearly reached the monsterous 600+ yard par 5 in two shots.  He happened to roll it up while Woods, Harrington and Beem were on the green.  Quiros hit driver and then driver again off the deck to roll it up to the front of the green in two.  His shot wasn’t close to hitting anyone, so not only were the players not concerned, they were truly amused by the length of the young Spaniard.

“That’s just stupid long, isn’t it,” Woods bemused recalling the shot.  ”To hit it that far into the wind is phenomenal. It’s just absolutely phenomenal.  I used to be able to move the ball, not anymore.  I just plod my way around, shoot 67,” the 33 -year old joked.

Padraig Harrington, who was in the interview room after Tiger provided an even more entertaining reaction.  Harrington first thought it was a player chipping out, hitting a third shot.  After asking around he found out it was Quiros’s second shot.

“There couldn’t be anybody playing the game competitively who could have knocked it up there on 2 today. It was phenomenal.”  Harrington went on and said, “we were joking between ourselves that we actually have it in the bag and we don’t take it out, but I don’t think that’s true.”

Woods finished with the clubhouse lead at 5 under par, Harrington trailed by one at -4, Beem got around in 71, 1 under par.  Oh, yeah, Quiros?  He’s at 3 under par after the first round.

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