Sam’s Commentary

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Hurns Deal Good All Around

It’s a “feel good” story for the Jaguars and their players. You can add anybody who ever overcame adversity to that list as well. Third-year wide receiver Allen Hurns, who made the team with his work ethic and performance as an undrafted free-agent signed a $40 million, 4-year contract with the team yesterday, rewarding him […]

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Jaguars TE Thomas: We can be better

You might think this time of year would be tedious for a veteran like Julius Thomas. But after missing last year’s training camp and trying to get involved with the Jaguars offense as the season progressed, he says these OTA’s for the Jaguars are important. “This is probably the biggest time of the year for […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Hale Irwin at WGV: Winners have the heart of a champion

During his time on the PGA Tour, Hale Irwin had a reputation as a fierce competitor. It helped him to three U.S. Open titles but it also meant he was respected and sometimes feared by his peers. Irwin shot a final round 69 at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham on Sunday, just a few days […]

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Jaguars Start OTA’s “Good not great.”

In his fourth year as the Jaguars head coach, Gus Bradley is pretty much done creating a culture. You could tell from his opening statement after the first OTA of 2016. “I would say a good start, not a great start,” is how he started. “I thought there were some things, but I kind of […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Ramsey Hurt: Jaguars Snake Bit?

About the first dozen people I told that Jalen Ramsey had a tear in his meniscus had the same reaction: “Come on! Really? Are the Jaguars snake bit?” It’s easy to draw that conclusion after last year’s injury to Dante Fowler and the just plain old bad luck the Jaguars have had in the last […]

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Day Wins THE PLAYERS 2016

It might have looked like a calm “walkabout” but Jason Day said it was anything but before the final round of the 2016 Players. “I told Ellie earlier this morning, this is probably the most nervous I’ve been before a tournament round,” he recounted after finishing at -15 and recording his seventh victory in his […]

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THE PLAYERS Round 2: Low Scores Again

It was a blistering pace that he couldn’t possibly keep up but it was clear Rory McIlroy brought his ‘A’ game for the second round of THE PLAYERS. Starting on the back nine where he’s had tremendous success, Mcilroy birdied the first four holes and went birdie-eagle at 15 and 16 to shoot 29 on […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Wilcox Hole In One At 17

For the 13th hole-in-one of his golfing career, PGA TOUR player Will Wilcox picked a high profile spot. A pitching wedge from 147 yards flew straight and true and rolled into the cup at the 17th hole at the TPC at Sawgrass Stadium Course on Friday. It’s the first ace at 17 in 14 years […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Play Suspended At THE PLAYERS in Rd. 2

There’s not a hard and fast rule on when to stop play because of weather on the PGA TOUR but they do have parameters. Tournament officials who are on the road each week at the various TOUR stops work with the on-site meteorologist to decided when to stop play. “It depends on the speed of […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Spite A Favorite, And Not Just For Golf

As I was walking by the front door of Sawgrass Country Club, I noticed Jordan Spieth sitting in his PGA Tour courtesy car, working on his phone. That’s when former player and current PGA Tour caddie (for Webb Simpson) Paul Tesori came up with his wife Michelle and their son. “Say hi to Uncle Jordan,” […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Day Early Leader At THE PLAYERS

On a day full of low scores perhaps it’s no surprise that the world’s number one player Jason Day grabbed the first round lead at THE PLAYERS, tying the course record at nine-under 63. “The temperature was hot, so the ball was going a long way, and when the ball goes a long way, you’re […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

First Round Players Notes

Here are some notes from the first round: Jason Day joins Greg Norman (1994) Fred Couples (1992) Roberto Castro (2013) and Martin Kaymer (2014) as a record holder for lowest round ever at the TPC Stadium Course during THE PLAYERS. Norman and Kaymer won the years they shot 63. Day’s previous low round at THE […]

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Formula To Win THE PLAYERS? None

In succession the number one player in the world, last week’s winner on the PGA Tour and the 2016 Masters Champion all stepped up the podium to address this year’s Players Championship. “This is the toughest field we have all year, It’s a big even and it’s getting bigger and bigger,” said world number one […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Fowler Still “Likes the Vibe”

You’ve probably seen the commercials for The Players featuring the defending champion Rickie Fowler where he talks about “Jax Beach, Ponte Vedra and going to Taco Lu.” Having spent time with Fowler since the beginning of his career I can tell you he’s authentic when he says stuff like that. His comfort level at the […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Mayor Curry To Run Gate River Run

As a politician, Mayor Lenny Curry is used to looking for a way to win. For the Gate River Run on Saturday he’ll have find a new definition for the word victory. “The streets are lined with people, I remember seeing beer stands last year,” Mr. Curry told me before a training run in his […]

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Furyk Returns Optimistic At PLAYERS

Forced out of action last September with a wrist injury, Ponte Vedra’s Jim Furyk thought he’d be back on the course before the first of the year. But on February 1st, still struggling to get healthy, Furyk announced he’d miss another three months because of surgery on his wrist. “This has been frustrating for me […]

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More Players At THE PLAYERS On Monday

For years, Monday was a moneymaking day on the PGA Tour. Not in competition, but rather at corporate outings, appearances and making money for charity. With the amount of money available each week at the regular Tour stops, some of that has disappeared. Monday’s at major championships are full of practice rounds and arrivals and […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Caldwell Takes Jack: “Risk To Be Great”

I ran into Atlanta Falcons General Manager Thomas Dimitrioff last year at the NFL owners meeting walking down a hallway to dinner. “Hey, I work with Dave Caldwell a lot and he said he learned a lot from you,” I said as we shook hands. “Be careful,” he responded, “He’s really smart.” Smart. And measured, […]

Jacksonville Sports News, Sam Kouvaris - SamSportsline.com

Jaguars’ Ramsey: Best Player In The Draft

Sticking to the plan and a little luck put the best player in front of the Jaguars in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Getting Jalen Ramsey with the 5th pick seemed like a pipe dream when the Jaguars did their own mock drafts. A scenario where Ramsey was still on the board […]

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Khan On Draft Day: “Don’t Be Impulsive”

It doesn’t take long for Shad Khan to figure out what he likes and doesn’t like when it comes to a business he owns. After his first draft day as owner of the Jaguars, he knew there were some things he didn’t like. “It wasn’t until the afternoon of the day of the draft that […]