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THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

SEVENTH ANNUAL PGA TOUR PLAYER SURVEY

SI recently polled 72 PGA Tour players to gauge their feelings on issues involving the state of the game and other matters. Some players offered - under the cloak of anonymity - some choice one-liners (page 44).

Tour commissioner Tim Finchem is paid $5.2 million a year. Which best describes your feelings?

Overpaid - 30%

Appropriate - 32%

Underpaid - 3%

Don't care - 35%

How would you describe Kelly Tilghman's two-week suspension by Golf Channel?

Appropriate - 43%

Not long enough - 13%

Too long - 7%

Cop-out by Golf Channel - 37%

If the USGA bans U-grooves, will you sacrifice distance in favor of accuracy off the tee?

Yes - 25%

No - 75%

Who is the nicest Tour wife? (Can't choose your own.)

Richelle Baddeley (Aaron) - 16%

Amanda Byrd (Jonathan) - 13%

Tied for third: Lisa (Stewart) Cink, Mia (Jesper) Parnevik, Sandy (Kenny) Perry, Melissa (Tom) Lehman

Do you understand how FedEx Cup points are distributed?

Yes - 68%

No - 32%

"But I couldn't explain it."

Would you rather be paired with Tiger or Phil?

Woods - 87%

Mickelson - 13%

Is your life as a professional golfer more or less fun than you thought it would be when you were in high school?

More - 76%

Less - 24%

"More fun, less glamorous."

If you went head-to-head against Tiger every week, what would your winning percentage be?

100% - 3%

50% - 12%

40% - 6%

30% - 6%

25% - 8%

20% - 21%

15% - 4%

10% - 26%

1-5% - 11%

0% - 3%

Will Tiger win a Grand Slam (in one calendar year) before his career is over?

Yes - 52%

No - 48%

"It's the only thing he won't get."

Do you know any pro golfers who have used performance-enhancing drugs?

Yes - 6%

No - 94%

Should Tour players be allowed to wear shorts?

Yes - 32%

No - 68%

"Have you seen some of those legs?"

Who is the best caddie on Tour? (Can't choose your own.)

Steve Williams (Tiger Woods) - 52%

Jim MacKay (Phil Mickelson) - 15%

Others receiving multiple votes: Damon Green (Zach Johnson), Eric Larson (Marc Calcavecchia), Alistair Matheson (Geoff Ogilvy), Tony Navarro (Adam Scott), Fanny Sunesson (Henrik Stenson), John Wood (Hunter Mahan), "anyone who puts up with Vijay" (currently Chad Reynolds)

Who's the biggest gossip on Tour?

Caddies - 27%

Sharon (Fred) Funk - 15%

Kimberly (Brian) Gay - 15%

Charles Warren - 11%

"No way am I answering that."