Rice blog: Enjoying interactions with players

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Chris Condon/PGA TOUR

Jerry Rice is soaking up the full tournament-host experience, especially talking to appreciative players.

Editor's note: Pro Football Hall of Famer Jerry Rice will file several blogs this week as he plays in the Fresh Express Classic at TPC Stonebrae.

April 16, 2011 -- After Round 3

Not being at the golf course today, I am looking forward to getting back out there Sunday and join the fans watching the competition. To be the tournament host of an event like this, you have to enjoy talking to the fans, and doing some interviews. That's all part of it. For me, this is a time commitment to compete and be the tournament host, but, I love interacting with people, so for me this is natural.

I think this is a great event for the players on the Nationwide Tour, too. So many players have come up to me, thanking me for helping bring recognition to them and to the Nationwide Tour. The guys have been just so appreciative, saying they are glad that I am out here to maybe help their Tour.

It's been fun to hang out with them. They bring footballs for me to sign and things like that. And that's what it's all about. The relationship I have had with the players is so positive.

I have so much respect for the players on the Nationwide Tour. There are so many who are such great players, the PGA TOUR can't bring them up fast enough. I can't wait to see these guys move up to the next level.

April 15, 2011 -- After Round 2

I could not be happier with the first two days of the tournament, even though I really I wanted to have a better score than last year. It was great to have so many people come out and support the tournament, it's going to be fun being around all weekend. (Scorecard).

This year I did so many things better than last year, even though my score does not show it. I was more patient, I worked my way around the course and I made some putts when I was not striking the ball that well. Last year I could not do that. And for nine holes today, I was only 2 over. I was pretty happy with that.

It's great to have people talking about the Nationwide Tour and the players out here. I think one of my shots yesterday made SportsCenter. I'm not sure why ... but that is still great for these guys out her on this tour. They deserve recognition.

Garrett Sapp, who I played with these two days, has such a beautiful swing. I can see why he is tied for first place. He was just poetry in motion. I think he has a chance to win it all. He controls the ball so well. If he had made a couple of more putts today, he really would have gone low.

This week has been fun to be around the players and hang with them. It has been so positive.

April 14, 2011 -- After Round 1

Two holes destroyed me. Absolutely destroyed me. Making that 8 (on the par-4 1st hole, my 10th of the round) was devastating. But I wanted to pull it together and I did, making a birdie on the next hole, the par 3 (Scorecard).

It's so funny, because when we teed off, I was not striking the ball well, but I was finding ways to get up and down. Then I made a birdie (at No. 15) and started to think, 'I might do OK today.'

I didn't let myself think about making the cut; I didn't go that far. But I stuck my chest out a little bit, because I thought I had gone through the worst of it already and was able to save par, not striking the ball well. And I was 1 under par.

Then reality hit me hard. I did struggle, but I fought through it. I stayed focused. I had some putts lip out coming in, but that had to do with my speed. I'm learning. On the last hole, when I missed my birdie putt, I didn't rush. I wanted to finish on a good note. I took my time and gathered my composure. I feel better about that.

I came back and by the end of the round, I found something -- I am not going to say what it was -- and started striking the ball better again. It would have been great to play well and shoot a good score, but it wasn't meant to be today.

My goal is to come out tomorrow and strike the ball well. You have highs and you have lows. Today I had three holes that got me, otherwise I managed pretty well.

April 13, 2011

I am excited about getting an exemption to play in the tournament again. I learned so much last year. I made some mistakes, but I was a rookie. I am a better golfer this year. I have a better perspective of what to expect this year.

When a guy is blowing it by you 15 or 20 yards, it can be an ego thing. But now I know that the key is to just play the golf course and not the guys you are playing with. I know that this is what they do for a living, and they do it every day.

What I did was a team sport. If a quarterback throws me a bad pass, it's not my fault. Playing in a Nationwide Tour event is totally different. When you step up to that tee, it's just you. If I hit an errant drive off the tee, it belongs to me. It's all about me and my performance on given day, good or bad. But the one thing that is the same, is that I love the competition.

Watching those guys practice from 7 in the morning, and then until dark is impressive. But I have other things going on and don't get a chance to work on my game every day. I don't have a professional looking at my swing all the time.

Last year, I played too much during the (tournament) week. You need to practice, go out and play, and then come back and correct yourself. My approach has been smarter this year. I practiced more.

With the pro-am today it's exciting to have all the players coming in and helping us raise money for all of our charities.