TEEING OFF
Eddie Lack loves his golf, even though it doesn’t always love him back. The Vancouver Canucks’ starting goaltender recently talked about his game with The Sun’s Brad Ziemer
Q: Lots of hockey players seem to be really good golfers. Do you fall into that category?
A: No. I would describe myself as an average player. I wasn’t able to play last year because of my hip surgery and everything. Coming into this golf season I would probably say I stink. It will be very interesting to see how I play.
Q: What is it you enjoy most about the game?
A: For me, it’s about being able to spend time with friends and family. My Mom plays, so it’s a great opportunity to get out with her and a lot of my friends play as well. The older I get and the more I realize I am not going to play on the PGA Tour, the more I enjoy the social aspect of the game.
Q: Do you suff er from fi rst- tee jitters? Do you get nervous when you are starting a round and maybe have some people watching you hit your fi rst shot of the day?
A: No, I’m fi ne. It’s funny, often if I have a bad fi rst tee shot the rest of the round goes well. So sometimes I am almost hoping to hit that fi rst tee shot not so well.
Q: What is the strength of your game? What are you most comfortable doing on the golf course? A: I would say around the green. I am confi dent chipping with the wedge and feel like my short game is good. And I have just switched to a long putter so hopefully I can get my putting game going as well.
Q: You know those long putters are going to be illegal in a couple of years?
A: Yeah, I’m a cheater ( laughing). But like I said, I don’t think I am going to play on the PGA Tour.
Q: Sweden will always have Annika Sorenstam, but why has no Swedish male ever won a major championship?
A: I don’t know, but Henrik Stenson had a pretty good year last year when he won the FedEx Cup. I think before he retires he is probably going to win one.
Q: What is your career- best round?
A: I think I have two 78s and one 79, but occasionally I am also up in the triple- digit category.
Q: What do you fear most, facing T. J. Oshie on a shootout attempt or a 3- iron shot over water?
A: Defi nitely the 3- iron. Shootouts don’t scare me.
Q: Who would you say is the best golfer among your Canuck teammates? A: I’ll just talk about the Swedes. The Sedins are both really good. Jacob Markstrom plays a lot, too. He’s only been playing for two or three years but just got new clubs and is playing well.
Q: This is a pretty important question, Eddie. Who is the better player, you or Strombone1 ( Roberto Luongo)?
A: Me, for sure. He’s got two greasy hands that make it diffi cult to hold onto the club.