Phony Tiger Quotes Behind Him, the Real Ben Crane Stands Up

SAN DIEGO -- Ben Crane finally had an opportunity to speak for himself.

That was something new.

The 33-year-old PGA Tour veteran with two career wins shot a 7-under 65 Thursday in the opening round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines. It earned Crane more attention than anything he has done since being quoted during December's PGA Tour ripping Tiger Woods as "a phony and a fake."

Even better news: Crane actually did shoot 65 to trail first-round leader Scott Piercy by one shot. That's more than can be said of his reported comments about Woods.

The harsh words attributed to Crane last month by Life & Style magazine, penned by what the publication called an "experienced freelance reporter,'' were never spoken. The "face-to-face interview" conducted in West Palm Beach, Fla., that also included similar criticism of Woods' personal life by Charles Warren, never took place.

Crane is certain of it.

"They said they interviewed me at tour school, " he said. "Thankfully, I was not there."

The problem with public life, however, is not always what you say. It's what people think you said. And Crane, one of the tour's most religious, mild-mannered members, woke up one morning at home in Texas to find himself a five-alarm golf-news headline maker.

A phone call from agent Tommy Limbaugh sounded the alert.

"Interesting situation we have here," Limbaugh told Crane.

"It was obviously a huge surprise when Tommy called and said, 'There's a quote,' " Crane said. "I told him, 'That's funny, I haven't given an interview in five weeks.' "

For those who really, really want to know what it was Crane did not say, here is the excerpt:

"This is no surprise to anyone who knows Tiger," Crane tells Life & Style. "He's a phony and a fake and he can't retain that squeaky-clean endorsement deal any longer."

Crane also believes Elin may have known about Tiger's other women.

"She's no fool," Crane said, adding that perhaps Elin "turned a blind eye because of the money and the kids and the lifestyle he provides."

For a guy who calls himself "a boring interview," it was a heck of a quote.

"It was a surprise for sure," he said. "But what I didn't realize about the situation was just because you didn't say it doesn't mean that I don't need to try to put out the fire and let people know."

Through PGA Tour headquarters, Crane sent an explanation to Woods' camp. Contacts at golf's more traditional news outlets were called.

"I didn't say it. My friends knew I didn't say it. I really don't run my mouth on things like that. It didn't actually bother me, but I did want to do my best to put out the fire."
- Ben Crane "You know what, because I didn't say it, actually it didn't bother me that much," Crane said. "I was like, these guys, whoever it is, made this up. I can understand if I said it, it might be frustrating or hurtful that now all of a sudden it's all over the national news. I didn't say it. My friends knew I didn't say it. I really don't run my mouth on things like that. It didn't actually bother me, but I did want to do my best to put out the fire."

The magazine did release a statement. "Our reporter spoke with two golfers who presented themselves as Ben Crane and Charles Warren," it read. "We are taking these claims very seriously and investigating further."

An apology was offered to Crane and a retraction promised. But the best thing Crane figures he can do now is make some real news.

Thursday was a good start.

Crane had eight birdies, including putts of 30 feet on the first hole and an eight-footer on the 18th. In the tournament that's played on two different golf courses, he took advantage of opening on the less-difficult North design to get a running start.

"This is a place where on the North course you are going to make more birdies," he said. "The South course is a beast. Every hole is long. You hit a lot of rescues and 5-woods onto the greens. So it's nice to come over here and get a good round started, and then go concentrate on the South."

Says who?