Defending Players Championship champion Fred Funk stands with Major Forbes of Fletcher, the school's top player. (photo by Chuck Adams)

Fred Funk, defending champion at this week's The Players Championship, advises young golfers to “stay grounded” and to think outside the links.

“Believe deep down that there is a purpose for you in life,” Funk said is some of his advice to young golfers.

“Don't think that you are defined by your golf game.”

Funk was at center stage Wednesday at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) breakfast at the Sawgrass Marriott, where he and Larry Moody, PGA Tour chaplain, fielded questions from the audience.

The audience numbered about 800 - the vast majority of whom were young golfers, including several players from the Nease High golf team.

Golfers and coaches from schools in Northeast Florida and southern Georgia attended the event, which is held every year the week of The Players Championship.

The annual event is the FCA's biggest outreach breakfast, Matt Estrin, FCA golf director of camps, said in a telephone interview.

At the breakfast, Funk and Moody worked together using a question and answer dialog to address the young golfers.

“Golf really parallels life a lot. There are good and bad days in golf and in life; and you can learn a lot about yourself,” Funk told the gathering.

“Stay grounded. . . . We're not perfect but God loves us.”

In a telephone interview before the breakfast, Funk said he has been involved with Fellowship of Christian Athletes' Bible Studies and considers Moody to be one of his mentors.

Several of the PGA Tour pros sat at the tables with the young players at Wednesday's event.

Among the pros in attendance, in addition to Funk, were Tom Lehman, Calvin Peete, Zach Johnson, Stewart Cink, Doug Barron and Wally Armstrong.

Every young golfer who attended received a hat and a pass to attend Wednesday's practice round.

For information about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Golf Ministry, call 273-9541.