QBE Shootout: Country music star Cole Swindell plays in pro-am, plus other notes from Tiburón Golf Club

NAPLES, Fla. — Country music star Cole Swindell, one of the headliners for Saturday’s Live Fest at Tiburón Golf Club, played with Ryan Palmer and Ian Poulter the last two days in the pro-am of the QBE Shootout.

“It’s awesome. I love golf, love music and to be able to be down here and do both is pretty cool,” Swindell said.

“It’s fun,” Palmer said. “I’ve known him for a little while. We have mutual friends. He’s a fun guy to be around. Obviously, he’s one of the greats out there in the country music world. I love listening to his music and he’s a lot of fun to be around.”

Swindell got the other end of the spectrum with Poulter, who isn’t a country music fan, but realizes the popularity of the genre.

“It’s all good,” Poulter said. “He’s a good fun guy and we had a great group.

“I don’t listen to much country singing, but I know how big of a star he is.”

Jason Day returns

Day won with Cameron Tringale in 2014, but Day withdrew before the 2015 event, and is making his first appearance since.

“It’s great, I’m looking forward to playing with Marc (Leishman),” said Day, of his fellow Aussie. “It’s going to be a great week.”

Day said he’s feeling good after dealing with back issues and having a noninvasive procedure.

“I’ve been working very hard on my body,” Day said. “I feel like I’m doing the right things right now, so I’m able to play tournaments and not feel like I can’t get through it. I’m happy about that.”

Billy on Billy

Billy Horschel, a former University of Florida golfer, always follows the Gators closely, especially the football team. Dan Mullen was recently fired as head coach, and former Louisiana coach Billy Napier was named to replace him.

“I think it’s tough, obviously Dan’s a good buddy and a family we’re friends with,” Horschel said. “It sucks he got fired, and at the end of the day, things happen, and you have to move on. I don’t know Billy Napier but I have some people who are friends with him and know him very well, and speak very highly of him, and the ability that he is and the way he goes about things, they believe it’s going to be pretty special. We’ll wait and see. Hopefully, it is.”

On TV

Steve Sands will provide play-by-play, with Curt Byrum as the analyst for Golf Channel’s and NBC’s coverage beginning Friday, with Arron Oberholser in the tower, and Jerry Foltz and Karen Stupples as on-course analysts.

Friday’s coverage will be on Golf Channel from noon to 4 p.m. ET. On Saturday, the tournament will be on Golf Channel from 1 to 3 p.m. ET, and then NBC and Peacock from 3 to 5 p.m. ET. Sunday’s coverage is from noon to 2 p.m. ET on Golf Channel, and 2 to 4 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock.