By Miles Liatos  Sports Radio KJR

Chris Williams is the player of the year in college golf after winning the Ben Hogan Award Monday. He is slated to be a PGA Tour player next year as well.

Here’s the kicker: he plays for the UW.

The Hogan Award is considered the Heisman of college golf by the golf community.

Williams joined Mitch today, and said he was excited to go the UW as a freshman in 2010. But it wasn’t a foregone conclusion he ever would. Mitch wondered how the UW, where the weather isn’t as golf-friendly as warmer-climate regions, could field the top player in college golf.

He also asked Williams where he would have played hadn’t he come to the UW.

“I don’t even want to think about it,” Williams said. “It was down to some places where I didn’t even really want to go.”

Williams said WSU was an option in where he might play. But that all changed after he met the UW golf head coach Matt Thurmond. Thurmond was the last coach Williams met with in his recruiting process.

“It was just an instant friendship,” Williams said.

Williams said he didn’t get a spot on the team initially. But Thurmond would eventually call the Moscow, Idaho native to tell him there was an opening for him, if he wanted it.

“I didn’t even hesitate. I took it right away,” Williams said.

The senior said it took awhile for him to get on the team because he didn’t believe in himself. But then-senior golfer and now-PGA Tour player Nick Taylor told Williams the UW needed him to win.

But Williams helped the UW do a lot more than win. He gave them the best player in college golf.

11:55 in

By Miles Liatos  Sports Radio KJR

Antoine Winfield had a chance to return to the Minnesota Vikings for more money than he may have received anywhere else, but Seattle was still the most appealing option.

Winfield joined Mitch today to talk about his role on the Seahawks. He signed a contract with the Seahawks after the Vikings had released the cornerback and wanted to bring him back at a lower price. Winfield’s salary called for the highest amount he would have ever received with the Vikings, so the team opted out. But Winfield said signing with Seattle was not about money at all.

“I just want to compete for a championship, and I thought my best opportunity was here with the Seahawks,” he said.

The Seahawks will provide Winfield an opportunity to do what he does best: defend the run. He posted a grade of 14.6 in run defense last year, 6.9 points better than the next-best run defender at Winfield’s position, according to Pro Football Focus.

Winfield agreed defending the run is his biggest strength.

“I’m going to leave the big guys (Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner) on the outside where they can run with the Calvin Johnsons and the Brandon Marshalls,” he said. “I’ll man the slot.”

At 36, Winfield is the oldest player on the Seahawks roster. The distinction has helped him to earn the nickname “O.G.” (Original Gangster) from his teammates.

But Winfield isn’t ready to concede to his critics he’s lost a step, he said.

“I’ve been very successful in this league for 14 years and I don’t see it stopping in my fifteenth.”

Check out the whole interview here: