Golf psychologists are quick to say that the sport isn’t a game of perfect, and there are a whole lot of other adjectives – like fair – that they could add to the list. However, more often than not, things have a way of evening out.
Such was the case earlier this week with Boo Weekley’s wind-delayed victory at the Verizon Heritage in Hilton Head, S.C. A tobacco-chewing, good ol’ boy from Florida, earlier this season Weekley had the Honda Classic in his back pocket, but missed a 3-foot putt on the 72nd hole that would have clinched victory. He eventually lost – on a Monday – in a four-man playoff.
Last weekend, high winds necessitated another fifth-day finish. Weekley took a three-shot lead but it appeared he would blow another tournament when he bogeyed the 16th hole and found trouble on 17. However, unlike a month ago, this time the golf gods smiled upon the 33-year-old. Weekley chipped in for par from 40 feet, then on 18 he chipped in again, this time from 36 feet.
“I don’t know how often that’s happened out here on the Tour for a win, but it was pretty dramatic for me,” Weekley said after his first career triumph. As for the idea of coming back from his Honda debacle, he added, “It never stopped me from thinking I was going to win because I knew in my heart I was going to win. It was just a matter of time of getting – I reckon my stars lined up in the sky. That putt, still to this day, that 3-footer, they still gives me a little bit of a jitter.”
With the win, Weekley becomes the first player to take advantage of the change instituted two weeks ago at the Masters – winners of PGA Tour events with full FedEx Cup points allotments earn automatic invitations to Augusta. It also puts Weekley one step closer to catching former Milton High School teammate Heath Slocum, who has a pair of tour wins.
In another of golf’s little ironies, the week after Weekley lost at the Honda, Slocum missed out on a chance to win the PODS Championship – by blowing a 4-foot putt that would have put him into a playoff.
Grand opening
Annika Sorenstam won’t be playing competitive golf for at least a month while she recovers from a ruptured and a herniated disc in her back, however, the LPGA star was nevertheless in a decidedly upbeat mood Monday at the grand opening of her Annika Academy in Orlando, Fla.
“Right now, when I really have nothing to do, I think I’m going to be here quite a bit,” Sorenstam said when asked how often she’ll be at the facility, which combines the resort and instruction experiences. “I told my staff because they were all worried because of my injury. I said, ‘I think you need to be worried, because now I can really keep any eye on you.”‘
Asked if her friend Tiger Woods might be paying a visit, Sorenstam laughed.
“I would love to see him come here and use the equipment, see him swing here,” she said. “I don’t think he has too much to learn, but maybe he will come for the experience.”
Guests – like Woods – who want to get their instruction from the academy’s founder will have to pay a premium price – $12,000 for three days. The non-Sorenstam tariff is $1,250 a day, including lodging.
As for the injury, Sorenstam is hoping to avoid surgery; she’s scheduled to begin rehab this week and will have an MRI exam in about 10 to 14 days.
“Then, we’ll have a much clearer picture,” Mark Steinberg, Sorenstam’s agent, said Monday. “Your guess is as good as ours. We’re hoping that this is a four-to-six week process, and she’s back, but everybody reacts differently, as you all know, to rehab and medication.”
Anthony Cotton can be reached at 303-954-1292 or acotton@denverpost.com.
SPOTLIGHT: CURTIS STRANGE AND HUBERT GREEN
Strange, Green gain Hall entry
Curtis Strange and Hubert Green were selected Wednesday into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Strange, a two-time U.S. Open winner and former Ryder Cup captain, was picked on the regular ballot. Green, who won 19 times, including the 1977 U.S. Open and 1985 PGA Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club, was added by the veterans committee. “On my golfing journey, I had no idea how high I could climb,” Green said. “To be inducted into the Hall of Fame is reaching the summit.” There were no international players initially selected for this year’s class, however more inductees will likely be added at the U.S. and British Opens. In addition, LPGA star Se Ri Pak will have met the entry requirements later this season.
Laid-back
“I don’t keep up with golf. I call them and they say, ‘All right, you’re in this tournament,’ and I just go and play – call my agent and say, ‘I need a ride over here, I need a ride over there.’ That’s how I go about it.”
Boo Weekley, who won the Verizon Heritage on Monday for his first PGA Tour victory
THIS WEEK:
PGA Tour
Zurich Classic of New Orleans, TPC Louisiana; Avondale, La.
What’s up: Speaking of fantastic finishes, last year Chris Couch chipped in on the 72nd hole for his first career win.
LPGA Tour
Idle
Champions Tour
Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, The Westin Savannah Harbor Resort and Spa; Savannah, Ga.
What’s up: There are three tournaments within the tournament – a team competition for super seniors and youngsters (ages 50-59) as well as the regular stroke play event.
Keeping tabs
To be selected into the World Golf Hall of Fame, nominees must receive 70 percent of the vote; here’s a look at how some other notable players fared:
Player Percent
Craig Wood 57
Lanny Wadkins 50
Doug Ford 30
Bob Charles 23
Tony Lema 23
Ken Venturi 23
Mark O’Meara 19
Macdonald Smith 18
Fred Couples 17
Davis Love III 16
John Daly 2
David Toms 1
