The Players

Sergio Finds "The Love"



Date Written: May 12, 2008



SV Fantasy Pool players Jan Jones and Doug B. get off the deck and Mike Mundell leaps from fifteenth to third in the standings by their stellar pick of Sergio to win at The Players. It was the biggest payoff of the year....$1,710,000.


To paraphrase my plumber, my Cink went in the toilet! So...what else is new?

For the rest of the planet, it was terrific TV. Personally, I was rooting for the underdog; he of dippy, guided swing, Paul Goydos. Paul missed a couple of ten footers down the stretch and bogeyed the tough eighteenth to allow Sergio to join him in a playoff at five under. First up on the first extra hole at Sawgrass, the dreaded seventeenth; a gust of wind caused Goydos' ball to balloon in the drink. But we shouldn't feel too sorry for him...he wins over one million smackers for finishing second. Besides, he won the hearts of most sportsmen with his graciousness in defeat. After the round, he said that no one could deny Sergio's ball-striking advantage on the very tough course. The part of Sergio's game that did need some attention over the past couple of years, his putting, improved immensely during the final round. Judging from the picture above, he has certainly found, "The Love."

According to T.J. Auclair, a PGA interactive partner (whatever that is), Sergio holed a combined 126 feet, 10 inches worth of putts, about 30 feet more than anyone else in the field. Contrary to Johnny Miller's, "putt faster" advice, kudos must go to Stan Utley, the putting guru, for helping Sergio with his mechanics. I wish Stan would come to Sun Valley and give me a tip or twelve.

At least Johnny was right about Kenny Perry's, one-dimensional, right-to-left ball flight. Poor Kenny, leading the whole shebang going into round four, shot a nifty 81. So much for not being able to "shape" the ball on a course that demands more creativity.

Finally, in the segment I call, "So You Want to go to Dinner With Your Hero?" You better re-think extending an invitation to a formal dinner party to our very own, "Gomer Pyle," Boo Weekley. "Gomer" can flush a golf ball but if your mother or your girlfriend happens to be an English teacher and they are seated next to "Gomer" at dinner, look out! When asked if he watched the Players Championship on television when he was growing up, he said, "I didn't watch no golf. I didn't even know who done won. I reckon Phil won it last year... there you go." This begs a question...was our hero Boo, asleep down 'dare in Milton, FLA during Mrs. Barrett's English class? I figure he most prob'ly needed a little shut eye after staying up all night with his friends drinking bourbon shooters and shooting turkeys.