By Peter Zellen
Florida Times-Union sports writer
Morris News Service

PONTE VEDRA BEACH - As Tommy Tolles watched his lead fade over the final 10 holes of The Players Championship, he couldn't help being affected by what the man four pairs in front of him - eventual champion Fred Couples - was doing.

While waiting to tee off on the 15th hole, Tolles, who led after the second and third rounds, heard the first of many rousing cheers given Couples during his incredible finish. While Tolles didn't see Couples eagle the 16th hole and birdie the 17th to go four strokes ahead, he heard what was happening.

``On 15 we were standing back near the fairway waiting for David (Duval) to hit and the next thing you know you thought 20,000 people won the lottery,'' said Tolles, who finished tied for second with Colin Montgomerie, shooting a 14-under-par 274. ``Funny enough we got over there on the 16th tee box when those same 20,000 people won the lottery for a second time.''

Tolles might believe he won the lottery after taking home $308,000 but instead, he'll probably remember the problems he had from the 9th hole on when he bogeyed three holes and birdied one.

Shooting 16-under-par, Tolles was in sole possesion of the lead after the 8th hole but started with a bogey on nine, first hooking the ball into a bunker and then nearly hooking it into a tree on the next shot.

``I drove it perfect every day, three days right in the left center of the fairway. I think Friday was the only day I missed the fairway but I drove it in the left rough and had a perfect lie,'' said Tolles, 29.

``Today, unfortunately, I had hooked it in the bunker which is absolutely the worst spot you could ever hit it. From that swing on it was a six on the scorecard all the way. And I tried to turn it into a seven as best I could.''

Tolles birdied the 12th to retake the lead at 16-under, but lost his position as front-runner for good after bogeying the 15th, which Tolles said he played aggressively because of what Couples was doing ahead of him. He finished with a bogey on the 18th as well.

However, aggressive is not what PGA officials saw from Tolles and Duval early in the final round. The pair was informed on the third green that they were being timed because the PGA believed the two were playing too slowly - an opinion Tolles asserted as incorrect.

``I've never thought of myself as a slow player but if something bothers me, I'll take my time,'' Tolles said.