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The one that got away Watson and PGA never a good mix
Posted: Tuesday August 10, 1999 05:00 PM
MEDINAH, Ill. (AP) -- Playing the PGA Championship at Medinah does not conjure up the best of memories for Tom Watson. Medinah was the site of the 1975 U.S. Open, where Watson was 9-under-par after two rounds but went 78-77 on the weekend -- the second straight Open in which he floundered down the stretch. And the PGA Championship is the only major Watson failed to win. His best chance was at Oakmont in 1978, when he held a five-stroke lead with nine holes to play but wound up in a playoff with John Mahaffey and Jerry Pate. Mahaffey won on the second extra hole, giving him the largest comeback -- seven shots -- in PGA history. Watson also was one stroke back going into the final round in 1993 but shot a 72 and finished four strokes behind. "I look at not winning the PGA as somewhat of a disappointment in my career," Watson said Tuesday. "But I think I've more than made up for it in other parts of my career, particularly the British Open." Watson is the only American to win the claret jug five times. He also won the Masters twice and the U.S. Open. "I've always kidded some of the players out there that have a couple of championships, including the PGA, 'I'll trade you two British Opens for one PGA.' But it doesn't quite work that way," Watson said. Watson is playing his 27th PGA Championship on an exemption, and says he will gladly take another one in the future. But his focus now will be on the Senior Tour, for which he becomes eligible next month. Duval No. 1David Duval, who hasn't won since the BellSouth Classic the week before the Masters, returned to No. 1 in the world ranking this week. Duval didn't understand why he was No. 2 the first couple months of the year, and he certainly doesn't understand why he moved to No. 1 when he spent the past week in Idaho. "What did I do? I fished," he said. "I was trying to catch a trout. It was a pretty one, too." Sergio plansThe Sprint International may not get a blast of El Nino. While 19-year-old Sergio Garcia accepted a sponsor's exemption months ago, he may return to Europe after the PGA Championship in search of Ryder Cup points. Garcia is currently 12th in the standings. If he plays well at Medinah, which is worth enormous points for European players, he'll go to Castle Pines. Otherwise, he'll play the BMW International next week in Munich, the final tournament for European Ryder Cup points. "Hopefully, I'll be staying here," Garcia said. He seemed a lock to become the youngest Ryder Cup player just last month after winning the Irish Open and finishing second at Loch Lomond. But after finishing dead last at Carnoustie and missing the cut in the Buick Open, he's no longer a sure thing -- even as a captain's pick. European captain Mark James could have to weigh Garcia against experience -- Jesper Parnevik and Bernhard Langer are also outside the top 10. Kuehne plansWhen the U.S. Amateur gets under way at Pebble Beach next week, defending champion Hank Kuehne will be bombing drives through the mile-high air of Colorado as he makes his professional debut in the Sprint International. It's the first of as many seven tournaments Kuehne would like to play in his bid to make enough money to avoid qualifying school. He also will play Vancouver and the B.C. Open, and he has requested exemptions to the Reno-Tahoe Open, Texas Open, Buick Challenge and the Disney Classic. Still, not even Kuehne is expecting to match the rapid rise of Tiger Woods or Sergio Garcia. "I'm definitely preparing myself for Q-school. I'd be stupid not to," Kuehne said. "I'm really trying to gain a lot of experience. I'm trying to prepare my game to get a job for next year." The Kuehne family knows a thing or two about slow starts. Kelli Kuehne failed to keep full-exempt status on the LPGA Tour her rookie season, but then picked up her first victory and gave Juli Inkster a strong challenge in the U.S. Open. "I haven't talked to her about it. As everybody knows, I've had quite a few more knocks as anybody else," said Kuehne, a recovering alcoholic. "I fully think I'm prepared to deal with anything that golf can hand me." Walk in the parkGrace Park's decision to bypass sponsor's exemptions and play her way onto the LPGA Tour has paid off. The U.S. Amateur and NCAA champion won for the fourth time in eight starts on the SBC Futures Tour, tying the 54-hole record in the Briarwood Open at 13-under 203. The victory moved her to the top of the money list with only one event left. Under an agreement with the LPGA Tour, the top three players from the Futures tour automatically get their cards for next year. DivotsThe USGA has made it official -- the U.S. Open will return to Shinnecock Hills in 2004. ... If the 8-year-old with the Nike swoosh on the cap bore any resemblance to Tiger Woods, she should -- Cheyenne Woods is the daughter of Earl Woods Jr., Tiger's half-brother. She finished 11th in the 10-and-under girls' division of the Junior World, a tournament Uncle Tiger won six times at various ages. .... Still thinking about going to the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach next year? Don't bother. Tickets sold out at 32,500 per day as soon as the application deadline expired on July 31. The U.S. Open has sold out every year since the '87 Open at The Olympic Club. ... Tom Pernice last week became the fourth member of the 1981 UCLA golf team to win on the PGA Tour. The others were Corey Pavin, Steve Pate and Duffy Waldorf. ... Casey Martin's second-place finish in Omaha, his best on the Nike Tour this year, came while having to play 36 holes on Sunday. Stat of the weekIn his last nine tournaments, Hale Irwin is 101-under-par over 30 rounds on the Senior Tour. He has won five of those. Final word "The alternative is a lot worse. It sure beats not being around to celebrate it." -- Arnold Palmer, who turns 70 on Sept. 10.
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