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NEC Notebook Nick Price riding off into the sunset
AKRON, Ohio (AP) -- Nick Price jokes about reaching retirement age, but he knows there's some truth hidden behind the punchlines. "I'm on the back nine of my career," Price said Friday after shooting an even-par 70 in the second round of the NEC Invitational. "I'm not sure what hole I'm on -- 16, 17 or 18 -- but I know I've only got three, maybe four holes to play." Price, who has earned almost $900,000 this year on the PGA Tour, was just kidding. But the 44-year-old native of Zimbabwe has taken a long look at younger, longer, stronger players such as Tiger Woods and David Duval and recognizes that his days of contention might be nearing the end. "It's frustrating. I'm losing a bit of my enthusiasm because my putting has been so poor," said Price, who is at 1-over 140 and nine shots behind leader Jim Furyk through 36 holes. "I can't get on a roll. That's very frustrating. I just can't get going." Price's last win came three years ago in Memphis. He's missed as many cuts this year (three) as he has top-10 finishes. He hasn't cracked the top 20 in a major this year and missed the cut in the Masters and the U.S. Open. "I'm hovering around par and it's wearing on me a little bit now," he said. He chuckled before adding, "Ah, cowboys don't cry -- they ride into the sunset with holes in their backs." With that, he signed a stream of autographs as he made his way to the driving range.
Then there were 38Lee Westwood withdrew from the NEC Invitational after injuring his left wrist on the 13th tee of the second round Friday.Westwood, who had a 70 in the opening round, jarred his wrist on his tee shot and stumbled to an 8-over 78. After completing his round, a doctor determined that he had sustained ligament damage. There was no determination of how long Westwood, a member of the European Ryder Cup team, would be out of action. He immediately flew home to England Despite the early exit, he still collected last-place money of $25,000.
Short on changePaul Azinger's second shot on No. 2 stopped about 6 feet behind the hole, leaving him an eagle putt. But when he went to mark his ball, he dug into his pockets and realized he had no coins."Anyone got a penny?" Azinger asked the gallery, which laughed at the thought of a man who has earned nearly $1.2 million this year on tour needing a handout. Someone tossed a penny, and Azinger holed his putt. When he was done, he not only returned the penny but his ball.
Sticking aroundReigning U.S. Open champion Retief Goosen was thoroughly disgusted with a 1-over 141 through 36 holes of the NEC Invitational."I'm playing terrible. There's not much to say," he said after shooting a 69 in Friday's second round. "I'm hitting the ball 100 miles away from the flag so I'm not going to make any birdies." There was one not so small consolation, however -- the NEC does not have a cut. "I probably would have been on my way home by now because I would have missed it," Goosen said.
Brotherly BegaysNotah Begay's brother Clint already has won a tournament in Ohio this year. Granted, it was on the LPGA Tour and the younger Begay was caddying, not playing.Clint Begay, who caddied for his brother in two PGA Tour wins last year, was on the bag for Dorothy Delasin when she defended her title last month in the Giant Eagle LPGA Classic less than an hour away from where Notah is playing in this week's the NEC Invitational. "He's done something. He's caddied in 12 events and he's got three wins on two tours," Notah Begay said. "Any caddie in his right mind would take those stats."
DivotsPhil Mickelson, tied for second place, declined to come into the interview room after his round. He was scheduled to throw out the first pitch at a Class AA minor league baseball game in Akron on Friday evening. ... Stuart Appleby closed with a bang, birdieing the last two holes to close out a 64 for the day's low round. "That made the day just a bit sweeter, definitely," he said.
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