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Playoff problems Nelson added to Love’s sudden-death frustrations
Posted: Friday May 19, 2000 01:59 PM
After being defeated in sudden death by Jesper Parnevik last Sunday at the GTE Byron Nelson Classic, Davis Love's playoff record is now a dismal 1-6. As bad as that sounds, he has plenty of prominent company as a habitual odd man out. For example, Ben Crenshaw is O-8 in PGA Tour playoffs, Gary Player 3-10, Raymond Floyd 4-11, Gene Littler 3-8 and Gene Sarazen, 3-7. The Nelson was the third consecutive PGA Tour event to be decided in sudden death, and if this Mastercard Colonial also goes into overtime, it will mark the first time since 1946 that four straight tournaments will have been decided by playoffs. Always in the huntWith his first victory of the year last week at the Nationwide Championship, Hale Irwin has now finished either first or second 50 times out of 116 Senior Tour starts, a record 50-and over career percentage of better than 43 percent. Coming up shortJustin Leonard is always considered to have one of the best shortgames in golf, but its that erstwhile strength that has been the biggest reason for his prolonged slump. Leonard is a estimable 20th in greens in regulation and a respectable 48th in total driving, but in a statistical category where his usually among the leaders -- putting -- he is mired in the 135th position. The 27-year-old Texan, whose last victory came at the 1998 Players Championship, also ranks 125th in scrambling and 160th in sand saves. Topping herselfIt would seem Karrie Webb is due for another victory this week's Firstar Classic, but even if she doesn't get her fifth official victory of the year, she will probably keep another streak alive. With ten consecutive top 10 finishes, Webb is closing in on her own record of 16 straight top 10s that she set last year, breaking the previous high of 14 by Betsy King. Sports Illustrated senior writer Jaime Diaz covers the golf beat and appears regularly on CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNN's Pro Golf Weekly.
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