Long Beach State University Athletics
Goydos Falls on First Playoff Hole at Players Championship
5/11/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Golf
May 11, 2008
FROM SUNDAY:
PONTE VERDA BEACH, Fla.-- Long Beach State alum Paul Goydos, who wore a Long Beach State cap with "Dirtbags" on the back throughout the PGA Players Championship, lost to Sergio Garcia on the first hole of the playoff, after entering the final hole with a one stroke lead over Garcia.
By Abbey Mastracco,Special to the Press-Telegram
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- The drama that unfolded Sunday afternoon on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass was so perfect it could have been scripted.
Long Beach native and PGA Tour journeyman Paul Goydos held the lead for almost the entire final round of the Players Championship until fan-favorite, the popular Spaniard Sergio Garcia, caught up to him to force a playoff. Thus, the two set off to one of the most notorious holes in golf, the par-3 17th.
On Thursday, Goydos hit the first of many balls into the water on the island hole, and Sunday, he hit the last. A strong gust of wind prevented Goydos' wedge shot from hitting the green, taking it right in front, into the water. Garcia went on to birdie the hole for the win.
"I couldn't have executed the shot any better," Goydos said. "I was trying to calm myself down a little bit and make levity."
Goydos battled 40 mile an hour winds to shoot a 74 Sunday to put him at 5-under 283 (68-71-70-74) for the week. His three birdies weren't enough to make up for his six bogeys. Goydos had a shot to win on 18 was unable to seal the deal, missing a 15-footer for par.
Still, Goydos remained in good spirits. Over the course of the week, the former substitute teacher's story became the most well-chronicled of the event. The unexpected Goydos' dry wit and the Dirtbags' hat he proudly sported all week became the darling of Sawgrass.
"It's as much fun as I've had," Goydos said. "To me, success is taking advantage of the opportunity in front of you. Failure would be not preparing the best you can on a given day."
Prior to the Players, Goydos best finish in 13 starts this season was a tie for 25th, which came last week at the Wachovia Championship
John Merrick finished the Players tied for 27th. After starting off strong shooting 70-72 in the first two rounds, the Long Beach native shot a 5-over 77 Saturday. Merrick pulled himself up Sunday with a 2-over 74 293.
FROM SATURDAY: Goydos takes 1st 54-hole lead in 16 years on PGA Tour; leads Players Championship by 1 stroke
By DOUG FERGUSON , Associated Press
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Paul Goydos would love to say he saw this coming, but he's too honest. He had never broken 70 in nine previous appearances at The Players Championship, yet a 2-under 70 on Saturday made him the only player to break par all three days on the TPC Sawgrass and gave him a one-shot lead over Kenny Perry.
Since his last victory 16 months ago on the PGA Tour -- and only the second of his career -- he has yet to crack the top 20. But after a birdie on the island-green 17th and a hybrid out of the trees to make par on the final hole, he wound up with a 54-hole lead for the first time in his career.
"But I've only been on tour 16 years," Goydos deadpanned. "I guess I was due."
This is the leader at the richest event on the PGA Tour -- a 43-year-old former substitute teacher who is raising two teenager daughters. He has no endorsement deal, so he bought a Long Beach State baseball cap last week in an airport with the nickname "Dirtbags" on the bill. Even in 90-degree weather, he keeps his shirt buttoned to the top because "I have no shoulders."
Was he shocked to be holding a one-shot lead?
"Pretty much," Goydos said. "You have to go by the track record, and on this golf course, mine stinks."
Perhaps it is with such self-deprecating humor that Goydos appeared so immune to the mounting pressure and a course that continued to get tougher in hot, blustery conditions. He answered every bogey with a birdie, none bigger than a wedge just inside 10 feet on the island-green 17th and a birdie for the outright lead.
He was at 7-under 209, the highest score to lead on the Stadium Course since David Duval was at 212 in 1999.
Perry saved par with a nifty wedge on the 18th hole for a 72 that put him at 210 and in the final group Sunday, a huge opportunity in his quest to make the Ryder Cup team in his home state of Kentucky.
Sergio Garcia hit the ball as well as anyone for the second straight day, and got nothing in return.
Garcia was tied for the lead standing on the 17th tee, but he three-putted from just outside 10 feet, then hit into the rough on the 18th and closed with another bogey for a 73, leaving him three shots behind.
Through three rounds, Goydos has taken 78 putts, 18 fewer than Garcia.
"I'm a little bit disappointed because I feel like the last two days, I shot the highest score I could shoot," Garcia said. "And I still have a chance. With everything that has happened, I'm still there."
The numbers are shrinking, with only 13 players remaining under par, just three of those with a major to their credit.
Getting the most attention was Phil Mickelson, trying to become the first repeat champion in the 35-year history of this tournament. He was making a move up the leaderboard until he knocked his tee shot into the water on the 14th and took double bogey. He still wound up with a 71 and was in the group at 2-under 214, five shots behind and very much in the game.
Even Goydos would concede that.
"I'm pretty sure Mickelson is not going, 'Well, I'm playing for second,'" Goydos said.
Goydos played with Garcia and was reminded why he hasn't won but two times in his career. One of those was at Bay Hill in 1996, and the running joke is that his photo among all the other past champions looks like Wal-Mart employee of the month.
"Sergio played pretty well," Goydos said. "I'm sure he was looking at me and just wanting to throw up. He's an impressive golfer. On any given day ... you know, I beat him today. The Futures market, you decide who you want to take."
But it all starts with Goydos, a self-described journeyman who has as much perspective, honesty and dry humor as anyone around.
His most recent victory was the 2007 Sony Open, and Goydos noted that Tiger Woods had won nearly 60 times between his two victories. When he next saw Woods, he pleaded with him to quickly win 60 more times so Goydos wouldn't have to wait another 11 years.
Goydos has played 30 times since that victory in Hawaii, and his best finish has been a tie for 25.
That was a week ago.
"I'm not proud of that fact, but it's not through lack of effort," he said. "I think I'm a better player than I've ever been. That said, so is everybody else who plays out here, which is the problem."
He has been around long enough to know how much can change over the final 18 holes, especially on this course with a tenuous lead.
WHERE IS STARTED--FRIDAY:Breaking News: Goydos bought his own hat
by Gary VanSickle, Golf.com
Paul Goydos did something the other day that few tour pros do or have probably ever done. During Thursday's first round at the Players, Goydos wore a cap that he bought himself at a Lids store in the airport after his contract with Pep Boys ran out. (You can almost sense the pros and golf writers of America shrinking back in horror, can't you?)
It was a Long Beach State (his alma mater) baseball cap, sporting an LB logo on the front. On the bill it had the team's nickname in script: Dirtbags.
Tour players buy caps about as often as they pay for balls, clubs, rental cars or greens fees. That is, never. But Goydos has always been a wonderful Everyman in golf, a player without much ego. He has a self-deprecating streak that has earned him the slightly sarcastic nickname of Sunshine.
Well, Sunshine shot 68 on Thursday, a pretty impressive performance for a guy who had never broken 70 at the Stadium Course in his entire career. "It's a hard course," he said. "Why I have never had any success here, I couldn't answer."
And if he did know, he'd probably keep it under his hat.
