TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Garcia Once Again Comes Up Short In A Major

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 11, 2008

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. - Another duel down the stretch. Another shot that hit a pin and kicked away. Another loss in a major championship.

Sergio Garcia has to be disappointed - yet don't ever suggest that to him.

He bristled when asked about his disappointment after finishing tied for second at the PGA Championship on Sunday, two shots behind Padraig Harrington.

"Why are you making this a disappointment?" he snapped at his questioner in the twilight glow outside Oakland Hills. "Obviously I was trying to win, but that's it. It's not disappointing."

It's just that everyone expects it to be. How can someone fall short again on the biggest stage and not be disappointed?

Garcia says he does not brood about his defeats, even the three seconds in majors. He gives it his best, sees where he finishes and then heads home. Mission accomplished. Sort of.

But that's not the way most premier athletes think.

Asked later if, when he was leading by a shot heading into the final nine holes on Sunday, he thought he finally was on his way to that elusive first major victory, he couldn't withhold his anger.

"Next question," he said. "Let's try to keep this as positive as we can, please."

COMING CLOSE: Ben Curtis plopped in a chair, sighed and had a question before one was asked of him.

"Anybody got a pillow?" he joked.

Well, he might not have been kidding.

The 2003 British Open champion had to play 36 holes Sunday because thunderstorms suspended play Saturday before he teed off, forcing him to begin his third round at 7:30 a.m. Twelve hours later he came up short of winning a second major.

His 68-71 finish put him at 1-under 279, tying Garcia for second place, two shots behind Harrington.

The strong showing earned him one of the automatic spots on the U.S. Ryder Cup team.

Quite a consolation.

"It's almost a victory in itself," Curtis said.

COMING NOT SO CLOSE: J.B. Holmes flopped in the final round, collapsing from second to 29th.

It all started under a tree.

Holmes first tee shot Sunday afternoon went near the base of a fir tree. He attempted to punch the ball back to the fairway with his 3-wood, but it barely moved and stayed within the boughs of the low-hanging evergreen.

After taking a one-shot penalty, he chipped out to the fairway and ended up two-putting for a triple-bogey 7.

Holmes didn't regret not taking the penalty right away.

"It wouldn't have gotten me out of the tree," he said. "I could have taken the line of the shot, but that would have put me in the stands. Or, I could have gone back to the tee. I had to go in there and try to hit something. I tried to hit a 3-wood and I didn't get it out."

The long-hitting 26-year-old Kentuckian, dreaming of a spot on Ryder Cup team, couldn't get it back together.

LEFTY'S DAY: Phil Mickelson said he had an OK year that would have become a great one if he won the PGA Championship.

Put an OK year in the books for one of the best players on the planet.

Mickelson made a minor climb early in Sunday's final round, but never really scared the leaders, shooting an even-par 70 that left him at 4-over 284 and tied for seventh at Oakland Hills.

"I would have liked to obviously play better, but I had a good week," he said. "I had my ups and downs, had a little go of it early in the round and tried to make a move."

SEE YOU IN AUGUSTA: Former University of Florida standout Camilo Villegas, known as "Spiderman" because of his contortionist way of looking at putting lines, now may be known as a legitimate threat in major championships.

After barely making the cut, he ended up tied for fourth to earn an invitation to next year's Masters.

The Associated Press

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT