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For Quigley, So Close, But Yet So Far

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 22, 2009

PALM HARBOR - Brett Quigley didn't quite get it done. He shot a 3-under 68 Sunday to post a 7-under finish, then sat around for some 30 minutes to see if anyone could do better.

Retief Goosen, playing in the day's final group, finally did, shooting 8 under to win.

It left Quigley, a 13-year tour player looking for his first career victory, in second place for the second straight week. Last week he was No. 2 to Valrico's Michael Bradley in Puerto Rico.

"I didn't watch," Quigley said of Goosen's winning putt. "It's funny. I watched last week; Michael Bradley made birdie. So this week I figured I wouldn't watch, and it's the same outcome. So I need to play a little better, is the bottom line, at least one or two shots."

Quigley was asked if he believes in the mantra that if you keep knocking on the door, it's going to open eventually.

"Yeah," he answered. "A buddy called me and said, 'If you deal drugs long enough, you're going to get caught, and if you get into position long enough, you're going to win.' That's all I'm trying to do. And I played well today and I was happy with the way that I played and had a chance and didn't back away from it, so I was certainly very happy."

HANGING TOUGH

Goosen, who recently celebrated his 40th birthday, believes he has plenty of winning golf ahead of him.

"You know, beginning of last year, I was looking at myself in the mirror thinking, I look a bit out of shape. I just thought, you know, might as well try and turn everything around. I might as well, instead of getting totally out of shape and struggling, I thought I might as well be fit and struggling," he said.

"So I'd rather feel better about myself. My whole game started getting a little bit better."

THE EXTRA MILE

Throughout the four days of tournament play, Transitions Optical president Brett Craig and managing director Dave Cole took turns at the first tee, introducing themselves to every player in the field, and volunteers assigned to each group.

The two company executives thanked each person for their participation and invited them to return next year.

PGA Tour staffers were unaware of any other title-sponsor officials to ever go to such extremes.

"It's our first year," Craig said. "We just wanted to put a face on the tournament and let everybody know we appreciated them being here."

OUCH, THAT HURT

Steve Stricker's finish Sunday was costly.

Stricker shot 69 and finished the tournament at 6 under, tied for fourth.

But he was tied for the lead before finishing with back-to-back bogeys at Nos. 17 and 18.

NOTEWORTHY

Charles Howell III's tie for second was his best finish since winning the 2007 Nissan Open in Los Angeles. ... First-round leader Jim Furyk ended up in a tie for 52nd, the lowest finish by a Thursday leader in tournament history. ... Goosen's win came three years, seven month and 15 days (62 events) after his last win on tour, the 2005 International.

Mick Elliott

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