After surgery Na seeing clearly now, well, sort of
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.com Chief of Correspondents
PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. -- At least he can see the alarm clock now when he wakes up in the morning. Seeing on the golf ball, though, has been more problematic for Kevin Na since his LASIK surgery in December.
After the procedure, his vision was still so bad -- 20/100, to be exact -- that Na couldn't even drive. His doctor gave him the go-ahead to try a pair of contacts last week, though, and the results were almost immediate.
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Na was extremely focused -- pun intended -- as he fired a 66 at Riviera on Thursday that left him one stroke off the lead held by K.J. Choi before darkness suspended the first round of the Northern Trust Open. The round of 5 under included a sizzling 30 on the front nine.
The 24-year-old veteran felt his vision deficiency cost him a chance at his first PGA TOUR title two weeks ago at the FBR Open. A person who has 20/100 vision needs to be as close as 20 feet to see what a person with normal sight can see at 100.
"I mean, I'm very excited and happy about my start," said Na, who has a pair of top-four finishes in his first five starts, including at the TPC Scottsdale.
"But (it was) just a little unfortunate that my eye sight wasn't good, especially at the FBR Open coming down on Sunday when it was cloudy, I had real difficulty seeing the greens and I think it really cost me the win."
Chipping and putting were the most problematic for Na before he got the contacts last week. He could see fine from inside 10 feet or so, but lag putts were a challenge "because I couldn't get the feedback with my eye and feeling the distance and being able to stroke it with confidence," he said.
"And with 100 yards and in, those feel shots, you can't really judge the distance with your eyes. So I think my short game was not quite there because of my eyes."
Na said he had no problems hitting drives or approach shots, though. He just had to ask his caddy where the ball went.
"I look at his face and he's leaning one way or the other -- okay, this is good, this is good, this is not," Na said. "It's really frustrating. You're sitting on the range hitting balls and you can't get feedback whether I'm cutting it or drawing it. I hit that one, it's a little cut and next time I hit a little draw and I can't get that practice. So I'm going to have to ask every time, so I was really frustrated.
"But right now I can see really well and I'm excited about it. It wasn't anything that the doctor did anything wrong. My eyes were so bad to begin with. It's going to take more than one surgery. That's what he says, so I have to believe him, right?"
Na has another appointment with his eye doctor in Beverly Hills on Tuesday to find out whether he can continue wearing the contacts. Since he's had no irritation, though, he's cautiously optimistic. Another LASIK procedure will probably wait until the offseason.
"But I don't know if I'm going to do it or not," Na said. "Might as well get my money back."
Na saw the lines on Riviera's greens extremely well on Thursday. He started on the back and reeled off nine straight pars, then birdied his first three holes on the front nine with a two-putt, 8-footer and 20-footer. His birdies at Nos. 7 and 9 came from 5 and 3 feet, respectively.
"I think the biggest putt I made was on 4," Na said. "I was just short right, putted it through the fringe and I was about seven feet short. That par putt I made was, I think, the most important one of the day."
Na may only be 24, but he's got a world of experience -- literally, as well as figuratively. He skipped his senior year of high school to turn pro and won the Volvo Masters of Asia three months after he turned 19.
Na earned his TOUR card at the age of 20 and earned more than $900,000 as a rookie. After a million-dollar sophomore season, though, Na was slowed by a nagging injury suffered in January, 2006 when his right hand tangled with a car door. He got back on track last year with a trio of top-10s, but it's clear he wants more, much more.
"I think I'm due," Na said, smiling broadly.
Na admitted the injury set him back, but he said it actually made him stronger mentally. He's ready to take the next step, as a result.
"I'm playing very well," Na said. "I keep putting myself in contention, and I think that's what it's all about. Phil and I talked about it a few years ago, playing Sunday at Phoenix. He says, 'Kev, all you can do is put yourself in contention and try your best and you'll get your share of wins.' I said, 'I sure haven't got my share yet.'
"I'm not going to put any pressure and say you have to win, I'm trying to win. Obviously you're trying to win every time you tee it up, but just my coach keeps telling me, just keep putting yourself in contention and just it will happen. Zinger says, 'Yeah, someone might throw it to you, you might steal it off somebody; it will happen.'"
He'll know Sunday if this is the week.
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