Europeans eager to take a second PLAYERS title
By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Sergio Garcia was nothing if not philosophical on the eve of the final round of THE PLAYERS Championship.
After flirting with the lead over much of a hot, humid Saturday afternoon, the 28-year-old Spaniard had just bogeyed his final two holes on the Stadium Course. He wasn't happy with a second straight 73, but he was well aware that all was not lost.
"With everything that happened, I'm still there," Garcia said. "I still have a good chance, and I'm looking forward to tomorrow, coming out and playing well again, and we'll see if we can win this championship."
Garcia might also have been speaking for Germany's ironman, Bernhard Langer, and the colorful Englishman, Ian Poulter. Garcia starts the final round at 4 under, three strokes behind Paul Goydos, while Langer is five back and Poulter seven.
Only one European has ever won the PGA TOUR's signature event, and that was Sandy Lyle, who beat Jeff Sluman on the third extra hole in 1987. In fact, there have just been seven international winners in the 34-year history of THE PLAYERS.
With the threat of severe weather in the forecast and the innate severity of the Stadium Course, though, anything can happen on Sunday. The largest final round comeback came as Raymond Floyd made up six strokes in his 1981 victory.
"I've just got to go out there and try to shoot the lowest score I can shoot, and, hopefully, it's good enough," said Garcia, who finished second to Phil Mickelson in 2007 after closing with a 66. "And if not, we'll come back next year."
Garcia leads the field in fairways hit and greens in regulation, but his inconsistent putting places him 74th in that category. The talented young Spaniard, who has worked diligently with short-game guru Stan Utley of late, said he felt like he putted "nicely," but the putts just didn't want to drop.
Take the 17th hole, for example, where Garcia three-putted from 10 feet -- turning a potential birdie into a bogey and broadening the gap with Goydos, his playing partner. Garcia has taken 96 putts over three rounds, including Saturday's high of 34.
"The first one ... I didn't want to hit a soft putt, and I just killed it," Garcia said. "I hit it really hard, and I probably hit it about four feet by. And then the second one didn't feel like a bad putt, it just really snapped at me ... and instead of lipping in, it kind of just caught the edge and missed. What can you do?"
Langer, who at 50 is bidding to become the oldest winner in PLAYERS Championship history, started quickly with birdies on his first two holes Saturday. The uncharacteristic seven bogeys that followed, though, weighed heavy in his round of 75.
"It was draining today," Langer said. "I don't like heat and humidity, and this was very hot. (It was) close to 100 in the sun, so (it was) tough out there physically. Also, I didn't play quite as well. I started off great, then hit a few loose shots and a few loose putts. It was tough coming home."
Langer has played in 23 PLAYERS Championships and finished second to Nick Price in 1993 and again to Lee Janzen in 1995. One of the game's ultimate tacticians, the ageless man from Germany finds the firm, fast Stadium Course a great equalizer.
"I am not out of it," said Langer, who is tied with defending champ Phil Mickelson and Jeff Quinney at 2 under. "I need to get off to a good start and play a good 18 holes. (I have) got to get deep tomorrow, if possible, and avoid the mistakes I made today. "
Langer had four top-10s on the PGA TOUR last year, and he has won three times on the Champions Tour since turning 50 last August. The World Golf Hall of Famer relishes the chance to compete again for one of the game's most coveted titles.
"Every win means a lot, and it's special," he said. "This one would probably mean a lot because it's such a big field, a strong field and a great tournament. It's considered a major. And I didn't expect to win another major at my age.
"But you never know in golf. I've had a good year and a half lately. I've been playing well -- I've won a few times on the Champions Tour and came close out here, and winning breeds winning. So that's a good sign."
Poulter has been playing well, too -- but he would definitely like to forget the drive that strayed into the water at the 18th hole. The double bogey left him "fuming" and "seriously not happy," but, at the same time, he knows enough to leave the frustration behind.
"There's not anything I can do about it right now," said Poulter, who was resplendent in fuchsia right down to his saddle shoes. "It's finished. It's over."
The pity is Poulter's playing well. He hasn't missed a cut on the PGA TOUR this year, but a pair of ill-timed double bogeys have cost him a chance to really contend at TPC Sawgrass this week. He has played the 15th and 18th holes in a combined 6 over.
"I'm not out of it by any means," said Poulter, tied with five others, including Sweden's Fredrick Jacobsen and Jesper Parnevik, at even par. "If I go out there tomorrow and post 5 under, then I'm going to have a chance to win the golf tournament."
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