Nationwide's World's Greatest Driver: Robert Garrigus

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Robert Garrigus is still searching for his first PGA TOUR title. He's come agonizingly close - recently, in fact.

Garrigus blew a three-shot lead on the final hole of regulation at the St. Jude Classic last month, ultimately losing in a playoff to eventual champion Lee Westwood. How has Garrigus responded?

"I was playing so well, but that one hole kind of ruined it," Garrigus told reporters last week. "But I didn't focus on that. I focused on how well I was playing for the week. I was the best player there that week, and one hole just kind of tore it all up.

"That tag, the (Jean) van de Velde thing, I've watched every SportsCenter, every Golf Channel, and just watched them rip me a new one," he said. "And I was laughing, to tell you the truth, because people are going to know me for that. But I hope they know I played better than everyone else that week - it was just one hole - and I can do it again."

If his driver is any indication, he certainly can.

At the AT&T National at Aronimink Golf Club, Garrigus averaged 326 yards per drive and overtook Bubba Watson for the lead in driving distance on the PGA TOUR at 311.1 yards per drive in 32 total rounds.

So far, Garrigus' career has been a study in perserverance. Garrigus earned his first TOUR card in 2006 after tying for ninth at the 2005 Qualifying Tournament. He made it through the final stage in his fifth attempt. After finishing 144th on the TOUR money list that season, Garrigus regained his card for 2007 with runner-up finish at Qualifying Tournament, with a six-round total of 18-under-par, five strokes behind medalist George McNeill.

Garrigus was a member of Nationwide Tour in 2000, 2002 and 2004-05, improving his status on the Nationwide Tour money list each season from 156th (2002) to 81st (2004) to 69th (2005).