Stankowski goes extra mile to compete in Zurich Classic

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Paul Stankowski made his third PGA TOUR start of the year.

AVONDALE, La. -- If there is any merit to the adage about success coming to those who go the extra mile, this should be really good week for Paul Stankowski.

To be exact, the 41-year-old journeyman drove 467 extra miles to compete in this week's Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

Stankowski's long-distance journey began on Sunday night when he boarded the red-eye from San Francisco to Tallahassee, Fla. He was headed to Valdosta, Ga., so he could play in the South Georgia Classic on the Nationwide Tour.

As he drove to Georgia on Monday, the two-time PGA TOUR champ was the fifth alternate in New Orleans. That number, however, rapidly changed in his favor.

"I woke up in Valdosta Tuesday morning to a text with my tee times," he recalled. "But they were tee times for (New Orleans), not Valdosta."

Stankowski quickly confirmed that he was, indeed, in the field at the Zurich Classic. So he asked tournament officials of the South Georgia Classic if he could stay and practice at their facility Tuesday before making his way to New Orleans.

They agreed. So on Wednesday, Stankowski embarked on an eight-hour road trip Wednesday in his caddie's car across Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and finally Louisiana.

"It was great. I got to see five states," Stankowski said. "I've never been in that part of the country before on I-10. I used to drive it from where it started on the West Coast to El Paso where I went to school, but I've never come from the east.

"Now, I've covered every part of I-10 from coast to coast. That's pretty cool."

Stankowski, who earned his way in when Steve Elkington withdrew, is making his ninth start in New Orleans, with a best finish being a tie for 11th in 2003. Most recently, he tied for 56th at TPC Louisiana in 2007.