Insider: Little things add up to big second win for Cook
By Vartan Kupelian, PGATOUR.COM Correspondent
Little things.
In the world of big-time sports, it's sometimes the little things that make the biggest differences.
It's attention to detail. It's the wisdom of knowing what to do and precisely when to do it. In golf, it's about navigating a smart and sensible course.
John Cook's victory at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, his second this year, was a culmination of those things.
Cook was still scolding himself as he returned to the 18th tee to begin a playoff with Jay Don Blake. It wasn't a sudden-death that Cook wanted. He was in control until an unforced error on the 72nd hole sent the tournament into a playoff.
Cook and his caddie, Tommy Anderson, were being chauffeured back to the 18th tee by the Champions Tour's Mike Sullivan when it happened. A little thing, almost imperceptible. Sullivan put the brakes on and stopped the cart stopped short of the designated teeing ground. Cook and Anderson got off and walked the rest of the way. From a distance, the first thought was: What's that all about? Why aren't they being carted all the way?
There was method to it and it came from Anderson. In retrospect, it was a brilliant -- and decisive -- move. And there was a lesson in it for golfers of every level.
It was Anderson, the caddie, who asked Sullivan to pull up short.
"As we went to meet Mike Sullivan, I knew (Anderson) had something on his mind," Cook said. "That's exactly what he said. He said, 'Hey, Sully, do you mind stopping right here? I'd like to walk the rest of the way.'"
Cook, riding up front, looked back. He knew exactly what Anderson had in mind.
"And I went, Cool. Okay," Cook said. "So we did. (Anderson) didn't get in my ear or anything, he just was walking back there and said, 'JC, it's hole No. 1. That's all it is. Let's just hit some quality shots.' That's all he said. Just gather yourself and let's go play hole No. 1.
"I give him a lot credit for that. He stepped up when he needed to. That's why we've been together four years and we've won seven times and had how many other chances to win. It's because we're a good team."
Good teams are rewarded with victories.
Anderson's intention at that instant was to allow Cook to slow down and catch his breath. It's a great lesson for golfers. Don't forget to breathe. When the pressure is on, when things get dicey, just breathe. Slowly and deeply. Anderson gave Cook an opportunity to do that and the payoff was big.
Cook piped his drive, then hit a terrific second shot -- the same shot he had hit into the water hazard only about 15 minutes before to make double bogey. He followed it up with the winning birdie putt.
Cook's timing is excellent. He rides the victory wave to this week's Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf where, with partner Joey Sindelar, he will try to atone for last year's playoff loss to Nick Price and Mark O'Meara. A year ago at the Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf, Cook and Sindelar shot a final round 61 to force the playoff.
Cook and Sindelar have teamed to finish in the top four in each of the last three years. They tied for third in 2009 after tying for fourth in 2008. Their games and their personalities mesh perfectly for better-ball competition. They're good friends and share an Ohio State background. Both were collegiate stars in Columbus and played on the Buckeyes' 1979 NCAA Championship team.
Cook went to the 18th tee for the first time at TPC Tampa Bay in the final round of the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am with a two-stroke lead over Blake. What happened next stunned everybody. Cook's unforced error was a poorly struck iron that finished in the water hazard bordering the 18th green. He made double-bogey 6 and found himself in a playoff.
What was so stunning is that such a shot would come after how well Cook hit the ball the entire week. He hit 88 percent of the fairways (37 of 42) and 82 percent of the greens in regulation (44 of 54). The crazy shot came out of nowhere and it left Cook shocked and angry.
"We're not supposed to hit shots like that," Cook said. "It just shows you it can happen. If you're not focused and committed to what you're doing, that can happen. Happens to the best of us. It's happened to everybody. Happened to the best players on the regular TOUR. It happens to the best Champions Tour players.
"Luckily I had a chance and I got to redeem myself and do it from about the same exact spot that I was before. So I had already put that one away. Now I needed to focus on what do I need to do to hit a good shot? What are my couple of swing thoughts? That's what I went through."
And that's exactly what his caddie had in mind when he put up the stop sign on the cart ride.
The little things can make a big difference.
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