In the winless-but-talented catagory, Marino hardly alone

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Steve Marino led the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am through 54 holes, but shot a 74 on Sunday.

Even a casual observer, someone who only tuned in to watch Bill Murray in "Carl Spackler Live," could read the frustration in the facial expressions and body language of Steve Marino during the final round at last week's AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am.

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Marino, who began the final round with the lead, appeared antsy on the tee and in the fairways as he waited to strike his next shot. But his over-eagerness can't only be attributed to the fact that he's a fast player who was stuck in the middle of a six-hour round; it is also the signs of a talented professional trying to win his first event.

Marino is learning the lesson that so many have learned before him: It isn't easy to win on the PGA TOUR. He's now made 122 starts without a victory, not exactly a historic streak, but enough to make him shake his head and wonder when that breakthrough is finally going to happen.

Marino has been among the top three entering the final round on nine occasions, only to be denied every time. Three times he had a piece of the lead and couldn't finish. In 2008 he closed with a 71 and dropped into third place at the Children's Miracle Network Classic. In 2009 he had an unfortunate 77 in the final round and finished tied for 15th at The Barclays. On Sunday at Pebble Beach he closed with a 74 and finished tied for fourth.

"I fought hard today and felt like I played pretty good and just didn't work out for me," Marino said after completing play at Pebble Beach.

Marino is learning that you can't expect to win a tournament unless you play well on Sunday. D.A. Points shot a 67 at Pebble Beach to deny Marino. In the previous five TOUR events this season, the winner shot 69 or better.

Marino is going through a process that most players must endure before they win. Other than Tiger Woods or Phil Mickelson, most guys must get into contention and lose (sometimes badly) before they are able to get into contention and win. Hunter Mahan required 118 starts before he won the 2007 Travelers Championship. Bubba Watson needed 122 starts before he won the 2010 Travelers Championship. Mark Wilson, who has won twice this season, needed 111 starts before he won the 2007 The Honda Classic.

"Everybody is very, very good," Marino said. "I'm not going to say experience is overrated, but I think sometimes people kind of play it up to be more than it really is."

That statement may sound like it should fall into the whistling-past-the-graveyard category, but Marino has a valid point. Look at the members of the 2010 Ryder Cup team. Stewart Cink, Dustin Johnson, Zach Johnson and Matt Kuchar each won in their first full season on TOUR. Jim Furyk won in his second season, Steve Stricker won twice in his third season.

Some guys just take longer than others to experience that breakthrough moment. Pat Perez needed 198 starts before winning the 2009 Bob Hope Classic. Jerry Kelly won his 200th career start at the 2002 Sony Open in Hawaii. Kevin Sutherland won the 2002 World Golf Championships-Match Play Championship in his 184th start. Each has had a long, prosperous career and Kelly has won two additional times.

Marino has contemporaries that share his place on the waiting-to-win boat. Jeff Overton has made 137 starts and the 2010 Ryder Cup team, but hasn't won. Brian Davis has made 196 starts and has been runner-up at least once over the last four seasons and still hasn't won. John Mallinger (120 starts), Nick O'Hern (126), Jason Dufner (134), Charlie Wi (138), Fredrik Jacobson (174), Kevin Na (191), and Alex Cejka (239) each have at least 100 career starts and posted at least one top-three finish over the last three seasons, but still seek their first career.

So which direction will Marino go? He's convinced he can win.

"I felt like I've had the game to win out here for a while," Marino said. "It just has not happened. I'm not going to say that I'm due, but I feel like I'm good enough to win on this TOUR."

Agreed. It's not a matter of if, it's only a matter of when.

Stan Awtrey is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily reflect the views of the PGA TOUR.