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© St. Petersburg Times, published February 28, 2002
GOLF INSTRUCTORS, BEWARE: Bruce Lietzke, the Senior PGA Tour star who won for the third time Sunday in his 14th event, won't make many friends among those who make a living teaching the game. At least not if he pushes his theory. "I'm convinced that amateurs should just find one swing and go to the practice tee and practice that one swing and don't read all the golf publications, where one month David Leadbetter tells you your hands ought to be here, and next month Jim McLean tells you your hands ought to be here. That can be so confusing to people who play golf once or twice a week," said Lietzke, known for playing and practicing as little as possible. "That's what I am. I'm a weekend golfer. I'm firmly convinced that the way I approach it is the way amateurs should do it."
THE WAGGLE METER: Not that anybody's counting, but ... Sergio Garcia's grip, regrip, regrip routine is tough to endure. Before his opening tee shot at last week's Match Play Championship, Garcia readjusted his grip 36 times before hitting the shot.
DOES HE DO THAT WITH A TENNIS RACKET, TOO?: The hints are everywhere, the rumors flying. Garcia is friends with tennis star Martina Hingis, but how serious the relationship has grown is tabloid fodder. Recently the Barcelona-based newspaper Sport published photos of Hingis and Garcia together in a blue Ferrari, reportedly in Garcia's hometown of Borriol, Spain. The two also were said to have played golf and tennis together. Last week Hingis was in the gallery while Garcia played in the Match Play Championship in Carlsbad, Calif. "Maybe she likes golf," was Sergio's coy reply. Garcia said she would not be at this week's tournament in Miami: "She's got tournaments to play, too."
NO-NAME TEEN: Ty Tryon, 17, makes his second start as a member of the PGA Tour this week in Miami. Unbeknownst to just about everyone outside his inner circle, Tryon had hoped it would be his third event. Two weeks ago Tryon tried to Monday qualify for the Nissan Open in Los Angeles. Nobody knew it because Tryon entered under his full name of William Tryon. Although he lives in Orlando, his hometown was listed as Cleveland. Tryon wanted to play the qualifier without any fanfare and got his wish. And Cleveland wasn't a full-blown lie. His agent, IMG, entered him in the event, and IMG is based in Cleveland. Tryon did not submit a scorecard, which must mean he didn't come close to qualifying.