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You have to hole a lot of putts to get to 20 under par, John Huston's winning score Sunday at the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.
To be in position to make those putts, however, you have to hit the ball close, something Huston said would likely not have been possible if not for a visit with a trainer whose efforts were "pretty miraculous."
Huston, 43, had been bothered by a sore left elbow and shoulder most of the year, and while they did not cause excruciating pain, they affected his swing. After missing the cut at the PGA Championship, Huston, who lives in Clearwater, decided to take a prolonged break.
He also sought the help of Hap Hudson, a physical trainer in the area who has worked with the Philadelphia Phillies and came highly recommended by Scott Rolen, now with the St. Louis Cardinals.
"I'm telling you, my elbow bugged me almost the whole year," Huston said. "The first day he came over, it was gone. He did this rib adjustment, which increases the blood flow and stretches out the nerves. It was kind of a strange deal, but immediately my elbow was better. After a couple of times, the soreness was completely gone and it hasn't bothered me since."
Hudson also gave Huston a series of exercises to strengthen his shoulder and work out problems while he travels.
Two weeks ago, Huston returned to the PGA Tour and finished 34th at the Texas Open. Then he led nearly the whole way at last week's Mississippi event, birdieing three of the last four holes to win and collect $540,000.
"I played really, really well," said Huston, who won for the seventh time in his career but first since the 2000 Tampa Bay Classic at Innisbrook. "If I had putted better the last couple of days, it wouldn't have come down to having a really good finish. I'd really love to have that comfortable stroll down the last couple of holes. But as long as you win. ... "
The victory moved Huston to 38th on the PGA Tour money list and gives him a chance to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship. He also can qualify for the 2004 Masters by remaining among the top 40 money winners.
Huston plans to give it a good push. After taking this week off, he will play the final three full-field events, including the Chrysler Championship at Innisbrook, where he has a nice advantage.
"I just wanted to be in a position where if I had a good tournament the last week, coming to my home course, now I have a realistic chance," he said.
CHRYSLER UPDATE: The Oct. 30-Nov. 2 event picked up a couple more commitments among top-40 money winners, Kirk Triplett and Rory Sabbatini, both of whom are in the hunt for the season-ending Tour Championship, which invites the top 30. Among those previously committed are Vijay Singh, Mike Weir, Kenny Perry and Ernie Els, all in the top 10. ... The tournament needs amateur caddies for the Lightning Foundation Pro-Am on Oct. 27, which features a pro golfer and a Lightning player in each group. The event also needs standard bearers Oct. 29, 30 and Nov. 1. Call (727) 939-3844.
AROUND GOLF: When Annika Sorenstam completes the first round of the Samsung World Championship today, she will qualify for the LPGA Hall of Fame. In addition to satisfying the points criteria, which she did in 2000, a player must be an LPGA member for 10 years. ... Jan Stephenson will become the first woman to cash a check in a men's event this year. That's because there is no cut on the Champions Tour, where Stephenson will compete this weekend at the Turtle Bay Championship in Hawaii. She is paired with Palm Harbor's Jay Overton and former major-league pitcher Rick Rhoden.