Golf

Daly not throwing in towel

A sore shoulder is hampering his play, but physical therapy is keeping him out on the course.

By RODNEY PAGE
Published March 9, 2007

PALM HARBOR - A week after injuring his right shoulder and ribs in Palm Beach Gardens, John Daly was playing through pain again. He was injured when he tried to hold up during his backswing after a spectator snapped his picture. He withdrew from the Honda Classic after two holes.

Daly, 40, had physical therapy but he said Thursday the shoulder is sore.

"It was doing all right but then that 5-iron I hit out of the rough on No. 5 really hurt it," he said. "I'm going to keep playing. It's not like I'm going to break anything. It's going to be sore, but I just have to ice it and then hopefully I'll get confidence in one shot without feeling any pain. The only way to do that is to play. Right now I'm so scared I'm going to hurt something."

Considering the shoulder, Daly had a decent score of 3-over 74. He did not have a birdie.

VILLEGAS HANGING AROUND: Camilo Villegas, 25, the former University of Florida standout, had to complete a four-way playoff Monday morning at the Honda Classic, which he lost. He drove to his house in Gainesville Monday night, then to Innisbrook Tuesday for a practice round. He continued his hot play with 3-under 68.

"I've been playing very well all season," he said. "I have nothing but positive thoughts right now. All I wanted to do was continue playing well like I have been."

BEEN A LONG TIME: Chris DiMarco hadn't competed at Innisbrook since 2000, when he tied for 33rd. With the tournament's October date, he was usually in a luxury box at the Florida-Georgia football game rooting for his Gators.

Four shots off the lead after 2-under 69 Thursday, he's familiar with the course, but doesn't remember the greens being this tough.

"They're fast, Augusta fast," he said. "Well, maybe not Augusta fast, but they're fast. It's a tough golf course."

Sergio Garcia's first competitive round at Innisbrook was 70. Like DiMarco, Garcia said the greens are what mainly make Copperhead tough.

"These greens are so fast and have so much movement on them," he said. "You have to be spot on as far as the line and the read. The greens have so much movement. But they are true, so if you can get it going in the right way you can post some low scores.

"I love Copperhead. It's a great test. It tests your driving, but also your approach shots as well. It's a wonderful golf course."

DADDY AND CADDIE: Travis Huston has a good excuse for missing two days at Clearwater's Skycrest Middle School. He was on his dad's bag for the first time.

"It was pretty fun out there," the eighth-grader said. "I've always wanted to do it."

Father John shot 77, including double bogey at No. 9, his last hole. He said he didn't use a professional caddie because his game is not up to par. Innisbrook is in the Hustons' backyard so he put his clubs in a lighter bag and let Travis come along.

"Being at home, I just decided to let him caddie," Huston, 45, said. "He's been asking me for a long time. Unfortunately, I don't have the skills I once had."

DUBIOUS HONOR: Tampa native Woody Austin had the honor (or misfortune) of being in the first group off the 10th tee at 7 a.m. The back nine is loaded with long holes, and Austin was happy to make the turn at 1 over.

"The back nine played very long this morning," said Austin, who totaled 1-under 70. "All the par 3s were long irons. All the flags were in the back of the green. You couldn't even sniff the par 5s. That's a tough nine to start on in the morning. The holes that you could normally get to, you can't because it's too cold and too early in the morning."

AROUND COPPERHEAD: Honda Classic and first-time winner Mark Wilson shot 69. ... Stephen Ames withdrew before the start and was replaced by John Merrick, who shot 77. ... Defending champion K.J. Choi made eagle on the par-4 third hole when his second shot from 197 yards went in. It was the first eagle at the third in tournament history.

Rodney Page can be reached at page@sptimes.com or (727) 893-8123.

Fast Facts:

Area players and how they fared:

Player Hometown Score Shots back

Woody Austin Tampa 70 5

David Branshaw Tampa 71 6

Ryuji Imada Tampa 72 7

Paul Azinger Bradenton 74 9

Greg Kraft Clearwater 74 9

Bob Heintz Dunedin 75 10

Tim Petrovic Dade City 76 11

John Huston Palm Harbor 77 12

[Last modified March 9, 2007, 01:13:31]