Golf

GolfShotz

Times staff writer Joanne Korth looks at the off-the-course goings on at the PODS Championship.

By Joanne Korth
Published March 12, 2007

Longest week

Mark Wilson won the Honda Classic in a playoff March 5, was the center of attention Tuesday and Wednesday, got food poisoning Saturday, bent a club on a pine tree and hit a volunteer with a tee shot on Sunday. He finished par for the tournament.

"I'm glad it's over," Wilson said.

On the difficult par-4 No. 16, his tee shot landed within 2 feet of a pine tree, requiring Wilson to strike the trunk with his follow through if he hoped to get on the green. Figuring he would not need his 7-iron on the final two holes, he made a strong move on the ball, took a chunk out of the tree and bent his 7-iron. But the ball landed within 14 feet of the hole and he made par.

Worst use of color

C'mon guys, white shirts are boring. So are black ones. It's spring. Live it up a little. This is golf, not Wimbledon.

Best look of amazement

Eventual winner Mark Calcavecchia had just birdied No. 14 and came within a few feet of a hole-in-one on the par-3 No. 15. As the ball came to a stop, Calcavecchia looked at his caddie as if to say, "Can you believe how well I'm playing?" Of course, he missed the putt and played the final three holes bogey, par, bogey.

Biggest choke

Minutes after watching Mark Calcavecchia miss a 7-foot par putt on No. 18, Heath Slocum missed a 4-footer that would have put him in a playoff with Calcavecchia.

Worst show of gratitude

What's with golfers and their half-hearted acknowledgments of the crowd? A guy hits it to within an eyelash of the cup, the crowd oohs, ahhs and applauds and it's all the big PGA Tour star can do to cock his wrist for a split second?

Best concession

Nothing beats a can of beer in the shape of a bottle.

Best amenity

The men's and women's lounges in the Innisbrook meeting halls have prepasted toothbrushes at the sinks, free for the taking. Just wet it and brush. Feels a little funny throwing it in the trash, though.

Worst moment to check the leaderboard

Volunteer Bill Burgan, above, was in his usual spot just inside the ropes in front and to the left of the 17th green when something came out of nowhere and hit him in the waist. Uh, that would be Mark Wilson's golf ball. Burgan thought he had time to check the scores before Wilson hit his tee shot. Next thing he knew, the ball struck him in the belt. Burgan was not hurt and his embarrassing moment kept Wilson's ball from bouncing into the thick rough. Wilson even apologized. "I shouldn't have hit over here," he said. "It was a bad shot. I'm sorry." Flustered, Wilson misplayed a chip and made bogey. As he walked off the green, he tossed the ball to Burgan as a souvenir.

Proudest alumni

Is it me, or is everyone a Gator these days?

Biggest hitter

J.B. Holmes drove the ball 368 yards down the hill, nearly driving the green on the par-4 No. 10. Here's the problem. The ball leaves Holmes' club face with such velocity it's impossible to follow its flight unless you're standing directly behind him on the tee box. So, here's a thought. For certain big hitters such as Holmes, Bubba Waston and John Daly, the tour needs to devise a sight aid like the red comet tail Fox used in its hockey television coverage a few years ago. The tail could be visible to anyone wearing special glasses. Hey, it's just a suggestion.

Worst wardrobe choice

High-heeled sandals with white straps that tie behind the ankle? Really, what was that woman thinking?

Worst tan line

The guy who fell asleep lying next to the 17th green likely will regret having his shirt pulled up to expose 6 inches of his stomach.

Shot of the day

John Rollins pounded his drive 346 yards on the par-4, 445-yard 10th, then holed a wedge from 96 yards for the first eagle on this hole in tournament history.

Hole of the day

No. 13, par 3, 200 yards

It surrendered only four birdies during the final round, grading out as the second toughest of the day. There were 16 bogeys and two double bogeys for a 3.237 scoring average. But winner Mark Calcavecchia drained a 31-foot putt for birdie to regain a much-needed two-stroke lead.

Joanne Korth can be reached at korth@sptimes.com or 727 893-8810.

[Last modified March 12, 2007, 00:00:35]