By MARK LONG, AP
May 12, 2008
PONTE VEDRA BEACH - Paul Goydos hit the first and the last ball into the murky lagoon surrounding the famed par-3 17th. One was much more costly than the other.
Goydos' wedge shot from 128 yards came up a little short in the first playoff hole yesterday at The Players Championship against Sergio Garcia, ending his chance at winning for the third time in 16 years on the PGA Tour.
"The hole was designed to do exactly what it did. It got me instead of somebody else," said Goydos, a 43-year-old self-described journeyman.
Goydos, who started the day with a one-shot lead over Kenny Perry, also missed a 15-foot par putt on the last hole for the win. He closed with a 74. And then he headed back to the most notorious hole on the Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
He had hoped to hit the same shot that carded him a par at the island green about a half-hour earlier. The wind still blowing left to right at a steady 30 mph and the pin still tucked behind a bunker on the right side.
Goydos wanted the same result, but ended up with something more like his shot at 17 on Thursday, which ended up wet.
Garcia knocked his tee shot to 4 feet, essentially sealing a victory.
"I played good golf, and as people have found out, that doesn't mean win unfortunately," Goydos said. "You can't control it. No defense. I couldn't tackle the little guy. He's probably not little; that's probably not a fair thing. He could probably take me pretty easily.
"But you can't kneecap him. You just have to accept the guy beat you and move on."
Kevin Stadler, making his debut at The Players, eagled the 384-yard par-4 fourth for the second consecutive day.
Chad Campbell had the round of the day, making six birdies and shooting a 4-under 68 . . . J.B. Holmes had a par-free front nine yesterday, making four birdies and five bogeys.
It was the first playoff at The Players since 1987, the longest any PGA Tour event had gone without a playoff . . . No one in the 36-year history of The Players has successfully defended his title.
