By Eric BranchSummer Bruin Staff
Anyone familiar with the trials and tribulations of Steve
Elkington knew he would drain it. They realized as he lined up his
putt that would capture the PGA Championship at the Riveria Country
Club Sunday that he had faced much worse.
What’s a twenty-five foot birdie putt to win your first major
championship when you spent a month in the hospital with viral
meningitis, need to see a doctor four times a year to ensure you
don’t die of melanoma and underwent surgery 15 months ago due to a
sinus problem because your allergic to grass.
A professional golfer allergic to grass? It’s like a pitcher
being allergic to the rosin bag.
Even before he began his run at the leaders Sunday, charging
from six shots back to overtake Ernie Els with a blistering
final-round, seven-under 64, Elkington felt fatigued. As the 32
year-old Australian lined up his putt to beat Colin Montgomerie on
the first hole of sudden death he was just happy not to have passed
out somewhere on the back nine.
Elkington had to withdraw from the Buick Open last week due to
another sinus infection and had barely lifted a club before coming
to Riviera.
"I came to the PGA with hardly any practice, but I was weak,"
Elkington said. "You know I had a lot of phlegm and just – I felt
awful yesterday."
Of course Riviera had cured plenty of player’s games before
Sunday. With soft greens and idyllic weather the course played like
Mother Theresa – generous to a fault. The even par cut was the
second-lowest in major championship history and Elkington’s
four-round score of 17-under 267 set the PGA championship record
and tied the scoring record for any major.
Even Riviera’s trouble spots played into Elkington’s hands. The
tangly kikuyu grass which sucked up balls like a vacuum is native
to Australia and the spiked-up greens actually helped a man not
known for his putting prowess.
"The greens are not good," Elkington said. "When I heard Nick
Price talk about his view of the greens earlier in the week, he
said, "Hey, they may help me because I’m not the greatest putter in
the world and everyone else is going to be struggling on them." So
I kind of thought, well, I putt kind of like Nick …"
Despite Elkington’s special treatment, the tournament had been
handed to Els after he shot 66-65-66 to open up his three-shot lead
on Sunday.
And after the 25 year-old South African birdied the first hole
Sunday he appeared ready to accept his second major. But he
resembled a man with a mass of kikuyu grass tangled around his neck
the rest of the day, finishing with a one-over 72. His day
unofficially ended when his six-foot par putt rolled left on the
par-five 17th to drop him to 15 under. It was the first time Els
bogeyed a par five all week.
"I needed a good round and wanted to get off to a good start,"
Els said. "I didn’t want to make mistakes and I was playing a
little tentative at times."
In contrast, Elkington used the bull-in-a-china-shop method
against Riviera. Throwing caution to the wind – Elkington birdied
seven of the first 12 holes to reach 17 under and open a two-shot
lead over Els.
"I felt so confident and the way I was playing I felt like I
could attack when I really should have been defensive," Elkington
said.
After Elkington closed his round with six consecutive pars,
Montgomerie had the the unenviable task of needing three
consecutive birdies to force a playoff.
The 32 year-old Scotsman responded as if he were playing in the
local Elks Lodge scramble.
Montgomerie calmly rolled in a four-foot birdie putt on No. 16,
a five-footer on No. 17 and a twisting 18-footer on No. 18 as
Elkington watched from the scorer’s tent.
"I did nothing wrong," said Montgomerie who shot a six-under 65.
"He won the tournament, I didn’t lose it. Having to birdie the last
three holes and doing it is a major positive to take away."
As the two prepared to play the 18th again on the first-hole
playoff one difference was striking.
Montgomerie owned an 0-4 career record in playoffs. Elkington
had posted a 2-3 record and owned a simple but highly effective
playoff strategy.
"My theory on playoffs is just try to hit the best shot possible
in the first playoff hole and try to get a birdie straightaway,"
Elkington said.
Elkington remembered his theory – blasting an 8-iron 178 yards
to set up his twenty-five foot birdie putt. It was a putt
strikingly similar to Montgomerie’s 20 footer which set up the
playoff.
"I saw Colin’s putt when I watched him putt in regulation,"
Elkington said. "He had what looked like an identical putt – it
looked like it was maybe out half a cup and crept in the side
door."
After watching Elkington successfully go to school on him,
Montgomerie’s uphill 20-foot birdie putt skidded right and the
party plans began.
"I told (friend) Jack Newton if i win the Wanamaker trophy we’re
going to fill it up with champagne. It will take a whole case to
fill it up," Elkington said.." We’re going to celebrate
tonight."
Maybe he can’t drink to his health – but hoisting a few gallons
to the PGA championship makes a nice substitute.
Elkington not allergic to majors, wins at Riviera