Philadelphia, PA (My Sportsbook) - You don't always look in the direction of golf for feel-good stories.
The very nature of the sport dictates as much. These are independent contractors in an individual sport playing for obscene amounts of money and a place in history.
Golf has also avoided tragedy, by and large. Stuart Appleby's wife Renay was killed in a car accident just before the 1998 British Open. His peers rallied around him as one would expect.
The most recent bout of reality in the world of golf occurred two years ago. Darren Clarke's wife, Heather, succumbed after a long battle with cancer. Clarke also had the support of his golfing brotherhood, and the game appeared to be a catharsis.
Clarke played in the Ryder Cup a few weeks later at the request of captain Ian Woosnam. He teamed with best friend Lee Westwood to win both of his fourball matches, then won an emotional singles match against Zach Johnson.
It was during that week that he became the center of a team that dominated the Ryder Cup. There were pictures of Americans, including Tiger Woods, hugging him in the fairways during practice rounds. There was Sergio Garcia hopping on his back walking down the first fairway. There was even Colin Montgomerie hoping Clarke would cinch the winning point on Sunday, and let's just say Clarke and Monty aren't blood brothers.
When Clarke lagged down to tap-in range, Johnson conceded that match and the point. Clarke broke down in his caddie's arms. He broke down in Johnson's arms. He broke down in U.S. captain Tom Lehman's arms. Woosie kept saying, "it's destiny my boy."
It certainly was destiny on that Sunday afternoon, but things did not stay so positive.
Clarke registered just one top 20 in all of his 2007 year, tying for 19th at the Scottish Open. In the 2008 campaign, however, there were signs of the same player who had previously won two WGC titles.
He tied for third at the South African Airways Open, then in his next event, took fourth at the Joburg Open. Clarke tied for 10th at the Malaysian Open in mid-March.
The pinnacle came on Sunday in China. Clarke made a 40-foot birdie putt on the 72nd hole to win the Asian Open, his first victory since the 2003 WGC-NEC Invitational.
To win in that kind of fashion makes you believe something else was at play. (Of course, Adam Scott made a 50-footer to win later that same day, slightly cracking that theory.)
"Sometimes things are meant to happen, sometimes not. I guess today was my day," Clarke said Sunday after the win.
Most have not been confronted with the incredible anguish that Clarke went through. It's impossible to gauge one's feelings when facing something like cancer taking the one you love. Winning a golf tournament pales in comparison, and certainly the mind will wander.
"My mind started going forward from the 14th onwards," admitted Clarke. "I lost my concentration and started thinking about Heather and the boys and in this game unless you keep your concentration for the whole way you make mistakes. That's what I did. But on the last green I gathered myself and said, 'Hit a good putt.' Luckily I did and it went in."
Clarke has always been known as a man who likes to have his fun. He enjoys his Guinness, fast cars and cigars. He's a guy that most guys can get on board with. When you watch Camilo Villegas and his 28-inch waist contort to read a putt, you realize Clarke would never get up again from that position, and probably couldn't even get his beer gut down in the first place.
He's everything a regular guy wants to be. Imagine John Daly without the five divorces, legal trouble, gambling debts and propensity for walking off a course in disgust for any number of reasons.
Clarke has always been a guy to root for. He was before he and his wife faced mortality with courage, and he definitely is now that he's won again. You can take faith knowing that the Ryder Cup is back on his radar, as are several trips to the trophy ceremony.
It's just nice to have a true feel-good story for a good guy.
QUESTIONS
1.) What's going on with Tiger Woods' knee?
A second surgery in a short number of years is somewhat troubling to a player not named Tiger Woods. Golfers have bad body parts. Golf swings aren't natural to the human body. He is expected to be back in time for the U.S. Open, and I'm betting he is. Might hurt his favorite status slightly. Remember, Woods has won six times at Torrey Pines, but Phil Mickelson has three wins there.
2.) Annika Sorenstam won again. Can she contend with Lorena Ochoa?
Yes, but it would be nice to see them play the same week. Ochoa took off last week, but Sorenstam is sitting this week in Oklahoma. Annika won this tournament three times, so it's a little disappointing.
3.) Why is there sad news from Augusta?
Phil Harrison, the long-time starter for the Masters, died of natural causes Sunday.
4.) What changes are coming to the U.S. Open?
According to the Chicago Tribune, NBC plans to take advantage of Torrey Pines and the Pacific time daylight by showing the third and fourth rounds in prime time in the east. Enjoy major golf at night. This makes a lot of sense to me, even though I'm an east-coast guy. NBC can only run so many variations of "Law & Order."
5.) How about Adam Scott?
For those who haven't heard the story, Scott returned to Australia after the Masters and after a couple of beers and rounds with his friends, he flew back to play the Byron Nelson. Is there any other job in the world where a couple of beers and fun golf can lead to $1,152,000? I doubt the next golf outing I play will lead to a Pulitzer.
RANKINGS
1.) Tiger Woods
2.) Phil Mickelson
3.) Steve Stricker
4.) K.J. Choi
5.) Adam Scott - a 48-footer to win? That's lucky.
6.) Vijay Singh
7.) Trevor Immelman - welcome back from the Masters win. Missed cut by a mile at the Byron Nelson.
8.) Ernie Els
9.) Rory Sabbatini
10.) Stewart Cink
CHAMPIONS
1.) Bernhard Langer
2.) Scott Hoch
3.) Loren Roberts
4.) Fred Funk
5.) Tom Watson - if he ever committed fully, he could still contend for Player of the Year. Despite guys coming in that are younger, his ball-striking is as good as anyone's.
6.) Jay Haas
7.) Eduardo Romero
8.) R.W. Eaks
9.) Brad Bryant
10.) Mark Wiebe
LPGA
1.) Lorena Ochoa
2.) Annika Sorenstam - good win against a top player, but it's disappointing that she's not in the field this week.
3.) Paula Creamer - only her first professional playoff Sunday. Couldn't have gone worse considering she left an eight-footer to move on short.
4.) Karrie Webb
5.) Suzann Pettersen
6.) Cristie Kerr
7.) Morgan Pressel
8.) Stacy Prammanasudh
9.) Jee Young Lee
10.) Louise Friberg - pop quiz - who is the only player other than Ochoa, Sorenstam and Creamer to win this year? It's Louise Friberg.
RANDOM THOUGHTS
- One more thing about Tiger, he almost won the Masters with a knee injury that required surgery. Think about that.
- Ryan Moore lost the playoff to Adam Scott at the Byron Nelson by a fluke. His 2004 season of the U.S. Amateur, NCAA Individual title, U.S. Amateur Public Links and Western Amateur was one of the best in the world of golf in recent years. Moore has four runner-ups on tour and - mark it down - he wins by the end of the year. Also has a decent chance at a Ryder Cup berth.
- Non-golf thought - I always love these stories. Miley Cyrus, who could be here in the room with me for all I know, is complaining that she was manipulated into some racy photos in her spread in "Vanity Fair." I guess she was confused when all she was wearing was a blanket and someone yelled, "say cheese."
