Weekend recap - Lordy, lordy, the winners are 40 (or over)

K.J. Choi reacts to his winning putt

     There is a certain, undeniable pleasure to be had from watching flinty pro's ply their craft when everything is on the line.  Despite the recent youth movement sweeping professional golf, we were treated Sunday to an exhibition of experience, wisdom and judgment prevailing over youth and power.  On one of the longest tournament days in recent memory, a trio of 40 somethings finished on top of the leaderboard in The Players Championship, with K.J. Choi beating David Toms on the first hole of the most sudden of sudden death playoffs. Another veteran campaigner, Paul Goydos, finished two strokes back in solo third.

     With a rainy washout of a Saturday necessitating the playing of upwards of 30 holes over 12 hours on Sunday, you would have been excused of you gave the advantage to one of the many young players close to the lead.  Stellar names like Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald, Nick Watney and Aaron Baddeley  were all in contention, but all spit the bit in the final round.  McDowell looked like a sure contender after the completion of the third round left him a stoke in front, even after a freakish bounce sent his ball the width of the 18th green and into the water.  That poor piece of luck seemed to multiply as his newly tweaked swing disintegrated over the course of the final round, resulting in a disastrous 79 and a fade to a tie for 33rd.  Watney seemingly had a dozen chances to get on a roll, but in the end, poor judgment led to impossible predicaments and a tie for fourth with Donald, who never really got it going.

     No, youth would not be served on this day.  In the end, the three oldest guys in contention were the last ones standing.  Goydos finished with a gutsy birdie-par-par finish to take the clubhouse lead at -11 just before Toms and Choi hit their tee shots on the treacherous 17th.  He then took the low post-round interview honors as he engaged in a good natured joust with NBC's Jimmy Roberts.  Roberts: "Paul, you're the leader in the clubhouse at this point . . ." Goydos: (interrupts, squinting into the bright sunlight) "We're outside of the clubhouse right now."  Moments later, Roberts: "Paul, you had to play 21 holes today, did the long day have an effect on your stamina?"  Goydos: "Now I'm a professional athlete and I'm offended by that remark."  Goydos, whose physique is anything but athletic, then turned to the camera and quipped, "Just kidding America."

     The last three holes were the key to the tournament for the last group.  Choi laid up on the par five 16th, too close to the tree overhanging the fairway, which would influence his next shot.  Toms, with 233 yards to the front and leading by one, then tried for a knockout blow by going for the green with a hybrid.  He mishit a dying flare to the right and rinsed it, opening the door for Choi, who hit the niftiest low running punch you've ever seen to six feet.  He missed the putt and the two went to the island green 17th tied.  They traded birdies on the last two holes, Choi's after a stiffed wedge to 17, Toms' after a five iron from a sand filled divot on 18 and a clutch 18 foot putt.  The playoff started on the 17th, with Choi winning after Toms, his wedge tee shot barely hanging on the slope above the hole, three putted for bogey, ending the fourth playoff in as many weeks on the PGA Tour.

     Darren Clarke continued the 40 something surge with a win in the European Tour's Iberdrola Open at the Pula Course in  Mallorca, Spain.  The win was Clarke's first in three years and came on the strength of the Northern Irishman's final round 69.

     The other big story of the week was Tiger Woods' WD after only nine holes of the first round.  Woods played the first nine in a shocking six over 42 and walked in, citing a re-injury to his left leg.  The injury may well keep Woods out of competition until the U.S. Open June 16-19 at Congressional.  You have to think that Woods 2011 campaign is starting to resemble his 2010 season; lots of injury time and no wins.  Given Woods famously tight lipped stance on any information regarding injuries, we'll probably never know how bad this current "sprain" is.  The biggest question mark may have nothing to do with his health or his swing.  The longer he is away from contention, the more his battered psyche is bound to be affected.  Stay tuned.

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