Perry Boosted by Support, Playing in Zurich Classic

Mike Dudurich

Posted 2009-04-21

The last thing Kenny Perry wants to become is a sympathetic, ala Greg Norman when discussions of the Masters take place in years to come. Norman had three great opportunities to add a green jacket to his wardrobe and memorabilia from other victories around the world.

The recently-completed Masters was Perry’s to win with two holes to play. He had just knocked in a short birdie putt on the par 3 16th and was two shots ahead of Angel Cabrera and Chad Campbell going to the 17th hole.

But nerves, fate and a little mud on his golf ball conspired to make those two shots disappear faster than you can say “Cabrera just drilled a ball off a tree” and the Kentucky native lost in a playoff. And while the burly 49-year-old has had a gut-wrenching time of it since the final round, he showed up in New Orleans this week to compete in the Zurich Classic, although he admits Thursday’s opening round could be a challenge.

“I drove home from Augusta Monday, got there about 4 in the afternoon,” Perry, who spoke at a press conference Tuesday at the Zurich, said. “There was lots of emotion, lots of tears, lots of smiles. I couldn’t sleep, got none at all that night. I got up at 5 a.m., got in the car and drove for about 3 hours. I wasn’t going anywhere in particular. I was just out there in the countryside where it wasn’t stressful, very peaceful and it was my time to reflect.”

Perry said his quiet time was “all positive and good.” In the end, it all boiled down to his 8-iron chip shot on the 17th hole, a shot he basically skulled across the green, leading to a bogey.

“I wouldn’t have done it any different,” Perry said. “It all boils down to one little chip shot on the 71st hole. You know, I had it all the way up to the last half hour of the tournament. You know, to be in control. So, you know, but that's okay. I mean, I've relived that chip over and over again. And I wouldn't have done it any different. I just need to get better at that shot.”

Perry said the emotional time spent with his family was highlighted by the over 600 emails, cards and letters he received in light of the collapse at Augusta National. He received phone calls from Greg Norman, Phil Mickelson, Scott Hoch, all of whom have experience in Augusta heartbreak. He even got a letter from George W. Bush, one that Perry considers very special.

“My oldest daughter (Lesslye) is the one who struggled,” Perry said. “She was crying, she couldn't contain herself she was crying so hard. She didn't stop all night. She's so tender-hearted and so sweet. She just wanted it. It's tough when people are hurting for you. It's not for themselves, it's nothing involved for themselves, that was tougher for me than losing the tournament. I looked at her and said, ‘I'm the one that should be crying here.’”

Perry said that as the final round wound down, he could feel everything speeding up on him: his game, his heart rate included.

“I was nervous, sure,” he admitted. “But I was nervous at the Ryder Cup, too. Every hole at the Ryder Cup seemed like 17 and 18 at the Masters. When I was up by two going to 17 tee, I started thinking, ‘I just need to make two pars to win the Masters.’ I hadn’t thought defensively like that all week and you can’t win that way.”

Perry also admitted that as the sun started to set in the Georgia sky, “it started to smell a lot like the 1996 PGA Championship.” That was the first major that got away from him, losing in a playoff to Mark Brooks.

“But I felt like I was prepared to be there this time after what happened in 1996,” he said. “Look, I’m doing stuff most people shouldn’t be doing at my age. I can still hit the ball 300-plus yards. I'm doing neat stuff. But it's a shame I figured it out so late in my career. I wish I could roll back 20 years and have my mindset now and my golf swing. I hit it beautifully 20 years ago, I didn't have the short game and didn't have the head where I have it now. I'm just a slow learner, I guess.”

Perry said how well he played at Augusta will serve as a boost to his confidence for the last three majors of the year, as well as the Players Championship in a couple weeks. At the same time, he admits that getting his round started Thursday will be difficult.

“Whenever I tee off, it's going to be very difficult. It's going to be one of the hardest things I'm ever going to do,” he said. “But for me, the sooner I get back into it and get over it, the better it's going to be for me. So that's another way to look at it.

“I need to throw myself back out there and get ready. We've got the Players coming and Bethpage (U.S. Open) coming and Turnberry (British Open) and the PGA (Hazeltine). You know what, I just need to get over it. Somehow I've got to get through it better than I did the '96 PGA. I didn't get over that very well.”

Perry won’t be playing in next week’s Wachovia Championship. He’ll, instead, be doing something that is just about as special as it gets for a native Kentuckian. “I am the grand marshall, my dad and I are, the grand marshals at the Kentucky Derby parade next Thursday, Derby week in Louisville, Kentucky,” he said. “So that's pretty neat. Something I will enjoy with my dad.”

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