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