After Augusta breakdown, the Masters runner-up is feeling the love
Heartbreak at Augusta National has brought many golfers to tears, some in public — such as Brandt Snedeker, Len Mattiace and Kenny Perry — and many more, it is assumed, in private.
After losing a two-stroke lead in the final two holes, then falling in a playoff to Angel Cabrera 11 days ago in the Masters, Perry was not only overwhelmed by his emotions, but later, by his legions of support.
“I received almost 600 e-mails, hundreds of cards and letters, people who genuinely cared,” said Perry, who returns to the tour this week at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans.
Perry, 48, knew he was popular in his home state of Kentucky. He was righteously toasted in Louisville last September when he helped the U.S. defeat Europe in the Ryder Cup. With his Masters pratfall, however, and his generous acceptance of defeat, Perry won fans from all over the globe.
“I had letters from New Zealand, Australia, from Europe, Canada,” said Perry. “They said, ‘I don’t know you. But I was truly impressed by how you handled yourself. You taught my kids sportsmanship. You taught my kids life lessons. You’re truly a champion.’ I broke down. I was just balling. I couldn’t believe people who didn’t know me, took the time to write me a note.”
Perry also heard from former President George W. Bush, as well as players who have felt major championship disappointment — Greg Norman, Scott Hoch, and Phil Mickelson.
“You feel bad for Kenny,” said Tiger Woods, Monday at Media Day for the AT&T National. “He’s 48 years old. You don’t know how [many] more chances he’s going to get.”
Perry’s drama was played out on golf’s most vivid stage. After playing an error-free final round and nearly making a hole-in-one at No. 16 to take a two-stroke lead, Perry skulled a chip shot that led to a bogey on the 71st hole, then pulled his drive into a fairway bunker, needing a par to win on the final hole.
In his only other chance to win a major, in the PGA Championship in 1996 in Kentucky, Perry’s wayward drive, again left, on the first playoff hole cost him against Mark Brooks.
“When my golf swing gets a little faster and out of rhythm and out of tempo, I tend to pull shots to the left,” said Perry. “So I knew right then, I was feeling a little differently than I had the previous 16 holes.”
Don’t be so fast to consider the Masters Perry’s last chance. He has 13 PGA Tour victories and is ranked No. 5 in the world. Since winning his third Memorial title last June, Perry has twice as many PGA Tour victories (four) as any other player.
“I need to throw myself back out there and get ready,” said Perry. “We’ve got the Players [Championship] coming and Bethpage (U.S. Open) and Turnberry (British Open) and the PGA. I need to get over it. Somehow I’ve got to get through it better than I did in the ’96 PGA. I didn’t get over that very well.”
One thing Perry now knows, that if he gets another opportunity, he’ll have plenty of support from all over the world.
