Monday, June 11, 2001
May ready for another tangle
with Tiger
By MIKE BALDWIN
The Daily Oklahoman
TULSA — If Bob May had trimmed just
one shot off any of his four rounds at last year's PGA Championship,
there wouldn't be a controversy about Tiger Woods' Grand Slam.
May's August duel with Woods at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville
was one of the classic finishes at a major in recent years. Woods
sank birdie putt after birdie putt to finish with a PGA Championship
record 18-under-par 270. May matched him shot for shot.
Woods won a three-hole playoff by recording
a birdie on the first of three playoff holes. May, an Oklahoma
State product, posted three pars to finish second, but consecutive
66s the final three days put May in the national spotlight.
“Some of your friends remind you there
wouldn't be a Tiger slam if I had made one more putt,” said
May of Woods' four straight major wins over the course of two
seasons. “It was the greatest thrill of my career, even though
you'd like to have won.”
Woods owned a one-shot lead heading into
the final round but May earned a one-stroke lead with nine holes
left. May then made four birdies in five holes to maintain a one-shot
lead. Woods birdied No. 17 to tie and both players posted birdies
on 18.
“It was a lot of fun because I played
really good golf that week,” May said. “I was fortunate
enough to play in the final group with Tiger and gave him a good
challenge. I just happened to be one putt short. It's not something
I dwell on. That's in the past.”
The PGA Championship runner-up finish was
one of many strong showings for May in 2000. May won the 1999
British Masters, but is still searching for his first PGA Tour
win. He was second twice last year, had six top-10 finishes and
earned $1.55 million to finish 29th on the money list.
“I played solid,” May said. “I
think I'm playing just as good or better this year. It's just
that my health has held me back a little bit. I'm just now getting
back into the flow of things, but I think I'll have some good
tournaments this year.”
May, 32, was sidelined nearly two months
with two bulging discs in his lower back. Doctors prescribed rest.
May returned in late April and has notched several Top 20 finishes.
Is it possible May will once again challenge Woods at the next
major, the U.S. Open at Southern Hills?
“Once my health is completely solved
I'll be fine,” May said. “I took eight weeks off and
worked out every day. I'm feeling better, feeling stronger. I
just have to be extra careful. I can't do much extra practice
because it will start hurting.”
May has played Southern Hills “only
three or four times.” But it will be a homecoming of sorts.
His wife, Brenda, lived in several Oklahoma cities growing up,
including Enid and Tulsa.
May has several in-laws who live in Tulsa,
including Brenda's parents, Roy and Margaret Rice.
“It will be a great week,” May
said. “I'll get to see my niece which I hardly get to see
all that often other than the holidays. It should be great fun.
I'm really looking forward to it.”
A three-time All-American at OSU, May played
on the Cowboys' 1991 NCAA championship team. He and Brenda and
their two children live in Las Vegas. If May is on the leader
board the final day at the U.S. Open he can draw from the experience
of last year's duel with Woods.
“Southern Hills is a great course,
a very difficult course. With the USGA setting it up, it probably
will be too difficult,” May said, laughing. “That golf
course doesn't need much help. Personally, I like tight courses.”
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