Second to Tiger Woods no disgrace
By DENNE H. FREEMAN / AP Sports Writer
IRVING, Texas (AP) - Finishing second to Tiger Woods is fast
becoming a badge of honor.
At the Masters, it was Tom Kite who was 12 shots back as Woods
finished with a record 18-under-par total at Augusta National
Golf Club.
This Sunday, it was journeyman Lee Rinker, a PGA Tour non-winner,
who held together bravely among the whoops and shouts of 100,000
fans for the silver medal. He finished two shots behind Woods's
record 17-under total at the GTE Byron Nelson Classic.
Rinker shot a 2-under 68 Sunday for the highest finish in the
Floridian's seven years on tour. The former Alabama star tied
for third at the Honda Classic in 1996.
The runner-up's check for $194,400 served as sweet solace to
Rinker, who knew what he was up against.
"He's going to shoot in the 50s out here on tour one day,
there's no doubt about it," Rinker said. "He is impressive.
The great thing is he only takes up one spot in the purse. I did
all right. This was a great experience, something I'll remember
the rest of my life."
Rinker's finish assured him of his tour playing card for next
year.
"That's the big thing," Rinker said. "I've gone
from the outhouse to the penthouse. I kept telling my wife I'd
turn things around."
Rinker, who played with Woods on Saturday and shot a 69, said
his holding up to the pressure has proved he can play.
"I've played with Tiger and I've played well," Rinker
said. "With the gallery and everything else that was going
on out here if you can play under these circumstances you can
play anywhere."
Rinker joked that even his fans and relatives deserted him
Sunday to watch Woods.
"My brother (Larry) stayed with me," Rinker said.
"He said I got a standing ovation coming off the last green
but I don't think I even heard it."
Rinker said Woods plays a different game than the other professionals.
"Tiger kept saying he didn't have his 'A' game this week,"
Rinker said. "What is his 'A' game, 40-under-par?"
Other contenders faded fast.
Tom Watson, a four-time Nelson champion, finished four shots
back after a water ball double-bogey on No. 11 and a blown short
putt for a bogey on 18.
Dave Berganio, who started the day two strokes behind Woods
and was paired with him, shot a 3-over 73.
Dan Forsman bogeyed the last hole to finish tied for third
with Watson.
"All in all it was a great day," Rinker said. "Holy
smokes. If I had won the tournament then it would have really
been something to talk about. But I'll take second. I needed it."
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