Rory Sabbatini won a golf tournament for the first time in two years and the fifth time in his career.  Regardless of what you think of Mr. Sabbatini, I am not a fan, he played some great golf on Sunday afternoon when the pressure was palpable.  His six under 64, despite a bogey on the 18th hole, broke the tournament scoring record set in 1999 by Loren Roberts and Steve Pate (Mr. Pate lost in a playoff) by a stroke.  "I had the ability to go home and battle with my children and other stuff, so my focus wasn’t ever thinking about golf," Sabbatini said. "I came out here feeling very fresh and very relaxed. … I went out there with the intent of having some fun."  It certainly looked like fun,  drive in the fairway, stick an iron close, make a putt.  All while Brian Davis did the same right in front of him.  Mr. Davis posted a bogey free 64 and finished in the top five the third tournament in a row, his second place finish is the third of his career during which he has yet to win a PGA event.  "I’m disappointed I didn’t win. But all you can do is put yourself in position," said Davis, whose streak of 20 consecutive rounds of par or better is the longest on the PGA Tour.

John Mallinger started the day tied with Mr. Sabattini but couldn’t make a putt all day,  He kept burning the edges of the hole and losing ground while the frustration continued to grow.  But he can play, and play with the big boys I’ll give him that, his sixth place finish not only earned him some money, but some experience which he should find helpful in the future.  This was his third top ten this year and pushed his earning to over a million dollars.  I like this kid’s game.

Scott McCarron shot a final round 62 wielding that long putter of his like a broom sweeping putt after putt into the hole.  He tied for fourth with Dustin Johnson, four shots behind the winner.  A nice week for a 43 year old guy, and his second top 10 of the year. 

Rookie and Nationwide graduate D.A. Points finished alone in third place after a 65, the best finish of his career to date. He never really threatened the leader on Sunday, but still managed a strong finish and healthy check. 

With all the players wearing pink ribbons on their hats as show of support for Amy Mickelson in her battle with breast cancer, Mr. Sabbatini had friends going thru their own bout with the big C on his mind all week.  His friend is fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma, one the more curable forms of cancer with a success rate around 90%.  But as with any cancer treatment the cure can be somewhat worse than the disease for a while.  Said Mr. Sabbatini when asked, "This is a guy that’s 6-foot-2, 205 pounds, and showed up at Augusta, and he looks about 85 years old and pretty much just skin and bones," Sabbatini said. "It really puts everything we do out here into perspective."  Yes sir it does.  True life and death always trumps the mundane thank goodness.  Else how would we ever truly appreciate living, or recognize that most of the stuff we get worked up about is not very important at all. 

Next week we’re off to Colonial for the third leg of the Texas swing.  Until then, remember those who served and died so you have the freedom to do whatever it is you do.  Have a safe Memorial Day