PODS CHAMPIONSHIP

Mark Madness

By KATHERINE SMITH The Tampa Tribune

Published: Mar 12, 2007

PALM HARBOR - Heath Slocum made sure there was no playoff at the PODS Championship on Sunday.

He did so by missing a 4-foot par putt on the 18th hole, giving Mark Calcavecchia the victory by one stroke.

There was no fist pumping or jumping into water. Calcavecchia celebrated his 13th PGA Tour victory by dropping his head in disbelief.

"That's not a good way to win a tournament," Calcavecchia said to Slocum.

It's a victory nonetheless, one that comes with a $954,000 check, putting Calcavecchia over $20 million in career earnings. He followed his third-round course-record 9-under 62 with a 70 to finish the tournament at 10 under.

"I never felt like this after winning a tournament," Calcavecchia said. "I'm not emotional yet. I think I'm still partially stunned at what happened."

So was Slocum.

The tournament appeared headed for a playoff when Calcavecchia dropped to 10 under with Slocum after missing a 7-foot par putt on No. 18. But Slocum missed his par putt, giving Calcavecchia the victory.

"I guess I knew I won, but it didn't feel like it," Calcavecchia said. "I was never thinking he was going to miss it."

Slocum rallied after a slow start, one that began with a double bogey on the second hole and a bogey on No. 9. He reeled off three consecutive birdies after he made the turn and added another at 14 to put pressure on Calcavecchia.

"I knew that if I could just find that swing again, that rhythm that I was having, I knew I could make a run on the back," Slocum said. "And, you know, I did. I just came up a little short."

Slocum (9 under) tied for second with John Senden, the first player in the clubhouse at 9 under.

Defending champion K.J. Choi, who began the day one shot back of the co-leaders, spent the majority of the day hitting out of the deep rough. Choi was 1 over on the day and finished tied for sixth at 7 under.

Charles Howell III also tied for sixth after turning in a 65, the low round of the day.

Calcavecchia distanced himself from the field on the front nine but ran into some trouble after the turn. After missing a 3 1/2 -foot birdie putt on the 15th hole, Calcavecchia's tee shot on No. 16 nearly went in the water and landed in the deep rough.

He bogeyed that hole, one of his two bogeys on the final three holes.

The irony of his "lucky" No. 13 wasn't lost on Calcavecchia. It's his favorite number. It's the number his favorite football player, Dan Marino, wore. But going so long without a victory, Calcavecchia wondered if he would ever hoist a trophy again.

"I wasn't sure if I would ever win again," said Calcavecchia, who last won in 2005 at the Bell Canadian Open. "It's a hard thing to do out here. It's very difficult."

Calcavecchia is taking today off, then he and the family are headed to Disney World for a couple days. It's only fitting he'll be at a theme park that boasts "where dreams do come true" considering Calcavecchia's week. He was convinced he would miss the cut and packed his bags, but then went out and played a solid round Friday before tying the course record Saturday, setting the stage for his victory.

"From where I was Thursday, maybe it's just a fairytale week,' said Calcavecchia, who opened the tournament with a 75. "This stuff doesn't happen to me, from bottom to top in three days. I know things happen in a hurry in this game, but that's a new record there.

"From no hope, no chance, missed cut to victory."

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860 or ksmith@tampatrib.com.