HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Stewart Cink's no longer the guy
who frets about every missed putt, no matter if it's on the
practice green or in the U.S. Open.
So when he missed two chances to win on makeable putts of about
15 feet during a five-hole playoff with Ted Purdy in the MCI
Heritage, Cink stayed strong and confident.
"Now I don't get afraid anymore when I miss putts, because I
know it doesn't mean anything except the ball doesn't go in the
hole," Cink said Sunday. "Everybody misses putts. I'm one of the
best putters on tour and I know that."
Cink overcame a nine-stroke deficit, shooting a 7-under 64 --
highlighted by an eagle and six birdies -- to match Purdy at
10-under 274 on the Harbour Town course. Purdy started the round
with a four-shot lead, but struggled to a 73.
After the two players matched pars on the first four extra
holes, Cink rolled in a 6-foot birdie putt for the victory after
Purdy made par on the par-4 16th.
After the celebration and champion's ceremony, Cink and PGA Tour
tournament director Slugger White went off to review tape of a
marvelous shot from the waste bunker that set up the winning
birdie. The PGA Tour had gotten calls that Cink had improved his
lie when he removed stones and loose impediments from around his
ball.
They watched the tape "10 or 12 times, rolled it up, rolled it
back, rolled it up, rolled it back," White said. "The
determination was that he was within his rights."
Purdy didn't see Cink's set up. Even if Purdy did, he certainly
didn't want his first PGA Tour win handed to him on a technicality.
"I didn't bring it up," Purdy said. "But it was some shot."
Controversy cleared up. And apparently, so are Cink's very
public putting problems.
Three years ago in the U.S. Open at Southern Hills, Cink missed
a simple putt from a foot and a half away that would've gotten him
into a playoff with Retief Goosen and Mark Brooks. Instead, Cink
had to deal with amateur psychologists giving him tips about
everything connected with his game. Nothing could straighten him
out.
"I honestly never really knew if I'd ever have this chance to
win again," he said.
Mental coaching helped his head, while a belly putter steadied
his stats.
There's almost no difference on his putting stroke, "and that's
the beauty of it," Cink said. "It forces me to stay still, and
that's really important."
Ernie Els shot a 69 to tie for third at 8 under, his same score
of a week ago when he lost by a stroke to Phil Mickelson at the
Masters.
Cink was so far back he teed off nearly two hours before Purdy,
the 54-hole leader bidding for his first PGA Tour win.
Then again, Cink's got a knack for charging late at Harbour Town
Golf Links. In 2000, Cink trailed Els by five shots here before a
closing 65 got him the victory.
"I've been around here long enough to know that rarely does it
finish that way," Cink said.
Purdy had a chance to win in regulation with a birdie putt
inside of 10 feet on No. 18, but he slipped it left to lead to the
tournament's third playoff in four years.
"That was the easiest putt you can have, pretty straight
putt," he said. "And I guess I was a little jumpy and I pulled
it."
Purdy also missed a 15-foot try on the first extra hole that
would have given him a victory.
Cink started fast with birdies on the second and third holes. He
gained more momentum with a 20-footer for eagle on the par-5 fifth
hole.
Cink made consecutive birdies on Nos. 9 and 10 to keep the
pressure on. After his only bogey at No. 11, Cink surged again with
birdies on the 15th hole and on the 18th, jabbing his fist in the
air as the ball disappeared.
Still, Cink wouldn't have been in it without Purdy's fade.
The 30-year-old, whose only U.S. victory was the Nationwide
Tour's First Tee Arkansas Classic a year ago this week, rose to the
top of the leaderboard with rounds of 69-67-65.
Purdy fell into a tie with Cink when he chipped short on his
third shot to the par-5 15th and could not make a 10-foot par putt.