Calcavecchia to defend PODS Championship

2008-03-04

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PALM HARBOR, Florida (Ticker) -- After a near miss, Mark Calcavecchia looks to once again hit the mark at the PODSChampionship.

Calcavecchia starts defense of his title on Thursday when thePGA Tour's Florida swing continues with the $5.3 million eventat Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.

Calcavecchia was able to win this event last year with hisstrong putting.

"The first day I hit the first 16 greens in a row and was evenand then finished triple bogey, bogey, 36 putts or something,and that's when I had the bags packed," Calcavecchia said. "ButI was hitting it well. I knew I was hitting it good.

"I hit it good the week before at (The Honda Classic) and shot78-71 or something, 9 over, and had about 35 or 36 putts everyday. All of a sudden I switched putters, kept hitting it good. Ihit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens, but then I just madeeverything I looked at."

Last week at the Honda Classic, Calcavecchia posted adisappointing tie for fourth.

Usually any finish that good is cause for celebration, butCalcavecchia had a share of the lead with eventual winner ErnieEls before a wayward tee shot into a greenside bunker at thepar-3 15th, led to a double-bogey.

Last year, Calcavecchia opened with a 4-over-par 75 - thehighest first-round score by a winner on tour since 1997. Herebounded with a 62 in the third round and eventually edged JohnSenden and Heath Slocum by one shot.

"It's a good achievement; you know, winning a tournament on thePGA Tour is a very hard thing to do for most mortals, and beingan older guy ... not exactly in the greatest shape ... it's goodto win and nice to know we can still do it," said the 47-yearold Calcavecchia.

Calcavecchia will be looking to become the first repeat winnerat this event in its history. To do so, he'll have to overcomeEls, among others.

"The first day I hit the first 16 greens in a row and was evenand then finished triple bogey, bogey, 36 putts or something,and that's when I had the bags packed. But I was hitting itwell. I knew I was hitting it good. I hit it good the weekbefore at [The Honda Classic] and shot 78-71 or something, 9over, and had about 35 or 36 putts every day. All of a sudden Iswitched putters, kept hitting it good. I hit a lot of fairwaysand a lot of greens, but then I just made everything I lookedat."

Els is in the field this week after posting his first PGA Tourtitle in 3 years, 4 months and 29 days.

The field also includes Retief Goosen, Steve Stricker, JohnDaly, Stephen Ames, Paul Casey and U.S. Ryder Cup captain PaulAzinger.

Fred Couples will make his first start since being named 2009U.S. Presidents Cup captain. Only once before has he competed inthe PODS Championship, tying for 14th in the inaugural editionin 2000.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook is a 36-35- par-71 thatplays 7,340 yards.

First prize is 954,000.