DiMarco hopes for lift

2008-03-12

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By Matt McGeehanSpecial to PA SportsTicker

JEJU, South Korea (Ticker) -- Chris DiMarco admits the last five months have been the saddest of his life but hopes the blunt approach of his wife at the Ballantine''s Championship can relaunch his ailing career.

The 39-year-old American, who has finished as the runner-up inthree Majors, has endured a torrid run of events culminating ina rapid fall down the world rankings.

Following a skiing accident and shoulder surgery last September,the world No. 124 has missed eight of his last 10 cuts buthopes a good performance at the Pinx Golf Club in Jeju Island,South Korea can prompt a return to form.

"The saddest part of my career is probably the last fivemonths," said DiMarco, who endured a 31-hour journey fromOrlando. "When you''re expected to do well and you''re not doingit, that''s the hardest thing.

"But golf''s such a fickle game - one good week and you''re backon top of the world. Usually that''s all it takes for most guysand that''s what I''m looking for."

DiMarco''s wife Amy will act as his caddie this week, a positionshe held early in his career and twice in recent seasons,overseeing first and fourth-placed finishes at the Abu DhabiChampionship in 2006 and 2007.

"Hopefully the lucky charm will be back," DiMarco said. "I needa little luck right now, so I need her on the bag."

DiMarco revealed his wife''s blunt approach could help him climbout of his rut.

"When I ask her, what do you think? She just goes: ''I don''t knowjust hit it on the green. There''s the pin, hit it at it'',"DiMarco said. "I think that helps me. I don''t think I overthink but I tend to maybe bring too much in instead of focusingon what''s in hand.

"I''ve tried so many different things to try and kick myself intoconsistency and it just hasn''t come. Hopefully just going outand having fun this week and being able to walk down fairwayswith my wife is going to be special."

DiMarco cites the examples of Mike Weir and Scott Verplank, whoboth bounced back successfully from similar slumps, and believespatience is the main factor required for him to rediscover hisform and confidence.

"By swinging with pain I worked myself into a few habits that Ihave to get out of, that I''ve been trying to get out of,"DiMarco said. "When you''re hurting and your body is aching,it''s hard to go out and swing free and then you hit some shotsyou''re not used to hitting and all of a sudden you startquestioning your ability and I think that''s the hardest thing.

"Searching and trying one swing here and two holes later tryinganother swing ... that''s not my game. You''re going to have tohit the bad shots with the good shots and you''re just going tohave to deal with them."

DiMarco insists he can come back and hopes a good performancethis week can propel him to a Ryder Cup appearance later thisyear under Paul Azinger in what would be his third straightcontest against Europe.

"I''m gearing myself up," DiMarco said. "I''m hopefully here toget things back on the right roll and maybe start hitting stridearound June, July, August so I can at least start proving tohim (Azinger) that I''m there and it''s something I want to do."