Williamson needs a win and he''s in

2008-04-01

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By John RegerPA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

HUMBLE, Texas (Ticker) In a rain that is more annoying thanprohibitive, Jay Williamson was on the putting green on Tuesday,his caddie holding an umbrella above his head.

Williamson is looking for a stroke that has left him, but if hecan get back, knows he will be richly rewarded.

The 41-year-old is one of the players who are outside the gatesof Augusta National looking in, and this week is the lastopportunity to gain entry into one of the most special events insports.

The Houston Open provides a lottery ticket of sorts for players,since the one fortunate enough to win this week will also win aspot in the field for the season''s first major.

Williamson has never been to The Masters and knows what avictory would mean this week.

"I think most of the players out here look forward to playingin The Masters and think they can actually win this week,"Williamson said. "That''s one of the reasons I''m here. I''ve neverplayed there and I''m not getting any younger."

So he toils in the rain preparing for his 301st career start,the first 300 going by without a victory. Williamson is happywith every other part of his game except his putting.

"My ball striking is pretty good, but my putting I am trying toimprove," Williamson said. "If I can putt better I would have achance to win."

Williamson could see that goal, it was in his grasp, and allthat was standing between him and a shot at a green jacket was a12-foot putt.

The Travelers Championship last year came down to the finalhole. Williamson had staved off a run from Hunter Mahan butfound himself tied on the final hole with his birdie putt hischance to avoid a playoff.

It was a putt Williamson had made countless times before. It wasa putt that would give him not only entry to the Masters, buthis first career victory and job security for two years.

As he stood over the putt, he tried to block out all of theenticements that dangled before him. He tried not to think aboutthe 279 starts without a victory, the 18 years on tour, hishighest finish ever a tie for third at the 2003 Bell SouthClassic. The two years he had to swallow his pride and play theNationwide Tour to get his card back.

The putt slid by the hole.

"I couldn''t make the putt," Williamson said.

He missed a 7-footer on the first playoff hole to extend thetournament and watched as four-year pro Hunter Mahan held atrophy that could have been his. He was more than gracious afterthe event, saying Mahan had played better, but for amiddle-aged journeyman, those chances to win don''t come everyday.

Last week Williamson was near the top of the leaderboard afterthe second round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Hefinished with rounds of 72, 75 and dropped from a tie for thirdto a tie for 33rd.

"It was incredibly disappointing that I didn''t perform,"Williamson said. "You don''t get that opportunity very often. Ididn''t take advantage of it and I should have."

So Augusta National looms as a possibility for Williamson, asdoes his chance for his first tour victory.

"I wouldn''t say that that''s pressure for me," Williamson said."I would love to play there, I''d love the opportunity. You knowa guy in my position it would definitely be a dream come true."