Na Resists Urge To Whiff, Still Wins

I have to say, listening to Kevin Na berate a security guard on Wednesday at Las Vegas did not have me running to the Caesar's sportsbook to plunk down $20 on the slowpoke to win. But clearly the incident didn't hurt the turtle from overcoming himself or his desire to take his sweet time, as he prevailed in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospital For Children.

Interestingly, he should have followed up Saturday's non-whiff whiff with another non-whiff whiff, but he refused to non-whiff despite not feeling right over the ball:

The winner had five birdies and a bogey on the front nine to reach 21 under. He parred the first four holes on the back nine, then dropped a stroke on the par-3 14th to fall into a tie with Watney.

"I hit a terrible shot on 14," Na said. "I should have backed off. I always back off, but I felt, 'I'm going to hit this.' And I hit a terrible shot and made bogey.

"To bounce back after that bogey, to hit that chip to 3 feet - I had a great chip from down there - I was able to relax a little bit. Then I had a great two-putt for birdie on the next hole. It gave me a one-shot lead. I told myself par, par, you're going to win this golf tournament."

Na pulled ahead with his birdie on the par-4 15th and both players birdied the par-5 16th.

Comments

[Del the Funk]

"...it really looked like Nick Watney wasn't even interested in the golf tournament..." -- Charlie Rymer --

Pretty brutal commentary there. Then they cut to Brandel & Terry for more on that exact topic and GC cuts away.

[The Walking Golfer]

and JT didn't even perform at the JT concert at Planet Hollywood.

What is the world coming to???

Congrats to the whiffapotamus.

[No Longer Used to be Former S&T Convert]

He berated a security guard? Like my "ol man told me: you can learn a lot about people observing the way the way they treat waitresses, flight attendants, etc...

[Matt]

I believe his caddy is still lining up the celebratory drinks for him.

Hopefully the one and only time we ever see this guy in the winner's circle

[FWIW]

I'm just a little less irritated today that the Masters doesn't give invites to Fall Series winners.

[ForeRight!]

I couldn't help noticing his caddy checking his line on every shot. Between that and the intentional whiffs, that must be a hell of a grind to play.

[Jim]

I can't pull for a guy that slow. And he berates a security guard as well? Fuggedaboutit...

[AK47]

The least popular Tour winner since .... ? At least Sabbo plays fast

[COB]

"I always back off." - Kevin Na

[Del the Funk]

@ Jim...if history is any indication you may actually be looking at your next F.E.C. champion.

Na's career development is eerily tracking that of Bill Haas. Late last year Haas picked off the Viking Classic which really set him off to the races.and allowed him to go into the Tour Championship in 25th place, perfectly poised to dominate the The Pillow Fight at East Lake. It is looking like Kevin Na is setting himself up for a similar run.

Now I should point out that Na did not win the Hope at 30-under earlier this year, but he did shoot 24-under for 5th, that's almost as good. Offsetting that, Kevin Na does have a top-10 in a major, Bill Haas still doesn't.

I'm expecting big things from Kevin Na going forward, might just be a Prez Cup mainstay.

[Mike T.]

Won't. Watch. Na. Play. Ever. Again.

[Del the Funk]

Blame.The.PGA.Tour.Not.Na.

When.Was.The.Last.Time.The.PGA.Tour.Penalized.Someone.A.Stroke.For.Slow.Play? (hint: a current tour official got the penalty)

[GolfFan]

You guys all should have watched the Dunhill and then go out and play instead of (NoMo) Na.

Hoey beat everyone that mattered who was playing in a tournament yesterday at the Home of Golf! And you call yourself golfers ...

:-)

[Mike T.]

Del—You're right, the TOUR is gutless when it comes to penalizing slow play. But I'm still gonna blame Na.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

@Del: Well, can't remember the date, but it was that noted Canadian AMATEUR Champion, Dillard Pruitt. Sorry for raising my voice, but if anyone can come up with a more ridiculous "reinstatement special" I'll speak more softly.

[Del the Funk]

Mike T., like all the other slow players (Crane, W. Simpson, Holmes, etc...), they are simply operating within the framework provided by the PGA Tour. While you and I may not like it, they are clearly well within the rules and parameters as prescribed by the PGA Tour. If everyone would take the energy they are spending getting mad at individual players and refocus it on PGA Tour management (write a letter) maybe we would see some change. A HUGE maybe, but... Heck, turn the TV off and every day you don't watch the PGA Tour because of slow play send a letter to the Tour. You'd probably free up a lot of time for other things.

Bottom line, I don't see any chance of material improvement anytime in the foreseeable future.

Seems to me that about 90% of them are pretty darn slow...Na just happens to be the flavor of the week.

[Mike T.]

Del–I understand that slow players on the Tour have no reason to hurry up. And I don't think a letter from me or a hundred or even a thousand other viewers will make any difference. If I was a deep-pocketed sponsor… Now that might get a Tour VP's attention.

[No Longer Used to be Former S&T Convert]

I loved watching Hass, but turned off the TV yesterday with Na. Like watching Ricky, can't watch Webb. I cannot watch Furyk, ever. Obviously my viewing habits are not shared by others or Tour ratings would reflect a ratings dip when slow players are being shown....