Kendall readies for unlikely defense of Chitimacha title

text size

Forget a needle. Given the 18-plus years of existence of the Nationwide Tour, someone likely would have found it while rummaging through the circuit's proverbial haystack as time went by.

Kendall made the cut last weekend in the Puerto Rico Open presented by Banco Popular. (WireImage)

No, what we're looking for apparently is much more miniscule -- a grain of sand anyone? See the thing is, it remains hidden among the million upon million strands of straw.

What the Nationwide Tour continues to search high and low for is a proper title defense, something that has yet to occur despite the fact that there almost 400 chances to repeat since 1991, the TOUR's second year in existence.

Sure, there have been several close calls. Michael Clark lost to Kevin Johnson on the second extra hole of a playoff at the 1997 Puget Sound Open after winning in 1996. Buddy Gardner was solo second in the 1991 Panama Beach Open and Todd Barranger finished tied for second in the 2002 Dayton Open.

But the point remains: There has been no defense when it comes to defending.

Enter Skip Kendall, the only man who can break the Nationwide's defense oh-for. The opportunity comes knock, knock, knocking on Kendall's door deep in the heart of Louisiana's culturally and culinary rich Cajun Country when the Chitimacha Louisiana Open presented by Dynamic Industries begins Thursday at Le Triomphe Golf Club just outside Lafayette.

Kendall, who is equal parts professional golfer and professional grinder, is the defending champion, the Louisiana Open representing only his third career victory. And if you're looking for an explanation about why there has been a repeat champion, he'll provide it.

"Most of the defending champions have gone on to the PGA TOUR the next year,'' said Kendall, who claimed the Louisiana Open by defeating Paul Claxton with a six-foot birdie putt on the third hole of a playoff.

Kendall, 43, is an obvious exception. And if truth is told, there are many more that won an event but failed to advance to the PGA TOUR the following season. Kendall, who spent 10 consecutive seasons in The Big Show, where he has more than $7.5 million in career earnings, was so close to punching his return ticket.

But he was one of the two among 'The 25' to get bumped at the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship. He claims to have put the obvious disappointment of missing out by $1,094 behind him as he prepares for better results in 2008.

"I've been around too long for that,'' said Kendall, who was 26th on the final money list. "You accept your fate and move on. It's up to me to get myself in better position this year. Hopefully it won't come down to the last event for me this year.''

Kendall certainly reveled in his third career victory on the Nationwide Tour in Louisiana last March. It was, however, his first since wife Traci bore him two children, son Noah, 9, and daughter Remi Lynn, 1. The Chitimacha hardware represented the first addition to Kendall's trophy case in 12 years, eight months and 27 days to be exact, a fact that Noah greeted with extraordinary delight. It was difficult to discern what pleased Kendall more, his playoff victory over Claxton, the first-place check of $90,000, or the sterling silver.

"Noah's been walking by the trophy case for a long time, wondering if the things in there were fake or if I bought them or something,'' said Kendall, who snapped a zero-for-three streak in playoffs, all on the PGA TOUR. "I promised to bring home a big one one day, so this sure feels good.''

Noah's eyes widen to the size of saucers when Kendall produced the goods. He wanted to keep the trophy in his room.

"But we put it in the family room so everyone could get a look at it,'' Kendall said, laughing.

It signaled the end of a tough stretch for Kendall, who had been battling several medical issues for several seasons. It all started when he hurt his back bending over to grab a towel after a workout prior to the Sony Open in Hawaii in 2005. That led to a laundry list of ailments.

"You name it and I've had it,'' Kendall said. "The back problems led to a lot of other things, too. It was a disaster of a year health-wise. I tried to play through it, but that was a mistake.''

Then, in 2006, a debilitating bout with vertigo set in, making playing golf at the highest level a near impossibility.

"That's the reason I had to come out here again,'' he said of the Nationwide Tour.

Not only is Kendall in good spirits, he also is in good health, a fact that should serve him well this season.

"It's good to feel healthy again,'' he said.

And it will be good to return to Lafayette.

"I've gotten off to a slow start this year,'' said Kendall, who has played in two of four Nationwide Tour events and is 64th on the money list. "But I'm coming into Lafayette with very good memories still very fresh in my mind.''

Whether those pleasant thoughts will be enough to push Kendall over the top for the TOUR's first title defense remains to be seen.