With just one desire in mind, Perry casts aside criticism

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Jul. 8, 2008
By John Maginnes, PGATOUR.com Contributor

Kenny Perry is going to play in the U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee rather than in the oldest, and what is often considered the most prestigious, tournament in all of golf. I am pretty sure that the British Open will endure.

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Kenny Perry's story is shaping up to be one of the best of 2008.

MORE PERRY

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2008 results
2008 statistics
At a glance: Perry's run
Ryder Cup team taking shape
Perry wins Buick Open
Perry wins the Memorial
Video: On Ryder Cup goal Video

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Although I do not spend a lot of time perusing the tabloids from across the pond, I would imagine that KP has taken quite a beating from those poison-penned critics with their razor wit and attitude. I can rarely get past page three to actually check out the sports in the back.

But Kenny doesn't care what the unmade bed set of journalists are saying about him. As a matter of fact, the 47-year-old doesn't much care what anyone is saying about his schedule these days. The man has won twice this season and played some of the best golf of his career long after what should have been his prime is past. This was all part of a plan, and the goals have come together beautifully for Kenny -- and likely for the U.S. Ryder Cup Team, as well.

The questions are still coming, though, and only Kenny seems completely satisfied with the answers. Should Kenny take the spot that he has earned in the British Open rather than go to Milwaukee where he won in 2003 and has only finished out of the top 10 once in the last eight years? Some pundits seem to consider this an integrity-of-the-game question, which is preposterous at its very foundation.

There was a stir prior to U.S. Open qualifying when Kenny opted out of the grueling 36-hole sectional. Interestingly, I didn't hear a peep when the 1995 U.S. Open champion, Corey Pavin, decided not to go to the qualifier either. In his customary matter-of-fact fashion, Kenny explained his reasons for not participating in the one-day marathon and then went out and won that week at the Memorial. Kind of hard to argue with that decision after the fact when, as any Kentuckian will tell you, the proof is in the pudd'n. It seems likely that going forward, a player who wins leading up to the U.S. Open and moves into what would have been an exempt category the week before should be granted entry into the championship. Kenny said at the Buick Open two weeks ago he would have played at Torrey Pines if such a contingency had existed.

At no point this year has Kenny said that he would go to the British Open. He only has one top-10 finish in five starts there and two missed cuts. His support and admiration for the quaint Milwaukee tournament can be considered admirable. He will undoubtedly be the highest-ranked player in the field that week, and he will take on the role of heavy favorite. Undoubtedly, he will handle that role as gracefully as he has handled tough questions about his career this year.

I wonder whether a member of the U.S. Ryder Cup team has ever played in the matches having missed both the U.S. Open and the British Open that year. Regardless, Kenny will be the senior member of a team that Captain Paul Azinger said will be younger and leaner. Well, Kenny has been noticeably working out lately, so at least Paul got the leaner part right. More importantly, though, Paul will have what some of the other captains might have lacked over the last three or four meetings -- and that is a playing leader.

No matter who has taken on that role in recent history, it hasn't worked. Kenny, flying under the colors of his home state, will be the ideal candidate to step up and lead the American charge. His methods of qualifying for the team have come under a little scrutiny lately but not from his expected teammates who respect his goals and his game. And if he can somehow manage to lead his team to victory, then the man who has been occasionally criticized will be a hero. Those Europeans might just need to watch out for a little Kentucky home cookin'.