Same result, different setting for Weekley
By Lauren Deason, PGATOUR.COM Editorial Coordinator
HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- What a difference a year makes.
Last time Boo Weekley needed par-saving chips on Nos. 17 and 18 to top Ernie Els for the Verizon Heritage title. Nasty, chilly weather at the 2007 event forced the tournament to finish on Monday, when Weekley earned his first PGA TOUR victory.
When asked last year if his first TOUR win would change him, he replied in typical Boo fashion.
"No, I ain't going to change. I ain't got no reason to," Weekley said.
Fast forward to the final round of the same event in 2008. Weekley stayed true to his word, not changing personality-wise at all, but conditions and his round certainly looked different.
Spectators strolled across the grounds in sundresses and shorts instead of ski caps and sweaters. The sun shone nearly all afternoon and the winds, always prevalent at the Harbour Town Golf Links abutting the Calibogue Sound, weren't nearly as treacherous.
Instead of fighting for his victory, Weekley began the day with a three-stroke lead and never let go.
By the 10th hole Weekley's round seemed destined for the record books when he did what he always does at the Verizon Heritage -- chipped in from the rough. However, instead of doing it to save par, this year he made birdie when the 56-foot shot sped across the green and crashed into the hole.
On the 17th hole, Weekley easily tapped in a 2-footer for par. He walked off the green and grinned.
"A little easier than last year, wasn't it?" he said to the crowd.
Patsy Weekley, mother of Boo, wasn't in town to watch her son last year. This time she followed him the entire way, though she admitted to jumping behind trees and closing her eyes on close putts several times to stay calm.
Behind the 18th green, Patsy stood and watched as Boo sank his final putt, pumped his arms in celebration and saluted the "Boo"-ing crowd. He didn't make it easy on poor mom -- Weekley missed a 7-footer for par and had to sink a 2-foot putt for bogey at No. 18 -- and she looked relieved when it was over.
Her son was relieved as well.
"When I picked that ball out of the hole on the last one, [I knew I couldn't screw it up]," he said.
Since the tournament concluded on Monday in 2007 and only a few souls braved the high winds to watch Weekley win, this was his first experience in front of a large gallery.
"I chipped in back-to-back last year and I didn't get to stand there and turn to the crowd and do the fist pump," he said. "[This year] I wanted to do the moonwalk, the belly-roll."
Kim, Weekley's playing partner on Sunday, knew on Saturday night that his round would be enjoyable regardless of the winner. Kim and Aaron Baddeley wound up three strokes behind Weekley.
"You guys know he is hilarious. And every time he opens his mouth, I start laughing. So the guy's full of jokes," Kim said. "He's a positive guy so it's nice to be around."
According to Kim, Weekley didn't play his best golf on Sunday but hit the right shots at the right time.
"Boo played great. He hung in there. He didn't have his best game today. But he got it up and down when he needed to," Kim said.
Even Weekley agreed that his final-round 71 -- his first-ever round in the 70s at Harbour Town Golf Links -- was more his "C or D game".
"I kind of proved to myself that, hey, you ain't always gotta have your A-game to win but it helps. It makes you feel a helluva lot better, I can tell you that," Weekley said.
He noticed a problem with his irons at the start of the week and had them reworked completely. For the most part, Weekley felt the irons performed well at the tight course in Hilton Head but he fought with his driver.
"I had the rights all day. I had them all week with the driver and a little bit with the iron.
"[Then] I was standing on the tee box on the practice range this morning and I had the pulls," he added. "This golf is a crazy game. That's why I only want to do it for so long and get out of it."
Weekley can afford to do so since he pocketed $1,962,000 in just two years at the Verizon Heritage and moved into second place on the all-time money list. He also earned 4,500 FedExCup points to jump from No. 33 to No. 7 and now sits in fifth place in the Ryder Cup standings.
"I'm pretty excited [about the FedExCup points]," Weekley said. "It's great to be able to get up there. My goal is to be in the top 20...Every little bit helps. And this helps a lot. So now I'll be able to sit back, if I'm not playing well, at least I've got a little cushion there."
As for the Ryder Cup, the biennial competition between the United States and Europe, Weekley said thoughts of making the team had never really crossed his mind.
"It would be an honor to represent my country and play against the Europeans," he said. "If they invite me, by George, and tell me I'm coming, I'll come."
The Milton, Fla., resident is taking next week off to spend time with his pregnant wife and assist with the new house they are building. He plans to play in the Wachovia Championship and THE PLAYERS Championship.
Tournament followers should get their fix of fan-favorite Weekley now, though, since he has no doubt what he will do when he gets enough money to retire.
When a well-meaning reporter asked his career plans if he made an early exit from golf, Weekley was astonished that the reporter didn't already know.
"Where you been? Where you been?" Weekley wanted to know, since he is well-known for his love of hunting. "I don't want to do nothing but hunt and fish. That's it, hunting and fishing."
Next year, his mom says as she borrows a term for three straight strikes from bowling, he'll go "turkey"-hunting at the Verizon Heritage.
Get the best deals on the best equipment all at the SHOP.PGATOUR.COM.
FANTASY GOLF
