At a glance: Perry's run

text size

Serota/Getty Images

Kenny Perry has responded to a lot of cheers over the past two months on the PGA TOUR. (

We often hear about athletes getting "in the zone." Rarely, however, are these athletes closing in on their 48th birthday. Rarer still are runs that go on for months. Yes, Kenny Perry is truely in rarified air.

Since playing in Sunday's final group at THE PLAYERS (where he carded a disappointing 81), Perry has seemingly been at the forefront of every TOUR event. Just look at his results:

In case you've been under a rock over the past two months, here's a look back at Perry's run in print and video.

Date: May 8
Following: Round 1 of PLAYERS Championship
Shooting for a Ryder Cup spot, Perry opens strong
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Just two strokes off the lead after the first round of THE PLAYERS Championship, Kenny Perry has his sights set on more than just a victory in the PGA TOUR's flagship tournament.

THE PLAYERS can never be diminished; but this year, every event takes on greater significance for the Kentucky native, whose primary goal is to play for the U.S. team later this year in the 37th Ryder Cup -- which is to be contested at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., a few hours north of his home in Franklin.

"It's at the top of my list for the year, absolutely," Perry, 47, said.

The nine-time TOUR winner opened with a relatively carefree 4-under-par 68 -- his second lowest round in THE PLAYERS -- to end up two strokes behind pacesetter Sergio Garcia. Perry converted five birdies against one bogey for his lowest opening round since he shot 65 in the '96 edition, where he finished tied for fourth, and he couldn't think of much to complain about.

Date: May 9
Following: Round 2 of PLAYERS Championship
Perry leads group of 40-somethings in hunt at PLAYERS
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Blasts of wind on a diabolical course made THE PLAYERS Championship tough enough to turn someone's hair gray. Not that the leaders needed any help with that Friday.

Kenny Perry, who first showed up at Sawgrass 20 years ago, kept his wits and his patience in 35 mph gusts and made only one bogey in a solid round of 2-under 70 that gave him a one-shot lead going into the weekend.
• VIDEO: Perry's post-round interview

Serota/Getty Images

Kenny Perry has three top-two finishes in his past seven starts.

In total

Kenny Perry in 2008

Starts 18 Wins 2 Seconds 1 Thirds 1 Top-10s 5 Top-25s 10 Cuts made 17 FedExCup points 15,933 FedExCup standing 3rd Money earned $3,575,350

Date: May 10
Following: Round 3 of PLAYERS Championship
Day 3 Recap: Fight to the finish
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Perry's greatest asset this week has been avoiding the big number. He's made just four bogeys, including two in the third round, through 54 holes.
• VIDEO: Perry one shot back

Date: May 15
Following: Round 1 of AT&T Classic
Perry survives wet day, shares lead at AT&T Classic
DULUTH, Ga. -- Kenny Perry sloshed through the water-logged fairways, ducking under an umbrella every chance he got.

He also hit plenty of good shots on a miserable day at the TPC Sugarloaf.

Coming off a final-round meltdown at THE PLAYERS Championship, Perry endured a steady -- and occasionally driving rain -- to claim a share of the first-round lead with a 6-under 66 at the AT&T Classic on Thursday.
• VIDEO: Perry nearly eagles No. 8

Date: May 16
Following: Round 2 of AT&T Classic
A true 'grinder,' Perry takes clubhouse lead
DULUTH, Ga. -- Want to know what a grinder is on the PGA TOUR?

It's a guy who endures a seven-hour round in the late afternoon in which it rains from the opening tee shot to the last putt, forcing him to carry 15 gloves under his umbrella because he has to keep rotating them to find a dry one ... and still shoots 6 under.

It's a guy who grabs a quick bite for dinner and goes to bed early because his second round is the next morning, which might not be so bad if he could drink coffee and give himself a jolt ... except that he can't because caffeine makes his right hand shake when he stands over a putt.

And it's a guy who then shrugs off both a horrible opening drive -- luckily the fairway was wide, so he still had a play from the intermediate rough -- and his own tired body to shoot 3 under and grab the clubhouse lead at 9 under.

Welcome to Kenny Perry's last 24 hours. It's been a whirlwind, but it's over now. And it's worth it, considering where he sits on the AT&T Classic leaderboard.
• VIDEO: Perry discusses his lead

Date: May 18
Following: Round 4 of AT&T Classic
Day 4 recap: Payback and heartbreak at Sugarloaf
DULUTH, Ga. -- Golf isn't always fair. Just ask Kenny Perry, who must have wondered Sunday night why his second shot that was headed anywhere but toward the water on the par-5 18th actually ended up getting wet, costing him a chance to win the AT&T Classic and perhaps even that much-coveted spot on this year's yet-to-be-determined U.S. Ryder Cup team.
• VIDEO: Playoff highlights

Date: May 30
Following: Round 2 of the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley
Goggin, Perry share lead at major-type track
DUBLIN, Ohio -- Perry faced the brunt of the wind, and it showed when he bogeyed three of his first five holes, slipping down the leaderboard with so many others. But on the par-5 15th, he hooked a 3-wood into the gallery -- a good place to miss because the pin was to the right -- then watched his chip from the hill tumble into the cup on its last turn for eagle.
• VIDEO: Perry chips in for eagle

Date: June 1
Following: Round 4 of the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley
Recap: Perry ends month of flirtation with win
Kenny Perry joined Tiger Woods as the only three-time winners of the Memorial Tournament presented by Morgan Stanley on Sunday, taking a big step toward joining the No. 1 player in the world on the U.S. Ryder Cup team this fall.

With every contender in full retreat on the back nine, the 47-year-old Perry surged ahead with pars and one timely birdie, coasting home to a 3-under 69 and a two-shot victory that could not have come at a better time.
• VIDEO: Final-round recap

Date: June 29
Following: Round 4 of Buick Open
Recap: Perry finally able to look toward Valhalla
GRAND BLANC, Mich. -- Yes, he'd hoisted the unique silver trophy with that Flying Goddess of a hood ornament on top. He'd posed for pictures and acknowledged the cheers of the crowd.

When Kenny Perry finally settled into the leather chair in the interview room, though, he was having trouble accepting the fact that he had just won the Buick Open for the second time in his career.

"I still can't believe it," he said, shaking his head. "I feel like I need to go make a birdie out there to win this tournament."
• VIDEO: Perry gets his second victory in four weeks