Paul Goydos' old hat, new support group

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Paul Goydos captured the hearts of many with his runner-up performance in the 2008 PLAYERS.

In his gift for looking at things from a point of view that is slightly askew, Paul Goydos maintains that he was Rocco Mediate before Rocco Mediate in 2008.

"I was," he says, "the first loveable loser."

In a performance that earned him fans around the world, the fun and fast-talking Mediate forced Tiger Woods into a Monday playoff in the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, where he lost over 19 scintillating holes.

The outcome had an oddly familiar ring to it. Just a month earlier, at THE PLAYERS Championship, another 40-something grinder quipped his way into people's hearts, nearly seizing the greatest win of his career, only to be beaten by another of the game's great, young stars.

This one went overtime, too, but ended more abruptly. Goydos, 43 and going for the third win of his 16-year career, bogeyed the 72nd hole to drop into a tie with Sergio Garcia. The rare PLAYERS playoff -- it was only the third in tournament history and first since 1987 -- was over in just one hole. One shot, really. Goydos hit a pitching wedge short into the water at the treacherous par-3, island 17th at TPC Sawgrass, and Garcia stuffed his tee shot to 4 feet and made par.

While Garcia celebrated his biggest win, the loss was a deflating disappointment to the many fans who came to admire Goydos for his everyman dialogue and understated good nature. Without a sponsor for his hat, the former substitute teacher had donned the brown and gold of his college alma mater's baseball team, the Long Beach State "Dirtbags."

"There are days when I think, 'Wow, what a good week,'" Goydos recalled recently.

"And then there are days when I think, 'Wow, what a crummy week.' It just depends on my mood of the day."

What is not in question is the outpouring of support Goydos received in the aftermath.

"You don't hear what people are saying when you're playing, so (the reaction) was completely unexpected," Goydos said.

"If nothing else, 99.999 percent have been incredibly positive with warm wishes. It's good to be recognized for something," Goydos said with a shrug, "even if it's not winning."

Goydos caught fire with the putter, leading the field on the greens. By Saturday night, he had a one-stroke advantage over Kenny Perry and a two-stroke margin on Garcia. He was full of quips also. Asked if he'd ever had the lead after 54 holes, Goydos shook his head and deadpanned, "But I've only been on the TOUR 16 years."

That's why people loved him.

"If it would have happened five years into my career, people probably wouldn't have had the same reaction," Goydos said.

In the hot and windy final round, Goydos shot a 2-over 74 as Garcia charged by shooting 2-under over the last 17 holes to score 71.

"From the time I missed the (par) putt on 18 to the time we were standing on that (17th) tee seemed like about a half-second," Goydos recalled. "The reality was, it was playing very similar to the way it was in regulation, and I hit a pitching wedge then and it didn't get to pin-high. That should have rang a bell that maybe it was a 9-iron."

Since the setback, Goydos has been reminded about reality. In January, his ex-wife and the mother of his two teen-aged daughters died suddenly. Years earlier, Goydos took time away from the TOUR to be with his girls after gaining custody in the divorce.

"Being a father is who I am," Goydos said. "It's why I'm here."

As for the location of the brown-and-gold cap with the "LB" logo? It was purchased in a Long Beach State charity auction soon after THE PLAYERS. The winning bid was $4,000 (all going to scholarships) and the cap landed in a wall display at The Legends Restaurant and Sports Bar, owned by high bidder Gene Rotondo. The Long Beach institution is a fitting home since it is populated by guys just like Paul Goydos, including Goydos himself on many occasions.

Tod Leonard covers golf for the San Diego Union-Tribune.