Thursday, January 10, 2002
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Faxon takes aim Even 18 holes with four amateurs wasn't enough to tire defending Sony Open champion Brad Faxon.
at Sony
He's among the best putters
on tour, and he's one of the best
drivers on PlayStation 2By Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.comAfter 4 12 hours of giving tips, congratulating the sporadic good shots and signing autographs for his playing partners, Faxon spotted a PlayStation 2 golf game in a makeshift tent behind the 18th green.
Most of the professionals in yesterday's pro-am took a swing with the video game, Faxon included. After only a few attempts, he hit a drive 274.56 yards, the longest off the tee among the PGA Tour professionals competing in today's first full-field event.
"If I were only that long in reality, I'd be all set," said Faxon, who is not a video-game connoisseur.
Actually, Faxon's distance in the fantasy game was strikingly similar to his average driving distance in 2001 -- 274.6. But unlike his first-place finish with PlayStation 2, his average was only good enough for 147th on tour.
Faxon has never has been accused of being long off the tee. He worked on his driving before the 2001 campaign, adding about 20 yards of valuable distance. But it's his short game that leaves most of his fellow professionals shaking their heads.
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If he isn't long from tee to green, how else do you explain this number? Faxon finished second on tour last year for number of eagles per round, including one each 18 holes at last year's Sony Open.Faxon used this uncanny ability to read the rub of the greens for a 20-under finish of 260 to not only break Paul Azinger's tournament mark set in 2000, but tie the course record John Huston fashioned at the old Hawaiian Open when Waialae was still a par-72 course.
The Rhode Island resident turned that trick with a putter that rarely requires more than two strokes to find the hole. He finished 21st on tour last year with a 1.739 average, a key category he has led three times the last six years. In 2000, his 1.704 putts per hole was a PGA Tour record.
It takes many hours of work to get a putting stroke like Faxon's. It also requires talent, something Faxon plays down but other touring pros have known for years. It has helped him win eight times on tour, pocket $9.9 million in career earnings since 1983 and place the 40-year-old among the game's most consistent players.
"It's all about getting into the right rhythm," Faxon said. "I don't know how else to explain it. I just try to go with the flow and let my game go with it. You can't really explain putting because there are so many variables. But the key is not to make it too complicated."
It's also important to stay relaxed and focused; two things Faxon does well. He took part in the junior golf event on Tuesday, winning it with junior partner Earl Medeiros of Waianae. Faxon also played in the pro-am, and while his team didn't place first, the foursome enjoyed Faxon's easy demeanor and helpful hints.
"I enjoy giving something back to the game whenever I can because it has given so much to me," Faxon said. "When you play out here as long as I have, you're going to have your good and bad moments. Right now, things are going very well for me and my family."
Faxon's children were with him on Maui for last week's Mercedes Championships, where he finished ninth to earn $130,000. He sent them home, partly to have time to devote to all the things defending champions are expected to do the week of the event, including a fantasy round with PlayStation 2.
"I'm playing well right now," Faxon said. "A lot depends on the wind and how well I do on the green. I like this tournament. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."
Morning and afternoon, off the first and 10th tees: Tomorrow's tee times
First Hole
7:20 a.m.: Pete Jordan, David Sutherland, Edward Pryatt
7:29 a.m.: Tommy Armour III, Greg Kraft, David Berganio, Jr.
7:38 a.m.: Russ Cochran, Jay Don Blake, Per-Ulrik Johansson
7:47 a.m.: Cameron Beckman, Kenny Perry, Fred Funk
7:56 a.m.: Shigeki Maruyama, Duffy Waldorf, Rory Sabbatini
8:05 a.m.: Robert Damron, Davis Love III, Steve Jones
8:14 a.m.: Brent Geiberger, Blaine McCallister, Geoff Ogilvy
8:23 a.m.: Brian Henninger, Stephen Ames, Bob Burns
8:32 a.m.: Peter Lonard, Boo Weekley, Tomohiro Kondo
8:41 a.m.: David Morland IV, Kent Jones, Keoke Cotner
8:50 a.m.: David Ishii, Chad Campbell, Jeff Gove
8:59 a.m.: Brent Schwarzrock, Kenneth Staton, Shinichi Yokota
11:45 a.m.: Mike Hulbert, Brian Gay, John Riegger
11:54 a.m.: Len Mattiace, Esteban Toledo, Greg Chalmers
12:03 p.m.: Tim Herron, J.J. Henry, Michael Muehr
12:12 p.m.: David Gossett, Billy Andrade, Tom Scherrer
12:21 p.m.: Jeff Sluman, Jim Furyk, John Huston
12:30 p.m.: Frank Lickliter II, Loren Roberts, Carlos Franco
12:39 p.m.: Rich Beem, Andrew Magee, Charles Howell III
12:48 p.m.: Chris Smith, Jay Williamson, Briny Baird
12:57 p.m.: Danny Ellis, Tim Petrovic, Hiroyuki Fujita
1:06 p.m.: Ian Leggatt, Bo Van Pelt, John Senden
1:15 p.m.: Bob Heintz, Brian Bateman, Katsumasa Miyamoto
1:24 p.m.: Steve Allan, Hidemichi Tanaka, Michael Long
10th hole
7:20 a.m.: Richard Zokol, Chris Riley, K.J. Choi
7:29 a.m.: Bob May, Jerry Smith, Kaname Yokoo
7:38 a.m.: Stuart Appleby, David Peoples, Robin Freeman
7:47 a.m.: Chris DiMarco, Brad Faxon, Fred Couples
7:56 a.m.: Sergio Garcia, Robert Allenby, Corey Pavin
8:05 a.m.: John Cook, Dudley Hart, Tom Lehman
8:14 a.m.: Olin Browne, Scott Dunlap, Shaun Micheel
8:23 a.m.: David Frost, Dicky Pride, Jay Haas
8:32 a.m.: Paul Claxton, Ben Crane, Matt Peterson
8:41 a.m.: Luke Donald, Brenden Pappas, Kevin Hayashi
8:50 a.m.: Deane Pappas, Jess Daley, Keiichiro Fukabori
8:59 a.m.: John Rollins, Eduardo Herrera, Jonathan Ota (A)
11:45 a.m.: Scott Simpson, Brian Watts, Matt Kuchar
11:54 a.m.: Brad Elder, Mike Sposa, Phil Tataurangi
12:03 p.m.: Jerry Kelly, Michael Allen, Pat Bates
12:12 p.m.: Joel Edwards, Jim Carter, Steve Elkington
12:21 p.m.: David Tome, Jesper Parnevik, Jeff Maggert
12:30 p.m.: Joe Durant, Garrett Willis, Michael Clark III
12:39 p.m.: Scott Hoch, Steve Stricker, Mark O'Meara
12:48 p.m.: Chris Perry, Lee Porter, Paul Gow
12:57 p.m.: Rod Pampling, Brett Wetterich, Thomas Hines
1:06 p.m.: Heath Slocum, Jonathan Byrd, Jason Hill
1:15 p.m.: Brad Lardon, Pat Perez, Ken Tanigawa
1:24 p.m.: Gary Nicklaus, Stephen Gangluff, Dean Wilson
