Capelle On Golf

One good week and a lower ranking golfer can skyrocket up the WGR. Paul Goydos, runner-up at THE PLAYERS is exhibit A. One week ago he was #169 in the world. Now he’s #59. Now imagine this: if he’d holed that nine footer on the 72nd hole he’d be the 32nd ranked player on the globe.

Such are the mysterious ways of the WGR. One moment a player is toiling in obscurity, the next he’s reputed to be one of the best players in the world. This shooting star phenomenon is nothing new to Goydos. At the end of 2006 he was #135. After winning the Sony Open in January of 2007 he vaulted into the 39th position in the WGR. From that lofty perch he began his descent down the rankings to his lowly position last week. Then zoom, right back up into the top 60.

Does it really seem possible that a player with one top 25 in his last 30 events prior to THE PLAYERS could be magically transformed into the 59th best player in the world? Or did he simply ride a hot putter to the biggest payday of his life and an exaggerated ranking that belies his true level of skill? I am hoping for the former because he’s a fan friendly character, but if I had to wager, I’d say that he will once again begin his parachute ride back down to earth.

The Rise and Fall of Craig Perks
You perhaps heard Craig Perks name a few time during PLAYERS week. He was the 256th ranked player in the world before his victory in 2002 catapulted him to the 64th position. By the end of the year he had slipped back to #97 on his way to oblivion. He has since retired from the game, competitive golf having got the best of him. Still, it was refreshing to see that he’s enjoying his new life as a teaching pro and a homebody.

Garcia Back in Top 10 where he Belongs
As for our winner, Sergio Garcia, he started the year as the 12th ranked player in the world. Thanks to his lackluster play he had slid to the 18th position beneath very good, but not great players such as Henrik Stenson, Aaron Baddeley, Rory Sabbatini and Stewart Cink. Worse yet he was in danger of exiting the top 20. Now, thanks to his win at THE PLAYERS and the 80 WGR points that went with it, he’s #10 in the world, a position that seems more in line with his immense talent and his13 top tens in the majors at age 28.