Columnist Adam Candee: Garcia not yet doomed to repeat Norman’s history

Adam Candee

Wednesday, May 11, 2005 | 9:44 a.m.

Adam Candee covers golf for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at candee@lasvegassun.com.

How easy it is for a golf writer's thoughts to drift this time of year, nice weather and singing birds and all.

At least that's my excuse for jumping all over the board today ...

El Nino blew a six-shot lead in the final round to eventually give up the title to Vijay Singh in a four-hole playoff. OK, now stop. Be honest. You read "six-shot lead" and "final round" and thought of Greg Norman, right?

It's disturbingly easy to draw parallels between these immensely talented yet perpetually deflated golfers. Don't do it to Sergio just yet, though. It's just not fair.

Plenty has been written and said about how Garcia, all of 25 years old, is always a day late and a dollar short when it comes to Sunday, especially in the past two days. And it's garbage.

For the love -- he's only 25. If you weren't on Ed Sullivan's stage as a toddler (Eldrick) or you didn't have the word "foursome" on your birth announcement (Lefty), then 25 is not a make-or-break age in this sport. Sure, Garcia is not the new guy here, but it's just sick to write him off just because we saw him challenge Tiger as a young babe and he hasn't yet reclaimed that level outside Ryder Cup play.

When did we, as a culture, settle into this hysteria where we needed all the answers, like, yesterday? Seems we were OK with letting Vijay advance into his 40s before he became a superstar, and last time we checked around here, the gap between Sergio and Vijay is more large parking lot than it is Grand Canyon.

Yes, it is troubling to see Garcia struggle to close the deal. Patience, folks, patience. Says here that Sergio will eventually figure it out, if not fast enough for us to be satisfied in this now-Now-NOW environment.

If you've seen that cinematic classic with Matt Dillon, Neve Campbell and Denise Richards, you know where we'd like to head, but can't for decency's sake. Suffice it to say, Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis put on an interesting show after Kerr won the Michelob Ultra Open in Virginia.

From the Associated Press account of the victory celebration:

"After putting out on 18, a wide grin crossed Kerr's face and she heaved her ball into the air. Gulbis ran onto the green and showered her friend with beer, and Kerr took a swig of it before pouring some on her head."

So Michelob's the title sponsor and we're fine with product placement and sponsorships and such. But here's where the tour gets itself into a pickle: Is this going to be the sexy LPGA that grabs at whatever male fans can't find the clicker or is this going to be the All-American LPGA that markets its young stars that aren't exactly drinking age yet to young fans that aren't exactly drinking age either?

Despite the best efforts of commissioner Ty Votaw to walk the line, you can't have it both ways. Grab for as much of the market as you can, but be honest about how you're doing it.

Swigging a beer on the 18th green with pin-up girl Gulbis and running mate Kerr is all good, really. Just don't try to come back to next day and sell the same audience on the All-American teeny twins, Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer.

Nothing so simple has ever made such a difference for this duffer. As you hit on the range, tuck a towel under your left armpit (reverse if you are lefty) and force yourself to hold it there throughout the swing. Keeping that front arm tucked tight on the backswing and through impact has been a huge help in getting the club onto a better line coming down toward the ball.

Better yet, get a real PGA teaching pro to show you how to do it.