Golf: Perks easing into famous life

HOUSTON - Celebrity status hasn't quite embraced Craig Perks since he won The Players Championship on Monday. It's getting closer, though.

"I was working out at the gym and these two guys next to me were talking about the tournament, and one said, 'I watched that Craig Perks all day'," Perks chuckled.

"They didn't recognise me and I walked away before they did. I didn't know what they'd say."

Perks came down to earth slightly yesterday when he fired an opening-round 74 in the Houston Open.

His two-over score was nine behind leader Jim Carter, of the United States.

Before Monday's dramatic victory, the first of his career, at the tournament considered to be golf's fifth major, Perks was ranked 203rd in the world, just another struggling pro trying to hit it big.

He can still work out at the gym in Lafayette, Louisiana, or go out to eat without being hounded by autograph seekers. He understands that's going to change, especially if he comes through to finish in a leading position in the $4 million Houston Open.

"I always felt that I belonged," Perks said. "Now it's established in people's minds. The money is great. But the five years that I have exempt on tour, that's the thing."

It took only an instant for Perks to realise what he had accomplished, moments after he lofted a dramatic chip into the final hole on Monday to end a memorable final round.

"I had a little moment there to reflect and I thought about the long road that had come to that point, all the sacrifices, knowing other people that didn't believe in me, but I always believed in myself," Perks said. "It's a moment I'll always remember."

Before the Players victory, Perks' best finish in nine seasons was a tie for second at last year's Honda Classic.

The victory was worth US$1.08 million ($2.45 million), the biggest prize on tour. Perks also is now exempt on the PGA Tour for five years and will start reaping the benefits in two weeks at the Masters.

Still, this new star status hasn't reached Perks' own home.

"Kids have a way of slapping you back to reality," Perks said. "They came running in and didn't congratulate me. They said, 'Hey, where's that trophy that Tiger Woods gave you'?"

Perks was the seventh first-time winner on tour this year and the first player since Hal Sutton in 1983 to win The Players Championship in his first try.

Sutton is the defending champion of the Houston Open. He started his defence of the title with an even-par 72 yesterday.

Carter, 40, of Scottsdale, Arizona, took advantage of calm conditions early on to fire his 65.

His lead withstood numerous challenges, the best coming from Mexican Esteban Toledo, who posted a six-under 66.

Vijay Singh, of Fiji, and Americans Scott Verplank, Chris Riley, J. P. Hayes, Brian Bateman and Jay Haas shared third place on 67.

Seven more players were on 68, including Zimbabwe's Nick Price and former US Masters champion Fred Couples.

A total of 23 competitors were within four shots of the lead. Not among them were a quintet of New Zealanders, the best of whom was Frank Nobilo, who opened with a 70.

Phil Tataurangi and Grant Waite posted 72s and Michael Campbell scored 73, one better than Perks.

Michael Long had a 75.

Carter started his round on the back nine and went out in five-under 31. His bogey-free round included two more birdies on the front nine and only 24 putts in total.

"It was just a good, solid round," Carter said. "I didn't seem to do anything stupid, I didn't seem to do anything spectacular. Hopefully, I can just build on this and keep the momentum going for three days."

Carter has only one win in 352 starts on the United States PGA Tour, at the 2000 Touchstone Energy Open.

Toledo, 39, is seeking to become the eighth first-time winner on the tour. He went out in three-under 33, then birdied three of the last six holes to climb to within a stroke of the lead.

Singh also began his round on the back nine and made a sizzling start with six birdies and one bogey en route to an outward 31. He then reeled off nine successive pars on the inward half."

- AGENCIES