Hear Me ‘Ror-y’, Softly

In his vertern career Rory Sabbatini has been seen as an outmatched villain amongst US golf fans. After some loose words directed toward all world superstar Tiger Woods and his beat-ability at the Wachovia Championship a few years ago, Sabbatini became the Peter McNeeley to Tiger’s Mike Tyson. A he proceeded to walk in the Hurricane’s shoes with a final round flop that gave Woods the tourny. The Monty-like treatment Sabbatini received from American golf fans for that time was definitely warranted, but just as time does to most foot in mouth comments, Rory faded back to golf-novice obscurity.

After this relative rise and fall from notoriety the South African became like a mid-summer rainstorm in the Midwest, just an occasional blip on the radar. He’s even since had a few brushes with greatness at Augusta going as high as T2 in Zach Johnson’s 2007 victory. But other than his 20th place this year at the Masters his next best finish in a major was his T26 in the 06 Open Championship – Tiger’s carnage of Royal Liverpool. These are mediocre numbers by comparison to players that are seen as in the same caliber.

Major championship struggles aside; Rory has embedded himself as a mid to high-level member of the PGA Tour. This evidence could be confirmed by his decimation of the Resort Course at TPC Four Seasons, which is home of the HP Byron Nelson Tournament. In a two shot victory Sabbitini acted more like the tournament’s namesake then the brazen youngster he was a few years ago. He finished up with class and dignity all the while embracing his young children, and clad in a pink shirt signifying his support of Amy Mickelson recent diagnosis.

This was Sabbatini’s 5th career victory on tour, and was the 2nd half of his adopted hometown sweep; to go with his 07 ‘Crowne’ at Colonial. As a resident of the Dallas / Ft. Worth area and member of the PGA Tour, he showed his maturity by expressing how much it has meant to him winning two tournaments that bear the names of two of the greatest names in the history of golf. He has come a long way from the 05 Booz Allen Classic!

For those of you golf fans in blogland who have forgotten this gem of a story; it involved Sabbatini, Ben Crane, frustration, and slow play. Crane is a notorious slow player. So slow in fact that 02 Sergio thinks it takes him awhile to pull the trigger! Anyway, Sabbatini had enough of Crane’s act as after finishing up on the 17th green he decided to tee it up on the 18th and abandon his playing partner on the 17th green! Crane finished the 17th to find Sabbatini halfway down th e 18th fairway. Another dick move! But as they would’ve said in Boston if he was a ‘Red Sauk,’ “That’s just Rory being Rory.”

Welcome to Augusta in 2010 Rory, it’s good to see you’ve grown up and shut up!