Micheel rides breakthrough year into '04
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By Bill Kwon
Special to The Advertiser
KAPALUA, Maui — What a difference a year makes. Just ask reigning PGA champion Shaun Micheel, who went from a nobody to a somebody in 2003.
Associated press library photo • Aug. 17, 2003
The Orlando, Fla. native was one of the PGA Tour whodaguys at the Waialae Country Club, so much so that he had played in the Hawaiian/Sony Open six times in virtual anonymity.
As PGA Champion, Shaun Micheel can enjoy many perks such as the Wanamaker Trophy and a five-year tour exemption.
Not anymore.
Micheel comes to Honolulu next week as the winner of the 2003 PGA Championship to become the fifth straight player to be a first-time major winner after Rich Beem, Mike Weir, Jim Furyk and Ben Curtis.
"It's been quite a year," said Micheel, who's making his first Mercedes Championships appearance, thanks to a breakthrough victory at the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.
Micheel was still upbeat despite three-putting three times on the back nine in shooting an opening-round 3-under-par 70 yesterday. One three-putt lapse came from 10 feet at the par-5 18th, which played the easiest despite being the longest on the tour at 663 yards.
But Micheel's just glad to be here.
"It's great to start the year here with this event and the Sony Open next week," said Micheel, who celebrated his 35th birthday here Monday with his attorney wife, Stephanie, and their 8-month-old son, Dade Palmer, and his in-laws.
Hawai'i was also a great way to end the year as well, said Micheel, who played in the PGA Grand Slam on Golf last month as another perk for winning a major.
The biggest perk, though, is a five-year exemption on the tour, the U.S. Open, Masters and British Open as a result of winning the PGA Championship.
Talk about a security blanket for a guy who had to go to qualifying school three times and never finished better than a tie for third in the 2002 B.C. Open.
What led to last year's turnaround?
"It was a matter of attitude and confidence," Micheel said. "You've got to believe in yourself and your ability. It's just you and your caddy against the world."
His confidence was buoyed when he won an international event, the Singapore Open, in 1998.
That eventually led to six-figure earnings on the American tour starting in 2000 and last year's 32nd-place finish on the money list with $1.82 million.
Micheel, though, hasn't forgotten his years playing on the international circuit, including the Asian Tour. He's even skipping the Phoenix Open to play in Thailand, and will also play later this year in Singapore and Hong Kong.
"I like to travel. I like to play different courses in different countries. And, you've got to support the game worldwide," he added.
