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Shark.com Staff
Nov. 15, 2003
NAPLES, Fla. - If Scott Hoch and Kenny Perry hold on to win the 2003 Franklin Templeton Shootout, they'll look back on the 14th hole Saturday as the critical juncture. That's where Hoch executed a remarkable recovery from the trees and saved par when his partner was out of the hole.
The pair notched a 63 during Saturday's best ball and holds a one-shot advantage over Brad Faxon and Scott McCarron. Tournament host Greg Norman and Steve Elkington posted a 3-under 69.
The drama unfolded for the leaders on No. 14, a 578-yard par-5 that bends left to right. Perry's second shot found a water hazard that guards the entire right side of the hole. Hoch hit his second shot from the fairway and watched as it continued to roll through the pine straw and eventually came to rest in the midst of a thick patch of trees.
 | | Hoch and Perry lead two-time Shootout champions Faxon and McCarron by one stroke. |
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There were several options to drop, but that would have required taking a penalty for an unplayable lie. He decided to dodge the low-hanging branches, took a stance on his knees, turned a 4-iron around and hit it left-handed with a hockey swing.
The ball miraculously avoided all of the branches, roots and other debris, traveled 30 feet and came to rest in a collection area about 10 yards off the green. From there Hoch putted over a slope to about 12 feet and negotiated the remaining distance for par.
"After that par putt went in, I told Scott that might have just won us the tournament," Perry said. "That was the best par I've ever seen."
Perry added his share of brilliance on the closing holes. He putted from off the green on 15 and the ball was racing right towards the hole. It hit the back of the cup, bounced about six inches in the air and dropped in. "That was the hardest putt I've ever hit that stayed in the hole," he said.
After a par on 16, Perry unleashed a drive down the middle of the fairway on the par-5 17th. He chose a 4-iron from 228 yards and the second shot came to rest about seven feet from the pin. Perry calmly dropped the eagle putt.
He followed that with another superb drive on 18. Perry's pitching wedge approach caromed 20 feet past the pin, but he dropped one last birdie putt.
"It's great playing with a guy that drives the ball like Kenny," Hoch said. "He puts us in positions that are 20, 25, 30 yards further than I'm used to. That allows me to have some shorter clubs coming in, which allows me to put some spin on the ball and keep it close to these pins."
As it turned out, Hoch made four birdies Saturday and Perry added three birdies and an eagle -- the perfect better ball combination.
Faxon and McCarron shook off a bogey on the first hole and raced back with eight birdies and an eagle en route to a 14-under total through 36 holes.
Faxon was out of the hole on No. 3, but came to assist McCarron read his birdie effort. The read was accurate, the putt dropped and they were off and running.
"That's what this format is all about," McCarron said. "It's not like Brad stayed on the side and moped. He came over and gave me a great read."
"It helps playing with a good friend this week," Faxon said. "We know each other very well, we know each other's games and we ask each other for advice. And it really helps to have a guy like Scott who can bomb it."
The first group will tee off at 8:50 am ET in Sunday's scramble. The leaders will begin at 9:40 am Stay tuned to Shark.com for LIVE final-round scoring.
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