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Blowtorch-hot Kenny Perry isn't looking back.
As a result, don't look forward to seeing him at the British Open in two weeks.
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| Kenny Perry would be one of the favorites at the British -- if he played. (Getty Images) |
Gentlemen of the British press, start your ink pens.
Perry, 47, generated headlines and raised eyebrows when he elected not to enter the U.S. Open's 36-hole qualifier in May, skipping the national championship as part of his season-long plan to make the U.S. Ryder Cup team. The matches will be played a few miles from Perry's hometown of Franklin, Ky., in Louisville.
At the time, some rightly wondered about the odd paradox of intentionally skipping a chance at playing in the national open in order to make a national team, but Perry was so passionate about playing in front of his Old Kentucky homefolks, people mostly understood. Now he has ignited another conversation along similar lines.
The difference, this time, is that Perry has all but locked up a spot in the British Open based on his play this spring and summer. The British Open offers several qualifying methods, including two berths available via a last-ditch money list composed of earnings between Memphis and this week's AT&T National.
In other words, like Woody Austin last year, the Royal & Ancient Golf Club, which runs the British Open, is holding a spot open for him. Perry leads the 11th-hour list in earnings, and if he doesn't use his exempt spot at Birkdale, the R&A does not bestow it on the next player on the list.
After winning last Sunday at the Buick Open, Perry said he intended to play in the John Deere Classic and U.S. Bank Championship in Milwaukee. The latter is a so-called opposite event, staged the same week as the British, and offers one-quarter the Ryder Cup points. It features one of the weakest fields of the PGA Tour season.
Perry has all but locked up a Ryder berth and stands fourth on the U.S. points list. In reality, he's third, because No. 1 Tiger Woods is injured and isn't playing.
"I committed to all these tournaments before when I was ranked 100th in the world," Perry said Sunday after winning. "Now all of a sudden I've won twice, I'm probably top 20 in the world now."
Actually, he's 19th, another reason he should play with the varsity at Birkdale.
"I've already committed to Milwaukee and I'm not going to back out," he said.
He reiterated that sentiment to his agent, Dennis Harrington, after the two discussed Perry's options Wednesday. No question, Perry's loyalty cannot be questioned. His sanity and judgment, well, stay tuned.
| British Open: Last-Minute Ticket |
| The top two players not already exempt into the British Open will earn spots based on a last-minute British money list after the completion of this week's AT&T National. The money list includes Players Championship earnings plus winnings at the Stanford, U.S. Open, Travelers, Buick Open, AT&T National events. |
| Top 6 through Buick Open: 1. Kenny Perry $1,284,945 (not in the AT&T field) 2. Rocco Mediate $866,030 3. Bubba Watson $634,250 (not in the AT&T field) 4. Briny Baird $619,250 (not in the AT&T field) 5. Tommy Armour III $589,780 6. Heath Slocum $522,259 (not in the AT&T field) |
| Note: If a player does not use the exemption, it will not be passed on to the next player. Source: PGA Tour |
Unlike his aversion to U.S. Open site Torrey Pines, which played into his decision to skip the event, Perry has often played well at the British in the past, finishing between eighth and 16th in a three-year span beginning in 2003. Based on his play over the past two months, he would be picked among a handful of possible favorites.
Perry is a past winner in Milwaukee, but he might want to give Austin a ring before he paints himself into a corner. The American veteran was eviscerated last year when he elected not to play in the British Open despite being exempted into the event.
Travel isn't an issue, either, since John Deere officials are offering each player three free tickets to England on a private, chartered, Sunday-night redeye flight after their tournament concludes.
Another key difference between Austin and Perry is this: Come the third week of September in Louisville, Perry will have to face, in person, the European press contingent at the Ryder matches. While I'm not saying battle lines are drawn in the coverage of the event, there are certain biases on both sides.
They will want to know whether a guy who didn't play in the first three major championships of 2008 -- Perry wasn't eligible to play in the Masters before passing on opportunities to play at Torrey Pines and Royal Birkdale -- warrants a spot on the team.
Come to think of it, so will many Americans.
