Guys like me, who write/talk for a living, know better than most that words, written/spoken, can come back and leave serious dental impressions on your posterior.
So it must be this morning for Paul Goydos as he awakes after winning $1.026 million as runner-up to Sergio Garcia at the Players Championship last night.
Those of you lucky enough to read my last blog will recall Goydos saying that the 17th hole is "tremendous. I couldn't imagine not having the hole on 17 … I think what you want down the stretch on Sunday … is a chance for big swings on the leaderboard."
That it did, but as the first and only playoff hole. Like everything associated with the Players Championship, the rationale behind the decision to start the playoff on 17 will be the topic of water-cooler debates today. (Had it gone on, the players would have gone to 18, then back to 17, etc.)
As we all know, Goydos hit a wedge that either ballooned a bit or got knocked down by a gust of wind, or both, and ended up in the water just short of the island green. Sergio hit it to four feet and two-putted for his first win in three years and 53 PGA Tour starts.
As he did all week, endearing himself to fans and media, Goydos handled the situation with self-deprecating humour and admirable aplomb. Asked if he harboured any ill will towards 17 in light of what happened in the playoff, he replied: "I think it did exactly what it was designed to do. For me to complain to [course designer] Pete Dye now would be as sour grapes as you could drop."
Can you imagine Sergio's comments if their roles were reversed? The talented but petulant and spoiled Spaniard is infamous for his tantrums and excuse-making. Dye would have to hire a food taster and have someone he really didn't like start his car for him.
This is not to take away anything from Sergio. He's a fabulous ball-striker (led the field in driving accuracy and greens in regulation) and, let the record show, had he been able to putt even halfway decent, he would have run away with the tournament. He had 124 putts for the week (31.0 average) versus 106 (26.5) for Goydos. That's 18 shots right there.
If you want to get to know Goydos better, read John Feinstein's 1996 book, A Good Walk Spoiled, where he says about the self-described journeyman, "he can find the cloud inside every silver lining."
While that may be true, I think golf needs more Paul Goydoses. Guys who look like your average Joe, guys who used to be substitute teachers, who take time off from pursuing their dream to make sure their kids are safe and raised right, who, even though they don't win, say, "It's as much fun as I've ever had.
"I got to do a lot of firsts this week. You know, first time leading [after 54 holes] and first playoff. I've got to think 0-1 is a better playoff record than 0-0, right? I don't know, maybe you guys in the media can decipher that one."
Not much deciphering to do this morning after. Sergio won the tournament. Good for him, especially if it gives him the confidence to translate all that talent into a string of majors.
Goydos didn't win the tournament. But he won a lot more than that, in the final analysis.
Just ask the group of fans on 18 who were openly crying when he dunked that ball in the playoff.
Heck, even I felt like crying.
Yeah, I know. Those words will come back to bite me on the hindquarters, too.