San Diego Union Trib talks Double P...
Ed Zieralski of the San Diego Union Tribune wrote a great piece on Double P today. Check it out below:
Perez due for first tour win
By Ed Zieralski
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
January 25, 2007
Pat Perez looks fit, rested and is hitting the ball as well as he ever has, according to his swing coach, Michael Owen.
None other than John Daly says Perez's ball-striking ability is among the best he's ever seen on tour.
So why hasn't Perez won yet?
Perez didn't have to be reminded yesterday that another San Diego Junior Golf star, Charley Hoffman, a 30-year-old just like him, picked up his first tour win Sunday at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
Perez had a fine week himself the previous week, finishing tied for 10th at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
"That was nice, but it was a real surprise," Perez said yesterday. "It was a lot better than I expected for the first time out."
Perez, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., has seen Hoffman and Chris Riley, another fellow former San Diego junior golf star, win on tour. Perez has two seconds on tour, in 2002 at Pebble Beach and the Buick Classic. His best finish last year was third at the Players Championship. He tied for 39th at Torrey Pines.
He knows he's due for a win.
"I think so," he said. "For good players, it's only a matter of time before you get that first win. Everything is working right now. I'm playing well. I played good in Hawaii, and now it's good to be home, always good to be home and playing my favorite tournament."
Owen, a teaching pro at Torrey Pines, said Perez is excited and ready for 2007. The tendinitis in both elbows has subsided after limiting Perez to 19 starts last year. He still finished in the top 125 on the PGA Tour money list for the fifth time in his five-year career, earning $719,507. He's off to a great start with $137,000 from the Sony.
"He has some terrific goals, to finish in the top 30 (on the money list) and to qualify for the U.S. Open here next year," Owen said. "He's focused, and he believes he can do it. Seeing Charley Hoffman win was good for him, motivates him. Pat will win, and when he wins his first, I believe the flood gates will open."
Owen also has been working with Daly, who has become a friend and mentor to Perez. Daly thinks the world of Perez and, like Owen, believes he will win on tour soon.
"Pat is definitely ready to win," Daly said. "This guy is one of the best ball-strikers I've ever seen. It reminds me of the way Fuzzy (Zoeller) used to hit it. I don't know why he hasn't won...
"He wants everything to be just perfect when he hits a golf shot, and you can't. As good as he is around the greens, he should have won already."
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Perez due for first tour winBy Ed Zieralski
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER
January 25, 2007
Pat Perez looks fit, rested and is hitting the ball as well as he ever has, according to his swing coach, Michael Owen.
None other than John Daly says Perez's ball-striking ability is among the best he's ever seen on tour.
So why hasn't Perez won yet?
Perez didn't have to be reminded yesterday that another San Diego Junior Golf star, Charley Hoffman, a 30-year-old just like him, picked up his first tour win Sunday at the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
Perez had a fine week himself the previous week, finishing tied for 10th at the Sony Open in Hawaii.
"That was nice, but it was a real surprise," Perez said yesterday. "It was a lot better than I expected for the first time out."
Perez, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., has seen Hoffman and Chris Riley, another fellow former San Diego junior golf star, win on tour. Perez has two seconds on tour, in 2002 at Pebble Beach and the Buick Classic. His best finish last year was third at the Players Championship. He tied for 39th at Torrey Pines.
He knows he's due for a win.
"I think so," he said. "For good players, it's only a matter of time before you get that first win. Everything is working right now. I'm playing well. I played good in Hawaii, and now it's good to be home, always good to be home and playing my favorite tournament."
Owen, a teaching pro at Torrey Pines, said Perez is excited and ready for 2007. The tendinitis in both elbows has subsided after limiting Perez to 19 starts last year. He still finished in the top 125 on the PGA Tour money list for the fifth time in his five-year career, earning $719,507. He's off to a great start with $137,000 from the Sony.
"He has some terrific goals, to finish in the top 30 (on the money list) and to qualify for the U.S. Open here next year," Owen said. "He's focused, and he believes he can do it. Seeing Charley Hoffman win was good for him, motivates him. Pat will win, and when he wins his first, I believe the flood gates will open."
Owen also has been working with Daly, who has become a friend and mentor to Perez. Daly thinks the world of Perez and, like Owen, believes he will win on tour soon.
"Pat is definitely ready to win," Daly said. "This guy is one of the best ball-strikers I've ever seen. It reminds me of the way Fuzzy (Zoeller) used to hit it. I don't know why he hasn't won...
"He wants everything to be just perfect when he hits a golf shot, and you can't. As good as he is around the greens, he should have won already."
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