Kevin Na wins first career PGA title in 211th attempt

Korean-American Kevin Na is a “10 million dollar man.” Since debuting in the U.S. Professional Golfers Association in 2004, he has earned a cumulative 10.25 million dollars in prize money through last month.

It is nothing extraordinary for a pro golfer on the PGA Tour to earn 10 million dollars. What is unique is that he earned the money without winning a single title.

Just three PGA golfers including Na have earned more than 10 million dollars without winning a title.

Na dumped this amazing yet disgraceful record without hesitation, finally winning his first title that had eluded him for years.

He shot at 6-under-65 for a 23-under 261 victory total at TPC Summlerin (par 71) in Las Vegas to claim the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open Championship, the first tournament in this fall’s PGA Tour.

Na clinched a two-stroke victory over Nick Watney of the U.S., who has won two titles this season, for the Korean American`s first title in 211 attempts on the PGA Tour.

○ On par with Tiger Woods as an amateur

Few expected Na would clinch his first PGA win so late. He was considered a player on par with Tiger Woods as an amateur.

Having immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 at age 8, Na started playing golf a year later. He was the youngest player to set a string of records at U.S. amateur tournaments, earning the nickname “golf sensation” in the process.

He advanced to the finals of the U.S. Junior Golf Championships at age 12 to become the youngest golfer to play in a competition hosted by the U.S. Golf Association.

In 2001 as 10th grader, he swept the Los Angeles City Championship, Kraft Nabisco Junior Championship, PING Phoenix Junior Open and Orange Ball International Championship. He also was atop the U.S. junior golfer rankings the same year.

Butch Harmon of the U.S., considered the world’s best golf instructor at the time, gave high marks to Na’s potential and accepted him as a student. Harmon only accepted two amateurs as students, Woods and Na. Meeting Harmon’s expectations, Na passed the PGA Qualifying School in 2003 at age 20.

○ Triumphant in 211th attempt

Winning a title on the PGA Tour, a gathering of the world’s best golfers, had been a challenge for Na. He had won on the minor and Asian tours, but repeatedly came up short in the final rounds of PGA tournaments.

He was runner-up after sudden-death playoffs at the FRB Open and the Chrysler Classic in 2005. He also came in second at the Arnold Palmer Invitational last year and third in as many as five events this year, including the Northern Trust Open.

Na had hard time due to Watney through the end of Sunday`s event as well. Na was leading by two strokes early in the tournament, but bogeyed on the 14th hole to allow Watney to tie.

But Na birdied holes 15 and 16 and sank a 13-meter birdie putt on the 17th (par 3) to secure the title. This shot was picked as the “Shot of the Day” by PGA Tour.com.

Na said, “It was a S-shaped line with double breaks. I was confident because I practiced this line a lot in the past. When I putt, the ball headed in the direction I anticipated, and I thought to myself that this was going to be my game.”

In an interview after his win, Na said, “I had a nightmare of closing the tournament as runner-up last night,” adding, “I`ve been stressed out thus far because I`d anticipated victory to no avail for so long. I feel relaxed.”

○ No more nightmares

Na has another disgraceful memory: shooting a 16 on the ninth hole in the first round of the Valero Texas Open in April. He went 12 over par for the worst record for par for a par-four hole since the PGA Tour started tallying scores for individual holes in 1983.

One critic even called Na a "turtle" because he spends too much time hitting a shot.

But his win in Las Vegas has freed Na from the mental pain and anguish he has had over the past years. “I`ve seen players who win titles often after claiming their first career title. I feel I`ll win more titles from now on,” Na said with a big smile.

uni@donga.com