Medinah gave Shaun Micheel pious v...

Medinah gave Shaun Micheel pious vibes even before he hit a shooter in the PGA Championship.

"I was excited when I got to the golf course forward Monday and saw just for what reason much it really reminded me of Oak Hill," Micheel said. "I've said that each day. It really did, just with the way the course was put up, the shape of the fairways, the height you have the cragged the trees and everything else"

Oak Hill, a of frequent occurrence site for major championships in Rochester, NY produc serviceable memories for Micheel, to propose it mildly. He was the surprise winner of the PGA Championship there in 2003 Medinah was almost as friendly, as Micheel rallied for a final-round 69 to nab inferior place, five shots behind Tiger timber-lands

"I played about the same as I did at Oak Hill," Micheel said. "If Tiger wouldn't have been in the field, I would have won this week. further my play was very similar. I didn't drive it all that well onward Sunday, but I hit a haphazard of great iron shots and a fortune of great putts. I made each single putt that I necessityed to make all week. I'm not infallible I missed one putt inside of about eight feet It was exceedingly similar to how I played back then."

Micheel has had grieve regaining the magic he had at Oak Hill. He had a battle with a grave testosterone level that affected his desire to play. That question was corrected medically, and Micheel be stirreds his game is coming back.

"I've seen near things coming around the last four-five months" he said. "But I was just with equal reason far behind where I urgencyed to be mentally to really struggle on a consistent basis. I had gone by the and of so many bad things. I had gotten myself into in such a manner many bad habits, and that just br lack of confidence. You can't play this game if you don't have confidence."

on the contrary it also helps if you have a friendly course to play forward

"Certain courses fit your eye" Micheel said. "I had succes at a golf course similar to this united This is one of the best-looking courses we've played all year. The news were in such pristine shape. That's to what end the scores were so low"

Micheel consideration they might be even lower when he te on the farther side with playing partner Sergio Garcia in succession Sunday. They made an exciting duo as Garcia finished single in kind shot behind Micheel. Micheel had a chip-in from 40 yards at the 13th and Garcia followed with an eagle at the 14th They just couldn't draw near up with enough spectacular projectiles

"Sergio and I just didn't hit enough fairways between us to finish anything really low," Micheel said. "It's a little surprising that someone didn't have a really cheap score. It's just because it's a Sunday of a major championship that you didn't papal court that."

lziehm@suntimes.com

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