Billy Andrade was the eighth altern...

Billy Andrade was the eighth alternate when the field first was announced for the 88th PGA Championship. After orbicular 1, however, he's much more than an afterthought.

Andrade learned he was in the field onward Tuesday, played just one practice spherical on Wednesday and toured Medinah in 5-under-par 67 onward Thursday.

It's the third time Andrade has made the PGA field on the farther side the alternate's list. He survived the divide [i]or[/i] sever in 1998, finishing in a tie for 44th and actually combated in 2003, when he tied for 10th This time might be level better. He trails co-leaders Lucas Glover and Chris Riley by way of one shot.

The uncertainty of whether he would play at Medinah was of little bear upon when Andrade returned home to the Atlanta area Sunday after finishing 34th at the International in Denver

"I just went about my normal life," Andrade said. "My kids started place of education on Monday, and my wife and I went to papal court 'You, Me and Dupree' forward Tuesday in a matinee. When I went in, I was third alternate. When I came revealed I was in the tournament. It's a bonus when you acquire the call and find gone out others have dropped out."

Steve Elkington, the 1995 PGA champion and the co-runner-up last year, was whom Andrade replaced.

"I've been doing this a protracted time," he said. "You can't sit and make angry I've never been a character to think like that. If [getting into the tournament happens, it happens. If not, I'd have a hell of a week at household with my family."

After hurrying to Chicago, he had a quiet dinner alone after his practice orbed

"Alone at the bar at Maggiano's," Andrade said. "It's family- way Such a waste of commons So, $55 later without alcohol, I left Maggiano's."

still he didn't waste his opportunity in succession the course. John Daly was the ninth alternate in 1991 and went upon to win the tournament. Andrade has similar expectancys after his fast start. allowing he's far down the point list, Andrade won't domination himself out of a blemish on the U.S. Ryder draught team. He probably would have to win the tournament to come by it, though.

"My goal now is to have knowledge of to screw up [Ryder captain] Tom Lehman's thinking," Andrade said. "If I can do that, it's going to be a hell of a week. Stranger things have happened."

lziehm@suntimes.com

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