Hang In There Kenny

Kenny Perry had a golden opportunity to exorcise the demons of the '96 PGA Championship this past weekend at Augusta National golf course. He literally walked off the 16th green with one arm in the green jacket. Unfortunately, fate reared it's ugly head and Kenny's date with destiny quickly faded away.

Back in 1996 Kenny had a similar date with destiny wiped away on the last hole of the PGA Championship in his home state. Back then, Perry was merely riding an emotional wave of good fortune and solid play when he put himself in position to win his first major at Valhalla. Many considered his opportunity at the time a bit of a surprise. This past weekend at the Masters it came as no surprise that he was once again on the doorstep of major success.

Outside of guys named Mickelson, Tiger and Padraig Harrington, Perry has been the most dominant golfer on the PGA Tour over the past three years. His recent renaissance has earned him such prestigious wins like the Memorial and the Colonial, not to mention his success in the 2008 Ryder Cup. However, the golf God's have a crule way of showing up at the most inopportune times.

Nobody seems to be more of a geniunely good guy than Perry. If anyone deserves success for being humble and likable it's Perry. Unfortunately, likability and humbleness won't par a hole for you when you most need it.

Perry faltering on the final two holes at the Masters was, no doubt, a tough pill to swallow. But for someone that considers everything at this point in his career "gravy" it somehow makes you want it for him that much more. Perry's obviously not a pretentious up-and-comer that feels he's entitled to anything. He's remained grounded and taken his recent success in stride. However, at 48 years of age, his days to bring home the elusive major title that all touring pros covet are numbered.

I figure he's got 6 - 8 majors left in which he can legitimately contend. The numbers would suggest the odds are stacked against him to capitalize on one of those opportunities. However, if anyone can turn this recent negative into a positive, it's Perry. I'll be his biggest fan during his on-going quest to capture the ultimate pinnacle of his profession. I'm sure I won't be the only one to want such good things for Perry as he plays out the rest of his career. However, if the major championship that he so richly deserves manages to elude him during his final years I just hope that when it's all said and done, that career isn't defined by his monumental failures on golf's biggest stage, and more about the example he has set during those failures.

Hang in there Kenny. Although I'm sure it comes as little solace, and even though you've fallen a one hole short, you're finally gaining the respect and support that us Kentuckians have had for you all along...and it couldn't happen to a better, more deserving guy.