IN BETWEEN NBA playoff games and putting our Easter turkey into the oven last Sunday, I watched a different sort of playoff duel unfold at the PGA Tour’s Heritage Classic in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Luke Donald was battling it out at the Heritage against a computer for the world’s No. 1 ranking and for a loud-but-on-purpose red-plaid jacket with Brandt Snedeker, the 2007 PGA Tour Rookie of the Year.
Snedeker had climbed into the clubhouse lead with a 64 on Sunday and then after finishing his round had to wait a few hours for Donald to finish.
The two tied for first, setting up a sudden-death playoff.
Three drama-filled extra holes saw each birdie the 18th and par the 17th before Donald bogeyed the 18th second time around — after hitting his approach into a greenside bunker.
Donald was unable to get up and down from a buried lie, just lipping out with his par chip from the fringe.
The three-hole playoff was a great display of just how good these PGA pros are at the short game.
Donald had the best sand-save percentage on the tour last year and Snedeker apparently underwent an ice-water transfusion during his break.
Snedeker knocked in two elimination putts on the first two holes that may have even scared a player with the putting chops of a Corey Pavin.
The only minus points go to the popped collar on Snedeker’s caddie’s polo shirt.
Leave the frat-boy look back at college, my man.
Hopefully, this tournament can continue.
It’s in serious jeopardy due to its need of an $8 million title sponsor for next year.
I like the tight fairways, the memorable finishing hole right there along the marsh, and the plaid jackets.
SunLand Saturday
SunLand Golf & Country Club of Sequim will host a Cobra golf rep from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.
Attendees can use any new club purchased in the ESPN Best Ball Challenge Sectional Qualifier that also will be held at SunLand on Saturday.
The two-player best ball event will include gross-net and senior-net divisions.
Cost is $52 per player.
Participants will receive 12 Callaway IZ golf balls and a one-year subscription to Golf Magazine.
A minimum of five teams will advance to the regional qualifier.
Foursomes that pay one extra entry will enter ESPN’s Triple Play contest, giving them three partners rather than one.
Players also will receive an extra dozen Callaway IZ balls.
For more information on the contest, visit www.espngolf.com.
This is the last weekend the course will offer its $25 weekend rate, so take advantage while you can.
For more information on playing in the SunLand event, phone Tyler Sweet at 360-683- 6800.
SkyRidge punchout
SkyRidge went through its annual spring greens punchout on Monday.
The aeration loosens up soil and allows room for the roots to grow and get access to more oxygen.
Healthy greens equals better golf scores.
It does inconvenience things for about 5-10 days, so SkyRidge is offering reduced green fees until the appearance is more back to normal.
Relay For Life tourney
Port Townsend Golf Club will host a four-person pick your team Relay For Life benefit tournament on Saturday.
The tournament will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
Cost is $45 per player, with a $15 greens fee for nonmembers.
The price includes golf, lunch, a prize fund and a raffle entry.
Proceeds support the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life program.
Port Townsend also hosts all-day skins contests for 18 holes on Saturdays and nine holes on Thursdays.
Cost to enter the game is $10 plus green fees on Saturdays and reduced greens fees on Thursdays.
I’m a fan of this idea
Beginning in May, the Port Townsend Women’s Golf Club will have two different tee times available for its members.
Players can play on Wednesdays at 9 a.m. or 5 p.m.
The addition of the 5 p.m. tee time allows those with work commitments the chance to still be part of the club’s activities.
Players are welcome to play in one or both groups on Wednesdays.
For more information on anything Port Townsend golf-related, phone 360-385-4547.
Disco Bay lessons
Area golfers can still take advantage of spring tune-up clinics offered by Discovery Bay Golf Club’s new PGA pro Mark Wurtz.
The clinics will continue until early May at the Port Townsend-area club.
They are divided into both beginner and intermediate level with men’s and women’s sessions.
Each clinic involves two two-hour sessions, with a maximum of eight participants in each session.
Cost is $40 per person per clinic.
Balls and equipment (if needed) are provided by Discovery Bay Golf Club.
Clinics will be held Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The first session will be devoted to developing short-game skills, with the second emphasizing the fundamentals of the golf swing.
If you’re interested in anything happening at Discovery Bay, phone the clubhouse at 360-385-0704.
TaylorMade for Petco
In the best piece of sports marketing product placement I have seen since Blake Griffin jumped over a Kia sedan at the NBA All-Star Game in February, I present the TaylorMade R11 Driver foul pole.
Yes, the rightfield foul pole in the San Diego Padres Petco Park recently received a makeover.
Well, more of an addition, since the 80-foot shaft of the R11 driver is located in fair territory, just inside the yellow foul pole and doesn’t serve as the foul pole itself.
An ESPN article describing the new addition is available at tinyurl.com/43wnx66 while a video of the installation can be seen at tinyurl.com/4yflyck.
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Michael Carman is the golf columnist for the Peninsula Daily News. He can be reached at 360-417-3527 or at pdngolf@gmail.com.