Adamonis' playoff-hole decision proves costly

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By Nate Taylor | Sunday, July 13, 2008 10:46 PM CDT | () comments

The look said it all.

There was Brad Admaonis, the 35-year-old PGA Tour rookie, looking at the ground.

His face seemingly buried in the grass, much like his golf ball after his playoff tee shot Sunday in the final round of the John Deere Classic. Adamonis’ eyes were big and wide as he saw his chances for an invitation to the British Open quickly fading away.

His ball was covered in the rough while Kenny Perry and Jay Williamson were on the fairway. All eyes of the tournament were on Adamonis.

“I just had the worse lie that you can ever think of,” he said. “It was a downhill lie with a big clump of grass behind it.”

It was decision time. Adamonis already had a chance to win the tournament on the 18th hole, but he missed a 17-foot birdie putt to the left. So the questions came.

Should he play safe and chip his ball on to the fairway? Or, should he try to swing through oak trees to get onto the green?

That’s when Adamonis called on his caddie, Tim Duffy.

“I was thinking about chipping out,” Duffy said, “but I figured you let him go for it.”

And go for it Adamonis did. He pulled out a 6-iron from 211 yards from the pin and attempted his most difficult shot of the tournament. He shot his ball between two trees separated by 10 feet, but it splashed in the water.

Adamonis’ chances to win his first PGA Tour event drowned with the golf ball, as he watched Kenny Perry win his third event of the year. Even with the disappointment of not qualifying for the British Open, Adamonis was still pleased with his day.

“I knew I had a chance to win,” he said. “I was like, ‘Wow, this is pretty awesome.’ ”

His wife, Stacy, who had heat exhasution Saturday went to Illini Hospital, was proud of her husband despite the loss.

“We know without a doubt now that he can compete with these guys,” she said. “I know he feels better abut his chances to stay in the PGA Tour.”

After his round, Adamonis smiled as he walked to the clubhouse. He shook hands and tipped his cap to the gallery as if he didn’t lose the playoff.

“This is my best experience as a golfer.” he said. “What a great day.”

Adamonis, a guy many didn’t know before the tournament, won over fans because of his courageous attempt. Still, Adamonis and Duffy will have to think about their decision on the playoff shot for years to come.

“I told Adanonis we go this far,” Duffy said. “You never know. We might get lucky.”

Adamonis’ thoughts were in hindsight.

“I think my caddie wanted me to lay-up,” he said. “I am pretty good out of the trees. In retrospect, I really should have chipped it out.”

Nate Taylor can be contacted at (563) 383-2477 or ntaylor@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.