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It was left to Goydos to put it in perspective. "I got beat by three, I think, in a playoff," he said with a smirk.
He's a media favorite because he says funny and smart things, he's literate and he's been known to hang around pressrooms to actually talk and have relationships with (close your eyes, Phil and Tiger!) media types. Some one-liners from Sunday:
On his pitch-in at the 10th: "That was borderline ridiculous."
On how he handled the 17th hole: "I told myself I was going think of 'Gilligan's Island' and try to get on as a castaway."
On losing in a playoff: "I've got to think 0-1 is a better playoff record than 0-0. Am I wrong?"
On whether he'd rather hit first or second on the 17th tee in the playoff: "Well, now I'd rather go second."
On feeling like Tiger Woods for a day: "That's from a crowd standpoint, not a talent standpoint."
It's clear that Goydos knows his place in the game, and he's comfortable with it, as well as his effort at this year's Players. As he left the interview room Sunday evening, the 2002 Players champion, Craig Perks, walked by. He shook his hand and said, "Awesome." Goydos told Perks, "I just tried to be like you."
Then Garcia walked into the room, carrying the crystal trophy. "Great playing," Goydos said sincerely after they shared a brief hug. "Really good, man. I'm proud of you."
Standing just outside the room to field even more questions from writers as darkness fell, Goydos talked about how he couldn't wait to retrieve his cell phone from his caddie and call his daughters back home in California. They'd been excited about his play and were planning to watch Sunday's finish. His oldest daughter, he said, even sent him a text message on Saturday night. He flashed a hint of a proud father's smile. It had been a very good week.
