AKRON, Ohio (AP) — Based on his record, Stewart Cink won't win this week at the Bridgestone Invitational.
But don't bet against him in two weeks at the Wyndham Championship — right after the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.
"All of my tournament wins have come the week after majors, including one on the Nationwide Tour," Cink said Wednesday during preparations for the opening round of the Bridgestone at Firestone Country Club.
Cink captured his fifth PGA Tour title last month at the Travelers. Naturally, that came seven days after the final round of the U.S. Open.
He also has won the Greater Hartford in 1997 the week after the U.S. Open; at Hilton Head in 2000 and again in 2004 the week after the Masters; and the 2004 NEC Invitational, the predecessor of the Bridgestone, which followed that year's PGA Championship.
"You play in a major, and after that you feel like you're pretty well prepared to play in any tournament," Cink said, attempting to explain his majors-plus-one success.
Cink is satisfied with his career. It's just that he'd like to win a major instead of always basking in the afterglow of one.
"As long as I keep on having wins, I'm OK with it," he said. "But eventually I'd like to try to shift it back a week and win a major. My timing has always been bad."
MICKELSON'S MATH: Phil Mickelson and his short-game guru, Dave Pelz, work with a software program that analyzes tour statistics and applies them to various top venues.
The Left-handed professor offered an example of the wonders revealed by the program — and closed with a pop quiz.
"If you increase any statistical category across the board, it lowers scores," Mickelson explained. "OK, 10 percent fewer putts, 10 percent more greens, 10 percent closer to the hole, 10 percent more fairways — every one lowers scores except longer driving distance."
Warming to the subject, he added, "There's one golf course in America where 10 percent longer driving equates to lower scores. What would you think it would be?"
After a pregnant pause, he smiled and said, "Augusta National."
