Playing through

A year ago, casual golf fans watching the Players Championship learned a few things about Paul Goydos:

He was quick-witted and self-effacing. When NBC’s Bob Costas asked him how he had slept with the lead before Sunday’s final round, Goydos replied: “On my back.”

He wore a baseball cap from Long Beach State -- his alma mater -- because he couldn’t get a paying sponsor.

He had won twice on tour in 16 years.

After Goydos lost in a playoff to Sergio Garcia by hitting his tee shot in the water on the island-green 17th hole, he handled it with grace.

A self-described “lovable loser,” he was the forerunner to Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open and Kenny Perry at the Masters last month.

Goydos, 44, remains a favorite, though not a favorite to win here after missing the cut in six of 10 PGA Tour events this year.

“Every day someone’s saying, ‘Hey, great playing last year’ or, ‘I enjoyed watching you at the Players,’ ” Goydos said. “I was driving out to the Golf Channel [for an interview] and heard my name whispered as we drove by in the cart. That never happened before.”

And the burst of fame hasn’t changed him.

When a reporter asked him Wednesday how he had slept the night before, Goydos replied: “Just fine. Fetal position.”

As it turns out, there’s a reason to admire Goydos that has nothing to do with his refreshing demeanor.

Goydos’ ex-wife died in January at age 44, leaving him as the key figure in raising his teenage daughters, Chelsea and Courtney.

Wendy Goydos suffered from severe migraine headaches that eventually required almost weekly hospital visits and strong medications. She began taking crystal methamphetamine, according to a recent Golf Digest story, as a way to combat depression brought on by her medications.

In January, she died after an apparent overdose. Breaking the news to his daughters, Goydos said, was “the worst moment in my life.”

Goydos also struggled with how to handle the situation publicly. He rebuffed most efforts from reporters but decided to discuss it in depth Wednesday to emphasize that Wendy was a great mother -- and a victim.

“We want to look down at people who have a drug problem without knowing the whole story,” he said. “I was as guilty as anybody of being judgmental.

“Unfortunately, it took her death for me to open my eyes. Being a recovering addict is very hard. Dealing with the highs and lows and having setbacks -- and getting better and then having setbacks -- it eventually tears you apart. I think it did with her.”

Goydos ranks 152nd on the 2009 tour money list but refuses to accept an ounce of sympathy.

“Everybody out here has their own set of worries,” he said. “For me to say I’ve played poorly because of what has happened is not fair to the other people who beat me every week.”

Goydos and Wendy split in 2003. The following year, he stepped away from the tour to focus on being a father.

Last year, 16-year-old Courtney went with him to the British Open, spending time in Liverpool and London. Older daughter Chelsea stayed in Southern California, preferring to spend time with her friends at the beach.

“She is now regretting that decision every day,” Goydos said, “and asking me when the British Open qualifier is.”

Goydos is a single father, but his daughters have a support system that includes Wendy’s mother and her sister’s family.

“I have great kids and great friends,” Goydos said. “I haven’t had it rough. The person who had it rough was my ex-wife. She spent the last years of her life trying not to be an addict.

“That’s difficult. It’s a lot easier standing on the 17th hole at TPC in a playoff.”

--

tgreenstein@tribune.com

--

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Joining the chase

Tiger Woods: He got outplayed Sunday at Quail Hollow by the likes of Tim Petrovic and Ted Purdy, shooting 72. No wonder he didn’t protest when David Feherty of CBS jokingly called him a “loser” afterward. Woods hasn’t notched a top-10 finish at TPC Sawgrass since his victory in 2001.

Sergio Garcia: He’ll vie to become the first to successfully defend his Players title. If he can leave Sawgrass without ripping the course, that would mark another success.

Phil Mickelson: The 2007 Players champion knows how to go low at Sawgrass. The left-hander is one of nine players to shoot six-under-par 30 on the back nine.

Sean O’Hair: Quail Hollow champion has six top-10 finishes this year and is the only U.S.-born player under 30 with three PGA Tour wins.

Anthony Kim: He can make birdies in bunches (see National, Augusta). But his latest wild ride, at Quail Hollow, featured consecutive scores of 69 and 78.

Bubba Watson: Not only the longest hitter at Quail Hollow (331.6-yard average), he tied for the tournament lead by hitting 76.4% of greens.

Paul Goydos: The quintessential journeyman, lost to Garcia in a 2008 playoff.

Kenny Perry: America’s favorite runner-up has played once since his Masters meltdown, a tie for 59th at New Orleans.

Angel Cabrera: The man who broke Perry’s heart has missed four consecutive cuts at the Players.

Jeff Klauk: The tour rookie all but grew up at TPC Sawgrass. His father, Fred, was the club’s superintendent for more than 25 years before retiring in 2008.

-- Teddy Greenstein