Outspoken Sabbatini lets his game do the talking

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Rory Sabbatini's flashy belt buckles and tendency to speak his mind have often overshadowed his on-course success.

Rory Sabbatini knows there's a fine line between having a good week on the PGA TOUR and lifting a trophy.

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All it takes is a made putt here or a lucky bounce there; otherwise any player can be beatable in a sport where the talent level is deeper than the late Barry White's voice.

This bears repeating this week with Sabbatini returning to the Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., to battle Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and many other of the world's top ranked players in the re-named Quail Hollow Championship.

It was at this event two years ago when Sabbatini had the audacity/guts/silliness -- you make the call -- to say he believed Wooods "was as beatable as ever." What made this comment so interesting was it came after Sabbatini lost a one-shot lead in the final round, shooting a 74 to a 69 by the victorious Woods. Sabbatini steadfastly stuck by his comments afterward, pointing out Woods won that day despite not having his so-called "A game."

Sabbatini said the media twisted his words, but the meaning remained intact.

"I wasn't raised with the belief that you should be second best," Sabbatini said. "I was raised with the belief that if you set your mind to it, you can do anything you want. I'm a competitor. I want to win.

"I said, 'I've seen Tiger play his best, and what I saw when he won at Wachovia is that he struggled that day. And the Tiger I saw play that day could be beaten.' That became that I'm saying Tiger is beatable. That's why I do this and I'm not a commentator or part of the media."

The biggest knock against golfers is too many of them act and sound alike. Then along comes a guy like Sabbatini, with his big belt buckles and even larger personality, and people don't quite know what to make of it.

The 33-year-old South African has used this no-nonsense approach to win four titles during his decade on the PGA TOUR, earn almost $19 million and rise as high as No. 8 in the Official World Golf Ranking last year.

But some golf fans remember Sabbatini more for his anti-Woods comments at Wachovia, the fact he had a fan ejected at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational for asking him "Is Woods still beatable?" while Woods was dusting off Sabbatini in that final round (65-74) and Sabbatini's ill-fated decision to leave Woods' Chevron World Challenge before the final round in 2007 without telling any of the tournament officials. (Sabbatini eventually donated his last-place check of $170,000 to a charity that supports injured soldiers and their families.)

Sabbatini makes no apologies for his actions, either on of off the course.

"I am who I am," Sabbatini said, "and people either are going to appreciate it or they're not."

Woods has taken a bemused approach to Sabbatini's antics, which include the South African signing up to play the first tee time the day before the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont, a spot normally reserved for Woods. However, Woods stopped playing on Wednesdays at majors several years ago, so Sabbatini played by himself.

Woods doesn't share Sabbatini's candor, but admires his beliefs. "Obviously, Rory is full of confidence," Woods said. "He believes in what he can do, and there's a lot to be said for that."

But Sabbatini's confidence has been tested the last 23 months. That's how long it has been since he won his last PGA TOUR title, at the 2007 Crowne Point Invitational at Colonial. He has had three runner-up showings since -- including at last week's Zurich Classic of New Orleans -- so he knows his game is almost where he needs to be. But he still can't get over that thin line.

"I'm so close," he said. "But I've got to make more putts."

The way Sabbatini played the par-4 16th hole at TPC Louisiana serves as a microcosm of his recent stretch. He took the gamble of driving the short par-4 hole, barely clearing the lake in front as his ball bounded over the back edge. Sabbatini had a chance to tie Jerry Kelly for the lead, but his eagle chip spun out of the hole. Then he inexplicably missed his 3-foot birdie putt -- the difference between finishing a shot back or in a playoff.

Sabbatini knows there are holes in his resume. He's had just one top-10 finish in 30 career starts in majors (a tie for second at the 2007 Masters). Heck, these days he's not even the highest-ranked Rory -- that distinction goes to Ireland's Rory McIlroy, who at No. 17 is 25 spots ahead of Sabbatini.

Yet Sabbatini's game is improving. He tied for 20th at the Masters, was eighth at the Verizon Heritage and then notched his 12th career second-place showing on the PGA TOUR in New Orleans to move into the 23rd spot in the FedExCup standings.

Sabbatini seems to be on the verge of making more noise for the correct reasons.

Craig Dolch is a freelance columnist for PGATOUR.COM. His views do not necessarily represent the views of the PGA TOUR.