2003 PGA champion Micheel: 'I'm just beat up'

PITTSFORD, N.Y. -- There are many possible explanations for why Shaun Micheel never built on the unexpected, thrilling victory in the 2003 PGA Championship, which was capped by a historic 7-iron shot that landed inches from the final hole.

He has had injuries and illnesses. His mother grew very ill and died. Plus, he was an obscure pro to start with, ranked 169th when he won here at Oak Hill Country Club, which will host the 2013 PGA starting tomorrow. He never won again and his current place on the World Golf Rankings is 2,040.

"I think I got frustrated and I think I just haven't worked at it hard enough," he said Tuesday. "I'm just beat up, I think is how I would say it."

But he is a celebrity here this week, one who is planning to show his wife and children (one of whom the couple was expecting in August, 2003) the plaque marking the spot of his clinching shot. "It is very much appreciated to get the kind of pats on the back and acknowledgment that I've been getting this week," he said.

So what ever happened to that 7-iron? "I have it in an old just beat-up, unassuming box in my golf/guitar room," he said. "I've been asked for it several times, but if I had done this more than once, I might have been inclined to give it to somebody. But you never know. I'm going to hold onto that one.'' Local pro goes big

Rob Labritz, the director of golf at GlenArbor in Westchester and a dominant player in Metropolitan PGA section, played a practice round Tuesday with big-time tour pros Keegan Bradley, Jason Dufner and Dustin Johnson. At the turn, he said they were playing a match, Labritz and Bradley (the St. John's graduate and Wheatley Hills member) against Dufner and Johnson. The latter twosome was 7 under, the former pair was at par.

Just estimating, Labritz said, "I've already lost a car and two houses."