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Ex UA Star Not Afraid of Woods

Two things intimidate the average professional golfer: an extremely penal course and the presence of Tiger Woods.

Well, Rory Sabbatini is far from normal.

"I think fear is unnecessary," Sabbatini said.

To prove it, the former University of Arizona star has done the unthinkable. He continues to poke and prod the world's best player, unaware that you don't tug on Superman's cape, unconcerned that Woods holds on to grudges the way he holds final-round leads.

"I think if you want to be the best in the world, you can't be afraid to take on the best," Sabbatini said.

This bizarre new rivalry began in May at the Wachovia Championship, when Sabbatini was paired with Woods in the final round and chirped like a boxer on the eve of their confrontation. Then, after Woods won the tournament and their individual battle by five strokes, Sabbatini proclaimed that Tiger was "more beatable than ever."

In response, Woods pointed out that he has as many victories this year as Sabbatini does in his career. That kind of knockout punch should've been the end of it.

But the outspoken Sabbatini just won't stop. He actually signed up for a Wednesday practice round with Woods at the US Open, and when Woods didn't show, he took it a step further. Sabbatini strolled up to Woods on the putting green, interrupted his practice regimen and told him that reporters wanted to know why he didn't play a practice round that morning.

Even if you're in Tiger's circle of friends, that takes some nerve.

Tiger's response?

According to Sabbatini, Woods told him that his practice methods have been working just fine, thank you very much. And while he did not say if steam was coming out of Woods' ears, I'm guessing they were whistling like a tea pot.

"I hope I did get under his skin," Sabbatini said. "I'd be the only guy able to do that."

It's not unusual for Sabbatini to stir up the soup.

He has worn camouflage pants on tour to honor fallen soldiers (after the 2005 FBR Open, the PGA Tour ruled the attire inappropriate). Irate over slow play, he once stormed ahead of playing partner Ben Crane, a serious breach of etiquette. In a recent Sports Illustrated survey, 25 percent of respondents voted him their least favorite playing partner.

Like John Daly, Sabbatini travels around the country in an RV. He brazenly calls himself the Tony Stewart of golf. And you couldn't miss the belt buckle he wore on Thursday, a silver tarantula adorned with diamondlike bling.

"This one's coming at you like a spider monkey," he said.

Say this much: Golf fans have been longing for more personalities on tour for some time, and Sabbatini, 31, is finally showing a game that can match his mouth. He has five Top-10 finishes in 15 PGA Tour events this season. And after his failed showdown with Woods, Sabbatini won the Colonial three weeks later.

But sparring with Woods is like playing with rattlesnake, and most guys just won't tread where Sabbatini is going.

"I'm not scared," Sabbatini said.

Great. Courage is commendable, just like guys who aren't afraid to speak their mind.

But if Sabbatini gets paired with Woods over the weekend, I suggest he bring a cut man, just in case.

-- by Dan Bickley, The Arizona Republic

Rory’s No. 1 Fan

Joe Bull roots so rabidly for his favorite golfer, former University of Arizona star Rory Sabbatini, that The Golf Channel announcer, Nick Faldo, has dubbed him "Psycho Fan."

Bull has embraced it. He was proudly wearing a "Psycho Fan: Rory's Rowdy Roadies" silk shirt as he followed Sabbatini's thrilling first-round win over David Howell in the Match Play Championship in Tucson.

"I love having Joe out here," Sabbatini said of Bull, a 54-year-old dentist from Safford, Arizona. "This is my No. 1 fan."

Bull and his wife, Estrella, befriended Sabbatini and his wife, Amy, a few years ago when the young couple was living on the Starr Pass Golf Course. Bull and his wife now follow the Sabbatinis to most PGA Tour stops. They've been to all of Sabbatini's 2007 tournaments except the Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

In the Match Play, Howell took a 3-up lead on No. 5 with amazing shots that included one drive that missed a cactus patch and landed on the only possible clearing: the cart path. With a puff of cement dust, Howell halved the hole from there.

"We're just not getting any breaks," Bull lamented.

He got his wish on the par-4 seventh hole when Sabbatini's wayward drive struck a fan and bounded onto the fairway. Joe gave the fan a big hug.

The hoots and hollers from a group that included Estrella and Amy grew as their man rallied for the win.

Estrella embraces her husband's passion for Sabbatini's career. "Whenever the lotto gets real high, Joe plays it a lot," she said. "If we ever win, the plan is to retire, buy an RV and follow the Tour around the country."

-- Arizona Daily Star