Golf: Perks moves up, despite caddy's run-in with the law

2.00pm - by BERNIE McGUIRE

PONTE VEDRA, Florida - New Zealand defending champion Craig Perks brilliantly put himself in contention for a repeat Players Championship victory today despite his caddy's arrest just before tee off time on day two of the event.

Perks found his way to the leading group of the US$6 million ($11.03 million) event using three separate caddies after his regular caddy, Rodney Erb, was stopped for speeding by the Jacksonville Beach Police at 6.15am as the American made his way to the course.

As police began writing an infringement notice their routine check of outstanding warrants revealed Erb was wanted for passing a bounced cheque for the purchase of US$150 worth of goods in another county within Florida.

Erb was immediately detained and taken to a local police station until being released at 8.45am by which time it was too late for him to carry Perks' clubs through the second round.

Play had resumed from yesterday's stoppage with a regular Tour caddy filling in for Perks' final five holes of his first round.

Meantime, Perks' wife, Maureen, had been on the phone early to Australian born, Tony Linguard, who regularly caddies for American Frank Lickliter.

Although Erb phoned saying he believed he could make the start of the second round, Linguard quickly obliged by caddying for Perks during his second round score of 69.

Linguard has handed over the duties to Erb, who will resume work with the Kiwi for the remaining two rounds.

"We are going to sit down tonight and hash things out," Perks said.

"You have a responsibility as a caddy and I guess he violated that...

"He will obviously feel badly and I know he knows he messed up."

Erb began working with Perks last August, and it was at his suggestion, that the New Zealand golfer turned to his new coach, Steve Aumock.

Perks shocked the golf world twelve months ago when he brilliantly claimed a two-shot victory with a memorable three-hole finish on the TPC Stadium course.

Now the 36-year-old Louisiana-based golfer is primed to bank a second straight US$1.08m after moving to a three way share of second place in the US$6m tournament -- two strokes behind leader Irishman Padraig Harrington.

Perks, resuming first round play today after the threat of thunderstorms brought an early halt to play yesterday, signed for a four under par 68 and a share of third place behind the first round leading duo of Ireland's Padraig Harrington and American Fred Couples, a two times former Players champion.

After a short break, Perks emerged back onto the course to begin brilliantly by birding his opening hole, the par four 10th, and then holed a 10 foot eagle putt at the par five, 11th, after hitting his 'rescue' wedge from 114 yards out into the green.

"It's a 19 degree kind of utility club and I just hit a beautiful high-tearing cut in the air, a shot that I could never, ever hit before, a cut that started left and worked it's way back towards the pin ten foot from the flag," Perks said.

Perks then stalled with 13 straight pars prior to dropping a shot at the par four, seventh, or the 16th hole of round.

But he then found forward gear at the next hitting a superb four iron from 205 yards, at the par three eighth, to just six feet and holing the birdie putt.

Perks' form plummeted after winning last year's Players Championship but this week his play has been inspirational.

"I have a lot of good memories here and it's just so special coming back here as defending champion and seeing the New Zealand flag flying there in the Circle of Champions," Perks said.

"There's all the posters and banners with the painting of me holing the chip shot from the back of 18 plus the programme and numerous other items that is helping to inspire me."

Should Perks win back-to-back Players Championship titles, he will become the first ever golfer in the 29-year history of the event to achieve the feat. "I have never been given much respect and I had no chance last year but I am looking forward to the weekend and hopefully I can make it two in a row," he said.

"I didn't think I would be right up near the top after two rounds but I feel comfortable on this golf course even though I can't tell you why.

"But I came here with nothing to lose this week and that's still the case."

Phil Tataurangi, the only other remaining New Zealand golfer in the field, carded a second round 71 but looks certain to miss the even par cut when play was halted near 6.30pm local time.

- NZPA