UNIVERSITY PLACE Wash. Story time from brighter days the scene a popular restaurant in the Jupiter Fla. area Ernie Els walking in to be greeted by the owner. Pointing to a gentleman sitting at a high top and enjoying lunch the owner says Ernie you must know Steve. He's a pro golfer too.
Really what tour do you play on Els said.
Your tour Steve Marino responded and I'm 25 spots ahead of you on the money list.
Els howled with laughter sat down with Marino and a friendship was forged.
Ah the good ol' days when Marino was a steady presence on the PGA Tour so solid that he piled up $8 889 286 and 21 top 10s from 2007 to '11. So good that he led the 2009 Open Championship at Turnberry through 36 holes. It was a show ultimately stolen by 59 year old Tom Watson of course but a cameo role belonged to Marino his long strides and confident manner making for a nice storyline.
Then it started to turn. First an operation on his left knee. Then when finally my left knee started feeling better I broke my left leg and tore ligaments in my left ankle Marino said. I jumped out of my boat onto a sandbar and into a hole.
From 2012 to '14 Marino played in just 31 PGA Tour tournaments the last ones using up his medical extension so that by the start of 2014 15 he could play a few tournaments on the Web.com Tour. He wasn't even sure how. Some sort of weird status Marino said laughing.
In his second tournament Marino lost in a playoff in Colombia. Disappointing yes but the good news is it virtually assured him of solid status with the re shuffle. He has parlayed it into some decent play and sitting 12th on the money list Marino is in position to re gain his PGA Tour card for 2015 16.
But that's for down the road. Right now Marino is focused on Chambers Bay and the U.S. Open his first tournament on the PGA Tour since the Wyndham Classic last August. He got in as the first alternate out of the Dallas site having shot 67 68 at the Northwood Club to miss by one.
It's his first U.S. Open since 2012 and The Olympic Club. When asked if the grueling Chambers Bay site was perhaps too much on his left leg Marino shook his head.
That's not an issue anymore. I'm good a hundred percent good with all that Marino said.
Since we saw him last Marino had somehow turned 35. He laughed. Older and wiser he said.
But turning serious his practice round Wednesday with Matt Every Billy Horschel and Charley Hoffman did nothing but whet his appetite for a return to the PGA Tour stage. His five successful years never produced a victory but there were so many positives that Marino knows he belongs. Better still he knows he and his game are healthy.
I'm playing pretty good. I'll be back there he said.
As early as this week at the grueling U.S. Open Marino nodded his head slowly in agreement. I'm playing pretty good. I might get up there. I think I might.
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