Steve Flesch (AP photo) | ZOOM |

        Must be a lefty thing. Steve Flesch has made more than $5 million in the past 52 months, yet all anyone asks him about is why he hasn't won on the PGA Tour.

        In that respect, the Union, Ky., golfer can relate to golf's most prominent left-hander — world No.2 Phil Mickelson — who has won 20 tournaments but is asked incessantly why he hasn't won a major.

        “It's like Phil tells the media: "It'd be a lot easier if you guys quit asking me about it,'” Flesch said.

        Flesch doesn't mind talking about near-misses. Entering his appearance this week in the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, the Covington Catholic and University of Kentucky graduate has 30 career top-10 finishes, including three seconds and a third.

        The tour's 1998 rookie of the year has finished in the top 50 of the money list three of the past four years, with a high of 13th in 2000, and earned billing as “the best player on the PGA Tour who hasn't won yet” from ABC commentator and two-time U.S. Open winner Curtis Strange.

        “The thing I really value is my consistency, week in and week out,” Flesch said. “But at this level, you really want to win.

        “It's not a respect thing. I just want to win just to know I can win at this level. I don't want to just show up every week and collect my paycheck, and say, "OK, let's go on to the next week.'”

        Flesch turns 35 Thursday, the day he'll tee off in the first round. In this event, a favorite because family and friends come to cheer for him, Flesch tied for fifth two years ago and tied for 11th last year.

        He stands 59th on the money list this year and feels he is getting sharper, as evidenced by a tie for eighth in the MasterCard Colonial last week. Flesch switched two weeks ago to a new caddy, Rich Schlaak of Cincinnati, and likes the chemistry they have.

        “He helps me stay patient,” Flesch said of Schlaak. “I've gotten better at that — not pressuring yourself, not getting ahead of yourself on the golf course.”

        Flesch has endured hard luck on Sundays. In July 2000, he was the third-round co-leader at the Western Open but suffered seven bogies on the last day.

        Three months later at the National Car Rental Classic at Disney World, Flesch played the last two days with Tiger Woods and outdueled him with a 25-under-par total of 263. But Duffy Waldorf shot 10-under on the final day to nip Flesch by a stroke.

        “He came from out of nowhere,” Flesch said. “That one was really disappointing.”

        In awaiting a win, Flesch knows to be patient. After all, it took him eight years to get his PGA Tour card. He spent five years on the Asian Tour, having to recruit friends, family and Summit Hills Country Club members to sponsor him and cover his travel expenses and accommodations.

        Now he has the cash to bring wife Lisa, son Griffin (3 1/2) and daughter Lily (5 months) along on the road. The family has joined him for 12 of the 15 events he has played this year.

        “She's been traveling since she was three weeks old,” Flesch said of Lily. “She's got her (Delta) Sky- Miles number and everything. She's not quite Medallion level yet, but Griffin is.”

        Flesch, 44th on the money list last year, is still trying to recapture his 2000 form. It wasn't a peak, he hopes, but a promise of things to come.

        “After playing so well in 2000, I put a lot of high expectations on myself,” he said. “I probably expected too much of myself too quickly. But I have high hopes about where things are going.”

        Oak Hills grad improves on tour
        Memorial Tournament Web site
        Tristate golf courses guide and news

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