AUGUSTA, GA. - “Grace, thy name is Kenny Perry.” Those are the words USA Today sports columnist Mike Lopresti used to describe the church deacon and PGA golfer who fell just short of winning the 2009 Masters tournament.

Perry, who serves on the missions committee of the Franklin, Ky., church, let a narrow lead slip away on the final holes of the Augusta National course. At the end of four days and 72 holes, three golfers were tied and the tournament was decided in sudden-death playoff. One of the other two golfers was Chad Campbell, the brother of Mike Campbell, head golf coach at Abilene Christian University in Texas. Campbell was the first of the three players to be eliminated.

Perry followed, losing to Argentinean-born Angel Cabrera. Perry’s reaction to the loss caught the attention of many sports writers, including Lopresti.

“In Kenny Perry’s doctrine on how to act when it feels like you’ve had your heart ripped out with a 7-iron, you shake the other man’s hand and tell the world you’re proud of him,” the columnist wrote.

Perry also made no excuses for his golf game during a news conference, nor did he show any regret.

“If this is the worst thing that happens in my life, then my life is pretty good,” Perry said.