…he knew how much cash was on the line. How do I know ? Because I was in the media tent when he was asked specifically about it after the Saturday round. I’m sure he wasn’t sitting over shots on the back 9 Sunday counting the potential prize – but he knew the possible figure.

Elling knows that Sergio knew the number because he was sitting on the front row when the question was asked in the media tent on Saturday. The number probably wasn’t in his head when he was asked about it on Sunday, but he knew how much was on the line if he won before he started.

Never let the facts get in the way of the story, right Steve ?

Champions don’t become champions if they are thinking about the money while playing instead of thinking about the shot in front of them.

The fans in the gallery didn’t know the number – and they didn’t care – they weren’t going to get any of it – they were pulling for the guy they wanted to win.

In terms of the bonus pool, etc? Was that Sunday response sarcastic? (Very well could have been knowing Sergio.)

It just seemed odd to me that Sergio would not know that number.

I definitely excluded Steve’s next paragraph about the fans because that’s junk. No one knows the purse distribution in the crowd. Half of the time, I don’t even care.

the $4.26 million figure was put right in front of him on Saturday. That figure is 2nd in Fed Ex money plus first in Tour Championship money.

I doubt he was being sarcastic on Sunday – like I said, the figure probabaly wasn’t in his mind at that moment. He had just lost in a playoff. Sergio wants to win first and foremost.