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    Listen carefully, Teater isn't Sergio

    June 02, 2011

    DUBLIN, Ohio -- If you're having trouble picking Josh Teater out of a lineup, think "Sergio Garcia." The 32-year-old Teater, whose five-under-par 67 was one shot off the first-round lead of Rory McIlroy and Chris Riley in the Memorial Tournament, has been confused with the 31-year-old Spaniard on multiple occasions. Heck, he's even 155th in putting. "We were one group apart at Colonial a couple of weeks ago and we were signing autographs at the same time. He said, 'feel free to sign my name, if you'd like,'" says Teater, who speaks with a profoundly recognizable Kentucky accent. "I remember an instance at West Virginia last year, a lady came up to me with her daughter and was, like, 'My daughter carried the standard sign for you.' I didn't remember it. I had a pretty lengthy -- two or three minute -- conversation trying to tell her that I was from Kentucky and even after that she still didn't believe it."

    Even if the Morehead State grad who's in his second full season on tour isn't yet tired of being mistaken for Garcia, he ought to at least be tired. Since the Sony Open in Hawaii Teater has played every week except Bay Hill and the Masters. That's 19 of 21. He'll try to qualify for the U.S. Open in Columbus the Monday after Memorial. "I think next week I am going to take off and maybe go to the lake with some friends," he says.

    -- Jim Moriarty