FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- He was a blond piece of eye candy who posed for photo spreads without a shirt, flashing a flouride-and-floss smile that landed him endorsement deals. He also had enough game at age 21 to beat Hunter Mahan and capture the U.S. Amateur title. So confident was the golf world that Ricky Barnes would be its Next Hot Fuss, an equipment company gave him a seven-figure contract and EA Sports programmed him as a character in the "Tiger Woods PGA Tour Golf'' video game.Remember the 2003 Masters, when, as an amateur, he played with Woods the first two rounds and was tied for third after 36 holes? Surely, Barnes was about to emerge as a player who would compete for major championships. It was only a matter of time.
Yeah.
Six years.




