Tim Herron: The former Scottsdale resident came up big last week at the Colonial. Then again, what would you expect from a guy named “Lumpy’’?

Herron, who beat a little guy, Richard S. Johnson, in a two-hole playoff, cashed in for $1,080,000 – his biggest payday as a pro. And he also claimed the Colonial’s red-plaid jacket that goes to the champion – even if plaid might not be the best color for a lumpy guy.

“(The jacket) will look good with some plaid pants,’’ Herron deadpanned, noting that the last time he looked for plaid pants he was in Scotland, checking out the family tree.

Obviously, you can get pretty loose when you haven’t won a tournament in seven years. Herron said what a lot of guys don’t when they win, admitting that he had some self-doubts during his victory drought. Or, as he put it: “Weird things go through your mind.’’

Chiefly, he was thinking about his putting stroke. “I was toeing everything,’’ said one of the best putters on tour in 2005. “So a friend (Mark McCann) told me to address it on the heel.’’

Herron, who year in and year out is one of the best putters on tour, said he lost his stroke somewhere between Scottsdale and Minneapolis, with his wife, Ann, and three sons – Carson (3 years old) and twins Mick and P.J. (3 months).

“We moved back in September, and I guess I came out (for 2006) a little rusty,’’ reported Herron, 36, who grew up in the Minnesapolis suburb of Wayzata and currently lives in Deephaven. “We just wanted the kids to be around their grandparents more, so it seemed like the right move for the family.’’

Obviously, the Herrons are digging Lumpy’s latest success. The win, the fourth of his career to go with earlier W’s at the 1996 Honda, 1997 Texas Open, and Bay Hill in 1999. The big check pushed him over $13 million in earnings in just 11 years on tour.

Surprised? Don’t be, as Herron never has finished worse than 67 th on the money list (2002). And every battle, including a bout with Lyme Disease in 2004, has been conquered.

“In golf, it’s how you deal with the bad,’’ Herron told the media following his 10-foot birdie that knocked off Johnson. “What I’ve learned out here is, everyone is good at certain things. Some guys are better with their mental attittude, some guys are better putters or drivers. But you have to remember as a player, what you do well.’’

Asked what he does well, he shrugged: “I really don’t know.’’ He was joking again, but that’s why they call him Lumpy. And it would be easy to not take him seriously, except the latest win vaulted him from 38 th to No. 9 on the Ryder Cup points list, and from No. 60 to No. 33 in the world.

Yeah, he better be careful, or pretty soon they’ll start calling him “Tim.’’

NOTEWORTHY

Top juniors: The AJGA Thunderbird International is set for Saturday through Monday at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale. The 54-hole event will feature seven of Arizona’s top junior players – Philip Francis, Drew Kittleson, Tim McKenney, Esther Choe and Taylore Karle of Scottsdale; Richard Lee of Chandler; and Kristen Schelling of Mesa. Also in the field are such top-rated juniors as Peter Uihlein, Jamie Lovemark, Rory Hie, Kimberly Donovan, Megan Grehan and Jane Rah.

Qualified I: Three players with East Valley ties advanced to sectional qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open during a local qualifier Monday at Superstition Mountain Golf and Country Club. Among the 26 players moving on were Karle and Schelling, as well as Scottsdale’s Kristen Bartlett.

Qualified II: Six players advanced to sectional qualifying for the upcoming U.S. Open during local qualifying Monday at Tucson Country Club, including Joel Kribel of Scottsdale and Rusty Kennedy of Phoenix. .

And, finally: Ever thought about being a golf writer? Well, here is your chance, as the editors of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series are seeking stories for their next book – “Chicken Soup for the Women Golfer’s Soul.’’ (Hopefully, they’ll come up with a new title before it’s printed!) If you have an “inspirational, true’’ story about women in golf, submit it in 1,000 words or fewer to www.chickensoup.com.