PLT LOST ACFT CTL IN A 7 KT XWIND AND WENT OFF THE RWY.

Narrative

I GND LOOPED THE TAILDRAGGER PT26 IN THE EARLY STAGES OF THE TKOF ROLL. I WAS DEPARTING ON RWY 17 AND THE WIND WAS 110 DEGS AT 8 KTS. DURING THE TKOF ROLL; I MOMENTARILY TOOK MY EYES OFF THE RWY TO CHK MY AIRSPD; WHICH WAS JUST BELOW 60 MPH AND WHEN I RAISED MY EYES THE L WING WAS HIGH. I CORRECTED WITH FULL L STICK AND INSTINCTIVELY; BUT INCORRECTLY GAVE SOME L RUDDER ALSO; QUICKLY TURNING THE ACFT OFF THE RWY. ONCE THE ACFT WAS HDG OFF THE RWY; I TRIED TO RE-ESTABLISH CTL AND KEPT THE ACFT AWAY FROM THE RWY LIGHTS AND MARKERS. I ENDED UP DOING A WIDE 360 DEG TURN IN THE GRASS BTWN THE RWY AND TXWY; EVENTUALLY RETURNING SAFELY TO THE RWY. THERE WAS NO APPARENT DAMAGE TO THE ACFT AND NO DAMAGE TO ANY OBJECTS ON THE GND. I CONTACTED THE TWR TO REQUEST CLRNC TO THE E RAMP TO THOROUGHLY INSPECT THE ACFT. NO DAMAGE WAS FOUND. THE ACFT BOUNCED ON THE GRASS; LIKE ON A SLIGHTLY HARD LNDG; BUT NO OTHER EXCESSIVE FORCES OR LOADS WERE EXPERIENCED. IN DEBRIEFING WITH THE OWNER/PLT/PAX; WHO WAS IN THE BACK SEAT; HE SAID I FAILED TO KEEP THE MAIN GEAR ON THE GND UNTIL SUFFICIENT AIRSPD HAD BEEN REACHED; ALLOWING THE XWIND TO RAISE THE L WING. MY LOSING THE ORIENTATION OF THE RWY; DUE TO LOOKING AT THE AIRSPD; AND PUTTING IN L RUDDER WITH THE L AILERON CAUSED THE SUDDEN TURN OFF THE RWY. I HAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE WITH SIMILAR XWINDS WITH INSTRUCTOR; AND SUCCESSFULLY TOOK OFF AND LANDED IN THESE SAME CONDITIONS; HOWEVER; I PLAN ON TAKING FURTHER XWIND TRAINING. MY LOW TIME ON TYPE AND IN TAILDRAGGERS WAS ALSO A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. (TOTAL TIME IN TAILDRAGGERS = 35.3 HRS.)