Tour notes: Quigley on the outside looking in

For those who think making cuts is a blueprint for success on the PGA Tour, meet Brett Quigley. He made 19 of them in 2010 and only three times in his 14-year PGA Tour career has he made more. Yet he’s on the outside looking in for 2011.

Consequently, a little writer’s cramp.

“I’ve already written to almost every tournament director,” Quigley said. “It’s just a tough thing, a weird deal, but it means I’ve got to chase it a little more.”

Photo Gallery

Brett Quigley in pictures

Veteran PGA Tour pro Brett Quigley made 19 cuts last season, but still sits at 158th on the money list

Though he missed the cut just 10 times in his 29 starts, he just never pushed into contention or put together that one or two great finishes you need. In fact, here’s the difference between getting it done and not – Quigley made 19 cuts, which was more than players who finished second (Jim Furyk, 18) and third (Ernie Els, 17) on the money list.

With just one top 10 and four top 25s, Quigley earned smaller checks than usual and thus finished 158th on the money list. While it’s the third time in the past 10 seasons Quigley has fallen outside the top 125, it’s the first time since 1999 that he’s been below 150.

The good news is, he was exempt into the second stage of Q-School. (“Then again,” he said, laughing, “I could have skipped the entire season and been exempt into second stage.”) The bad news is, he came up short, and that’s not a good thing in his business.

Fact is, it transports him to nowhere, which is why between possible sponsor exemptions, his veteran category and Monday qualifiers, he foresees getting into 15 tournaments. “But it’s more than enough if I get the results I think I should,” Quigley said.

There remains the positive side – with nearly $11 million in career money, Quigley has earned a lifestyle that will allow him this year to spend more time with his two daughters, “and that’s not such a bad thing,” he said.

“For the first time in forever, I’m not rushing out the door after Christmas to chase the West Coast swing.”

Perhaps that joy on the homefront explains why, even after missing at second stage, “I’m actually feeling good about 2011 and my game,” he said.

All he’ll need is opportunities to put those good feelings in motion.

? ? ?

Congratulations are in order for Aree Song as the onetime phenom scored medalist honors at this past weekend’s final stage of the LPGA Tour Qualifying Tournament.

Photo Gallery

Aree Song: Through the years

Take a look back at the career of former child prodigy Aree Song.

The only thing that dulls the shine is knowing Song played the week before in the LPGA Tour Championship. That’s right: One week she’s eligible for an event that is allegedly of marquee value, and the next she’s back at the starting line.

Isn’t that akin to being in graduate school, yet having to go back to finish high school classes?

Peculiar doesn’t begin to describe some of the LPGA Tour landscape during the past few months. Forget for a minute that there were some players who missed the cut at one Q-School sectional qualifier, only to turn around and make it through another sectional qualifier. How do 763 players make it into the Tour Championship?

OK, so it wasn’t 763, but it sure felt like that, given that rounds weren’t completed before darkness fell and 120 players couldn’t finish their rounds. Yes, 120, and when you consider that a player who earned $3,302 in three tournaments, Jessica Shepley, got to play, well, you’d have to agree an overhaul is in order.

Wouldn’t top 30 on the money list be a nice place to start? That way you’re not dipping down so low you’re into a group of players who made less than the minimum wage.

? ? ?

When the list of what’s new to the PGA Tour in 2011 is compiled, in addition to clubs, balls, and shafts, may we suggest including Perky Jerky.

If you’re thinking it sounds like beef jerky that provides an energy boost, well, you’ve caught on to a product developed by Brian Levin and his Performance Enhancing Meat Snack Co.

Perky Jerky is marinated in guarana, which provides the caffeine and the energy boost. Guarana is in Red Bull, which has a presence on the PGA Tour, thanks in large part to Camilo Villegas’ endorsement efforts, and now Perky Jerky will grab some billing, too. It made its debut on David Duval’s golf bag at the Shark Shootout, and it’s not hard to figure out how it came about: Duval’s caddie is Ron “Bambi” Levin, Brian’s brother and business partner.

? ? ?

Heading into the final round, there was a storyline stating Fred Funk and Kenny Perry had a chance to become the oldest winners of the Shark Shootout.

Oldest winners of the Shark Shootout? Wow. Be still, emotions.

Doesn’t quite have the Watson-almost-wins-Turnberry feel, does it?

? ? ?

Stuart Appleby won Comeback Player of the Year.

He’ll be hard-pressed to match Steve Stricker’s accomplishment of back-to-back Comeback Player of the Year honors (2006-07), however. That’s because the leading contender for this trophy in 2011 is . . . Tiger Woods.

In fact, Woods told a colleague – kiddingly, perhaps – that he’d like to be Player of the Year and Comeback Player of the Year in the same season.

? ? ?

If you’re thinking it’s silly that a guy like Stricker could be Comeback Player of the Year two straight seasons, you’re not alone. In fact, you’re probably joined by those players who couldn’t bring themselves to vote for Rory McIlroy as Rookie of the Year, given that he turned professional in 2008.

McIlroy didn’t seen to mind finishing second to Rickie Fowler, telling a reporter that he didn’t consider himself a rookie.

Still, it’s a peculiar situation, because McIlroy was in his rookie year on the PGA Tour, so he was eligible, and from the Tour’s perspective, it’s hard to argue they could do it any differently.

But if you think McIlroy’s situation made for a curious ROY race, just wait until next year, because Louis Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel, pros since 2002, will be candidates, as will Robert Karlsson, who played his first pro tournament with hickory.

OK, maybe not hickory, but certainly with 1989 being his first pro season, Karlsson is not your prototypical rookie candidate.

? ? ?

Seems to me the Nationwide Tour supporters are annually more vocal than the Q-School lobbyists, when it comes to which avenue provides the better-prepared PGA Tour member.

Maybe, maybe not, but it’s such an inexact science within the confines of the ultimate inexact sport, so shouldn’t we spare the hot air?

But before we do, here’s the scorecard from 2010:

Of the 25 players who earned PGA Tour cards via Q-School, 11 finished within the top 125. Those getting there from the Nationwide Tour were 8-for-25.

Maybe that will quiet the vocal ones.

? ? ?

New year, same story: John Daly already has been granted a sponsor exemption into the Sony Open in Hawaii.

If Daly is still a draw, that’s an indictment of our good senses. Consider what he’s done in his last 88 PGA Tour tournaments, which have taken five full seasons to play – he’s totaled $724,054 in prize money. Heck, 51-year-old Michael Allen finished 130th on the money list with more than that in 2010.

? ? ?

It was said the first week of the PGA Tour season, when players were in the heart of paradise, at the Kapalua Resort on Maui, but we’re not sure the remainder of the year included a better quote.

“It’s completely absurd, the lifestyle we live,” Geoff Ogilvy said. “For our generation, our timing is impeccable.”

Amen.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.

View the original article here

Notes: Major mojo for Mozo at LPGA Q-School

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – LPGA commissioner Mike Whan wandered into the media room Wednesday afternoon and gazed up at the giant leaderboard projected on the wall. He casually mentioned to a volunteer that Belen Mozo would be a nice addition to the tour.?

The man can spot talent.

It’s hard to imagine a more marketable person in this Q-School field than Mozo (OK, other than Jessica Korda). The 22-year-old Spaniard is as personable as they come, attractive, bubbly and talented. After turning pro this summer, Mozo became the first female golfer to sign with CAA, the agency that represents Greg Norman and Jack Nicklaus. She stands tied for fourth at LPGA Q-School after an opening 4-under 68 Dec. 8 on the more difficult Legends Course. She trails Reilley Rankin, Libby Smith and Aree Song by one stroke.

Photo Gallery

LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament (Rd. 1)

The LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament got underway in Daytona Beach at LPGA International on Wednesday with Reilley Rankin, Libby Smith and Aree Song tied for the lead with 67s.

“I’ve come a long way since the surgery, and I’ve been sitting too long,” said Mozo, who had shoulder surgery in June 2009. The USC senior sat out until February, and finished the spring season with the Trojans. Last night, she sent in a 15-page paper for her International Relations class. She has one more lengthy paper to write before her academic career comes to a close next week.

Mozo, a first-team All-American at USC who won the British Amateur and British Girls’, came to Daytona straight from the first round of Ladies European Tour qualifying.?

“It was hell,” said Mozo, speaking of the cold, rainy conditions in Spain. “I was like, ‘Oh, my God, this is nothing for me.’ ”

Mozo flies back to Spain on Sunday night for the final stage. Her parents will make the six-hour drive from their hometown to watch her compete.?

Last week Mozo watched her best friend’s Rookie of the Year acceptance speech on Friday and felt warm tears running down her cheeks. Azahara Munoz, a childhood friend and fellow Spaniard who traded titles with Munoz throughout their amateur careers, won the title handily. It was an inner battle for Mozo to watch Munoz not only play on the next level but find incredible success while Mozo recovered from injury. She was awed.

“First year and she’s top 30 in the world,” Mozo said, referring to the LPGA money list. “Are you kidding me?”

Now it’s Mozo’s turn to try and steal the rookie thunder, should she get her card. She was born for the spotlight.

Rankin’s lower ranking: Reilley Rankin’s motto this week: Under-do it. The Georgia grad, who is prone to thinking outside the box, hasn’t been to Q-School since 2002. When she drove into LPGA International and spotted the “Welcome to Q-School” sign, she read it to herself in a mocking tone. For those fresh out of college, this place represents childhood dreams and endless opportunity. For those who, like Rankin, are coming down from the Big Leagues, there is no greeting pleasant enough upon return. No one wants to come back.

Rankin got a little advice this week from someone whom she called the “Q-School Queen,” Meredith Duncan. The former SEC rival and LSU grad can’t even remember how many times she has made the trip to Daytona, “maybe seven times and made it four times?”

Regardless, her winning percentage is high enough for Rankin to listen.

No working out.

No practice.

“Well, she said you can do a little practice,” Rankin said. “Thirty minutes before your tee time and when you’re done maybe a dozen balls, and a maybe a little Around the World (putting drill).”

Rankin said Duncan’s philosophy makes sense because in the Q-School atmosphere, everyone is grinding.?

Sometimes it’s best to “under-do it.”

Cold reality: Becky Brewerton refuses to panic. She shot 4-over 76 on the Legends Course but has been here before. The two-time European Solheim Cup player came to Q-School in 2004 and had a “hideous” experience. Overwhelmed with shattered nerves, Brewerton left Florida thinking she needed to work harder on every aspect of the game.

“It was probably one of the worst experiences I’ve had in terms of how badly I played,” Brewerton said. “But in the long run, it was probably one of the best things that’s ever happened to me.”

For years Helen Alfredsson has encouraged Brewerton to come to the LPGA. Last year she regrettably skipped Q-School, thinking she needed to stay in Europe to try and win the money title. Brewerton, desperate to make the Solheim Cup team, finally has decided her game is good enough to make it even playing a regular schedule against the world’s best.?

This week she’s fighting a few swing changes that need to be implemented, but said that’s no excuse.?

“You don’t have to be at the top of your game to get the ball around the golf course,” she said.

One area for which Brewerton, a native of Wales, wasn’t prepared: wardrobe. She actually had to buy a beanie and fleece because she didn’t pack enough clothes for Florida’s unexpected cold snap.

“These are British conditions,” she said, smiling.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured site: So, Why is Wikileaks a Good Thing Again?.

View the original article here

Notes: Tough date for Tiger’s tourney in 2011

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Graeme McDowell would love nothing more than to defend his title in the Chevron World Challenge, especially because of all it has done for him the last few years.

It might be too much to ask him to return – along with a lot of other European Tour members.

Because of the Presidents Cup going to Australia, everything on golf’s global calendar has been pushed back. The Presidents Cup will be the week before Thanksgiving, followed by the World Cup in China.

That means the Chevron World Challenge will be the same week as the Hong Kong Open, where Ian Poulter is the defending champion. So he won’t be back at Sherwood next year. “It’s disappointing,” Poulter said. “There’s only certain hours you can sit on a plane. Some guys are going to have to miss out.”

Being opposite Hong Kong isn’t even the worst of it.

The Dubai World Championship – the season finale on the European Tour – is the week after the Chevron World Challenge. Anyone playing in California cannot make it to Dubai until late Tuesday afternoon. “And the pro-am is Tuesday,” Paul Casey said.

European Tour members in the Chevron field this year were McDowell, Poulter, Casey, Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy. Martin Kaymer was supposed to be there until he withdrew.

Along with Chevron and Hong Kong, the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa will be that week (Dec. 1-4). That attracted Lee Westwood, Padraig Harrington, Ernie Els and Retief Goosen. For those European Tour members not playing Hong Kong, it makes more sense for them to be in South Africa, which is only two time zones behind Dubai.

“It’s a disaster next year,” McDowell said. “I’m disappointed to see that. But it’s all about geography. China, L.A., Dubai ... it’s not ideal. I’m tired just thinking about it.”

Greg McLaughlin, the president of the Tiger Woods Foundation and tournament director at Chevron, doesn’t see a way out. When he first was made aware of the schedule, he considered moving Woods’ event. But there is no room earlier, and it’s pointless to go after Dubai and bump too close to Christmas.

One half-joking suggestion to McLaughlin was simply to remove “World” from the title for next year. His only solution is to take his lumps for one year, although having Woods in the field certainly won’t hurt interest or attendance.

Chevron and its 18-man field gets world ranking points because there is a set criteria (majors, world ranking). The two sponsor exemptions must be from the top 50 in the world. Depending on how the Americans fare next year, McLaughlin better hope he has enough players available.

“It’s not going to be the same field,” Donald said. “And if the Europeans keep going like this, it will be a weaker field.”

? ? ?

MIDDLE EAST SWING: The strongest part of the European Tour schedule is early in the year when it makes its “desert swing” through Abu Dhabi, Qatar, Bahrain and Dubai. Next year, it figures to get even stronger by adding some of the best Americans.

Phil Mickelson is playing in Abu Dhabi. Tiger Woods will be going to the Dubai Desert Classic.

And the real shocker: Steve Stricker is going to Qatar.

“I’ve never been over there,” Stricker said. “I’m looking forward to it.”

It is believed to be the first time in his career that Stricker has received appearance money. He will open next year with two weeks in Hawaii, take two weeks off before Qatar, return home and then defend at Riviera and head to the Match Play Championship.

“Instead of forcing myself to play in events I usually don’t play, I thought I would go over and work on my game,” Stricker said. “Kenny Perry went last year and said it was a great time. They get a good field. I think a couple of Americans are thinking about going over.”

Qatar is held opposite the Phoenix Open. Woods is going to Dubai, which is the same week as Pebble Beach.

? ? ?

TIM & RORY: Rory McIlroy was surprised to learn that despite fulfilling his PGA Tour obligations this year, by not taking up membership in 2011 he will only be able to play 10 tournaments. The Players Championship would not count toward that number if he chooses to play.

Even more peculiar was the conversation he said he had with Commissioner Tim Finchem over the weekend.

Finchem was at the Chevron World Challenge to announce the PGA Tour awards and meet with the players. By the sound of it, he said the kind of things he usually does – only it took on a funny meaning to McIlroy.

“I had a conversation with Tim yesterday (Saturday) and he said, ‘Is there anything we can do for you? We’re always happy to see you over here playing,’” McIlroy said with a smile.

His response?

“I said, ‘Thank you very much,’” he said with a laugh. “Look, I’m happy playing 10 or 11. I would like to play some events – I’d like to play Bay Hill, but it just doesn’t really work. Phoenix is one I would quite like to play.”

Instead, he will play the Honda Classic (between World Golf Championships), defend his title at Quail Hollow and play the Memorial. The other seven are majors and WGCs.

As for The Players Championship?

“Undecided,” McIlroy said.

There have been reports he doesn’t like the TPC Sawgrass, although McIlroy said it’s more about the schedule. He wants to play the World Match Play Championship and the BMW Championship at Wentworth, held in successive weeks after Sawgrass. Then it would mean coming back to America for the Memorial.

Throw in Quail Hollow, and it could mean five straight weeks with a trip across the Atlantic in between.

? ? ?

DIVOTS: The PGA Tour has promoted Andy Pazder to be executive vice president and chief of operations, one of the more significant jobs because he will oversee all competition matters. Pazder has spent 20 years with the tour, most recently as senior vice president of tournament administration. He takes over for Rick George, who was hired by the Texas Rangers as chief operating officer. ... Seven of the 29 players who earned their cards at Q-school have never competed on the PGA Tour. Billy Mayfair, the medalist, has played 673 tournaments. ... The PGA Tour continues to contemplate allowing cell phones at tournaments, provided they are switched to silent mode and fans do not take pictures or shoot video. The next test is expected to be at Torrey Pines.

? ? ?

STAT OF THE WEEK: For the first time in at least 25 years, no one from last year’s Q-school class won a PGA Tour event. The tour only has Q-school records dating to 1985.

? ? ?

FINAL WORD: “I start thinking about Augusta when I drive down the driveway for the last time on the Sunday of the tournament.” – Geoff Ogilvy.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here

Notes: Golf second on Donald brothers' minds

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Against a backdrop of a bogey-free round by Tiger Woods that pushed him into a four-stroke lead at the Chevron World Challenge, there were some notes of interest:

?????

First up, Luke Donald and the wrestling match he had with his emotions. Wednesday night back in England, his father, Colin, 75, was rushed to the hospital with a bleeding ulcer. Contemplating whether to play in the first round or not, Donald eventually chose to tee it up, but not until he was assured that his dad was in good hands.

Donald’s brother, Christian, also went through with his duties as Paul Casey’s caddie.

The brothers learned later Thursday that emergency surgery had been performed, that “he was on the mend,” Luke said.

“It was touch and go (Wednesday). Anytime you have internal bleeding it’s serious. But (as it turns out) it could have been worse and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think he was in good hands.”

Christian Donald did fly home Thursday, but Luke felt relieved at the news he received that he stayed and shot a second-round 66 to get into a tie for third, five behind Woods.

Meanwhile, Casey put out a call for another caddie and it was answered by Ken Norks, who lives in the area and has caddied for Rafael Cabrera-Bello on the European Tour.

?????

Norks thus got a front-row seat for some fireworks – Casey’s hole-in-one at the par 3 12th.

When his round of 65 was over, Casey was presented a mock bar bill for $13,402 by tournament director Greg McLaughlin. An asterisk noted that Casey did not have “hole-in-one insurance.”

Casey loved the joke, but took note of the way it had been itemized.

“You should have more in beverage and less in food,” Casey said. “There’s enough Europeans here.”

Casey took some serious kidding about his jump to exchange high-fives with playing competitor Nick Watney.

“They’re hassling me, but I had to jump, because he’s about 6-5,” Casey said.

?????

A wild, out-of-nowhere blog filed by someone who isn’t even on site out here at Sherwood Country Club had reporters chasing down Anthony Kim.

He had opened with a 79 that prompted an unconfirmed report that Kim’s thumb, which was surgically repaired in May, was bothering him.

“Where did that come from?” Kim asked.

Told that it was on the NBC website, but without attribution, Kim shook his head. When asked about the thumb, Kim replied, “It’s perfect. As good as ever.”

It sure seemed that way, because with a 66, Kim showed the most game he’s had in months. In fact, he said he was stunned by Thursday’s 79, because “on Wednesday I had hit it the best I ever have.”

?????

Kim was also involved in perhaps the strangest note of the day. He made eagle at the par 5 16th – and still lost the hole. That’s because playing competitor Bubba Watson holed a 4-wood from 283 yards for an albatross.

?????

Woods’ life as the No. 2 player in the world could be short-lived.

If he were to win here, Woods could jump back to No. 1, so long as Lee Westwood does not finish first or second at the Nedbank Challenge in South Africa.

Then again, that may be meaningless, because Westwood is the 36-hole leader, by three over Ross Fisher.

Even if Woods were to overtake Westwood, that return to the penthouse would be brief. Crunching the numbers, world rankings officials have determined that by the end of the year, Westwood automatically moves back to No. 1.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here

Notes: Westwood, McIlroy get extra Tour event

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy are among five international players who can play one additional PGA Tour event next year if they are eligible for The Players Championship.

The policy board adopted the change at its quarterly meeting last week. It allows a player like Westwood, who ordinarily could have played no more than three regular PGA Tour events, from having to choose between The Players Championship and another tournament.

Westwood said the Tour informed him of the change last week.

Players who resign their membership or fail to play the minimum 15 events face a five-year period of playing only 10 Tour events. Westwood gave up his U.S. membership in 2008 when he played only 10 times, while McIlroy decided this year to resign his membership.

Westwood prefers to play the Honda Classic (situated between two World Golf Championships), the Houston Open (the week before the Masters), and the St. Jude Classic, where he is the defending champion. Throw in The Players Championship, which has the deepest field and offers the highest purse in golf, and he would have to decide.

“That adds up to 11,” Westwood said Tuesday in Dubai, according to the London-based Guardian newspaper. “I would then have to pick between the Players and Memphis, and I don’t think anyone would have wanted that – not the PGA Tour or the sponsors.”

PGA champion Martin Kaymer said Tuesday he would not take up PGA Tour membership, but since he has never been a member, he can play 12 tournaments and the new policy would not effect him.

Along with Westwood and McIlroy, the policy could also help David Howell, Darren Clarke and Patrick Sheehan of Australia. That would depend if they are in the top 50 in the world and eligible for the four majors, three WGCs and Players Championship.

McIlroy is the defending champion at Quail Hollow. The new policy will enable him to play in the Honda Classic and the Memorial, along with The Players Championship.

? ? ?

TOUR BALLOTS: One way players could decide on their vote for player of the year would be to ask themselves this question: “Whose season would I trade for mine?” That yielded this answer from Tiger Woods.

“Just about anyone else’s,” he said with a self-deprecating laugh.

The ballots have been mailed to PGA Tour members, who have until next Tuesday to submit their votes.

According to one player studying the ballot, the Tour has offered up five candidates for player of the year – Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Dustin Johnson, Matt Kuchar and Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson is the only major champion (Masters). Furyk figures to be the favorite with three victories, including the Tour Championship and Transitions Championship against a strong field, and the FedEx Cup. Johnson and Els won twice, with Johnson twice playing in the final group of a major; while Kuchar captured only one tournament, but led the money list and won the Vardon Trophy.

Four players are on the ballot for rookie of the year, and while it would seem to be an easy choice – Rory McIlroy winning at Quail Hollow and finishing in the top three of two majors – it will be interesting to see how the membership regards his status as a rookie, and his decision not to join the Tour next year.

The other candidates are Rickie Fowler (No. 22 on money list, Ryder Cup team), Puerto Rico winner Derek Lamely and Alex Prugh.

As for comeback player of the year, the popular choice likely is Rocco Mediate, who won the Frys.com Open after starting the year with only past champion’s status. He’s on the ballot with Greensboro winner Arjun Atwal and Stuart Appleby.

? ? ?

PRICE IS RIGHT: Among those who have decided to take one-time exemptions on the PGA Tour for being in the top 50 in career money was a former No. 1 player in the world – Nick Price.

Price, who turns 54 in January, is not expected to play much on the PGA Tour. There are enough gaps in the Champions Tour schedule that he wants to have the opportunity to play regular Tour events to stay sharp, likely on courses where he feels he can still compete.

Three other players taking one-time exemptions from the top 50 are Tim Herron, Chris DiMarco and Steve Flesch.

Herron thought about taking his exemption last year, but decided to try to earn his card back through sponsor exemptions and his status as a past champion. He started the year at No. 42 in career earnings and slipped to only No. 44.

? ? ?

BIG WEEK OF GOLF: The strongest week in golf after the majors might be the week right after Thanksgiving, with two tournaments halfway around the world.

Phil Mickelson will be the only player from the top 10 in the world not playing. The two fields have combined to produce 25 of the top 30 in the world, with the others on the sidelines being Francesco Molinari, Adam Scott, Rickie Fowler and K.T. Kim.

Most of them will be at the Chevron World Challenge, hosted by Tiger Woods. The field at Sherwood Country Club features 13 of the top 20 in the world. Over in South Africa is the Nedbank Challenge, which has new No. 1 Lee Westwood. All but two players in its 12-man field – Tim Clark and Anders Hansen – are among the top 30.

? ? ?

MAJOR ENCORE: It’s been a tough year for the most recent batch of major champions.

Angel Cabrera (Masters), Lucas Glover (U.S. Open) and Stewart Cink (British Open) have failed to win a tournament since capturing their majors in 2009. Y.E. Yang (PGA Championship) went 17 events without a trophy until he won the Volvo China Open a week after the Masters, and he recently added the Korea Open for his second win this year.

Even so, none of the major winners from last year is among the top 35 in the world ranking. Yang is the highest at No. 40, followed by Cink (46), Glover (52) and Cabrera (53). They have combined to earn 343.11 world ranking points in 2010, which is 2.7 points more than Martin Kaymer has earned by himself.

? ? ?

DIVOTS: British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen, U.S. Open champion Graeme McDowell and Charl Schwartzel have taken up PGA Tour membership for 2011. ... John Merrick, Joe Ogilvie, James Nitties and Ted Purdy were among those who finished out of the top 125 on the PGA Tour money list to play in at least 30 tournaments. ... Ron Balicki, with Golfweek magazine since 1983, will be the first noncoach inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America Hall of Fame. Balicki was selected for his contributions to college golf. ... Four players who won PGA Tour events in 2008 and earned two-year exemptions failed to get past the second stage of Q-school – Daniel Chopra (Kapalua), Parker McLachlin (Reno-Tahoe), Chez Reavie (Canadian Open) and Greg Kraft (Puerto Rico Open).

? ? ?

STAT OF THE WEEK: Of the top 10 players on the PGA Tour money list this year, Matt Kuchar was the only one to play in more than 25 tournaments. He played in 26.

? ? ?

FINAL WORD: “All he has to do is play like he did before and he’s going to be tough to beat.” – Phil Mickelson, on whether Tiger Woods can get back his aura.

This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php
Five Filters featured article: Beyond Hiroshima - The Non-Reporting of Falluja's Cancer Catastrophe.

View the original article here