Archive for May, 2009
May 31, 2009
Tim Clark birdied the 18th hole for a 4-under 66 and a two-stroke lead going into the final round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational on Saturday.
Clark moved ahead of playing partner Steve Stricker with a birdie on the 11th hole, then strung together pars until No. 18.
The South African was at 17-under 193 as he chased his first U.S. PGA Tour victory. With $12.7 million in career earnings on the tour, Clark has the dubious distinction of winning the most money without winning an event - 183 so far. Hes finished second six times, including this tournament last year, getting nipped when Phil Mickelson birdied the final hole.
I had a great final round last year. Im going to need that again, Clark said. Im in a different position being in the last group. I just have to stay calm.
Its tough to win out here; everyone knows it, added Clark, 63rd on the tours career money list. Hopefully, I do get that win sometime and it makes things easier. Thats all I can hope for.
Stricker, Steve Marino and Jason Day were at 195. Marino and Day are also seeking their first tour wins.
Marino was the days big mover, shooting a 62 for the best round of the tournament so far. It felt even better since his mother, who grew up in Fort Worth, was in the gallery with a group of her childhood friends. He got them shouting with birdies on Nos. 11-13, all set up by approach shots within 5 feet.
I just felt really in control of everything, he said. It was a great feeling.
Day shot his third straight 65 and has a local tie, too - he moved to Fort Worth last year and plays often at Colonial Country Club.
My mind is in a really good spot right now, he said.
Stricker started the day in the lead after consecutive 63s. He birdied the second hole, then had nothing but pars for a 69.
It was kind of a blah round today, he said. But Ive got a chance tomorrow.
Vijay Singh got off track with consecutive bogeys early in his round. He finished at 69 and was alone at 13 under in his first appearance in the event since pulling out after criticizing the tournament for letting Annika Sorenstam in the field in 03.
Justin Leonard (64) and Woody Austin (67) were 12 under. One more shot behind were Sean OHair (70) and Paul Casey (66), who is playing his first tournament as No. 3 in the world ranking.
Mickelson isnt here after announcing last week that wife Amy is battling breast cancer. In her honor, and to raise awareness about the disease, the tournament went into pink out mode on Saturday. Most players wore pink shirts, as did tournament staffers and many folks in the gallery.
Its pretty special to see, Leonard said. Im not usually a pink-shirt wearer, but it felt good to put it on. I wish it were under different circumstances.
May 31, 2009
Nick Price shot a 4-under 67 to take a one-stroke lead into the final round of the Principal Charity Classic for the second straight year on Saturday.
After finally winning on the Champions Tour in April at the Outback Steakhouse Pro-Am, the three-time major champion liked his chances to wrap up the title that eluded him last year when he faded to a third-place finish at Glen Oaks.
This years a little different. Im obviously a little more comfortable, having had the win under my belt, Price said. But its going to be a shootout tomorrow. This field is so bunched up.
Price had a 7-under 135 total. Joey Sindelar (67) and Mark Wiebe (68) were 6 under, and Fred Funk (69) and Mark McNulty (69) were 5 under. Mike Reid had a 66, the best round of the day, to top a six-player group at 4 under.
Two-time defending champion Jay Haas was 3 under after a 67.
Price overcame two early bogeys with an eagle on No. 9, then nearly made a hole-in-one on the par-3 14th.
Sindelar and Wiebe both three-putted 18 to miss a chance to tie Price.
Wiebe, who has just one top-10 finish this season, is shooting for his first title since the Cap Cana Championship in April 2008.
I like the way Im swinging, for sure, and my attitude is pretty good, Wiebe said. Obviously the last hole is frustrating, to end that way, but Ive played good. I like the way Im playing, I like being in the hunt.
Three players entered the second round with a share of the lead for the first time in the tournaments nine-year history. They all shot over par on Saturday to fall back into the pack.
Lonnie Nielsen had double bogeys on the par-4 10th and par-3 14th and finished with a 72. Nielsen, who also held a share of lead after last years first round before faltering, was tied for 12th at 3 under.
Bruce Vaughans day disintegrated after an opening birdie. Vaughan went through a span with four bogeys in eight holes - all on par 4s. He had a 74 to drop into a tie for 23rd at 1 under. Tour newcomer Olin Browne bogeyed his final two holes for a 73, leaving him five strokes behind Price at 2 under
Andy Bean, who finished second last year, withdrew after five holes because of a left foot injury. Bean, who opened with a 68, had three straight bogeys before pulling out.
Perhaps the biggest factor for the final round could be the wind, which is often a major issue at Glen Oaks. Its expected to change directions from northwest to southeast on Sunday, with gusts of up to 25 mph.
Itll probably throw everyone a curveball, Wiebe said. Youve got to be on your toes.
May 30, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas -From its Ben Hogan trophy room to its status as the longest-running event at its original site, the Colonial Country Club is among the most venerable stops on the PGA Tour.
This week, the ol course is playing like a pitch-and-putt.
Steve Stricker shot his second straight 63 on Friday morning, giving him a 14-under 126 total that set records for 36 holes and for any consecutive rounds at the Crowne Plaza Invitational - yet was barely enough to top a leaderboard filled with players taking advantage of light wind and pillow-soft greens.
Tim Clark, Vijah Singh and Sean OHair shot 64s and were lined up right behind Stricker: Clark was one shot back, Singh one more and OHair yet another.
Jason Day (65) was 10 under, Woody Austin (68) was another stroke back, and Ryan Palmer (63) was 8 under.
NCAA Championship
TOLEDO, Ohio - David Lingmerth aced the third hole and won his match in the semifinals, helping fourth-seeded Arkansas advance to the NCAA Division I mens team championship against Texas AM.
While the Razorbacks beat eighth-seeded giant-killer Georgia 3 1/2-1 1/2, seventh-seeded Texas AM edged sixth-seeded Michigan 3 1/2-1 1/2 in a dramatic finish in the other semifinal. The Razorbacks and Aggies are both seeking their first golf title.
Lingmerth, a junior from Sweden, holed a 7-iron from 202 yards to build a 2-up lead. He ended up with a 3-and-2 victory over Georgias Hudson Swafford.
Matt Van Zandt clinched the decisive point for AM with a conceded birdie after chopping a wedge out of the high rough from 96 yards to 15 feet from the pin.
Georgia beat top-seeded Oklahoma State 3-2 with a late surge earlier in the days first quarterfinal. Texas AM beat No. 2 Arizona State 3 1/2-1 1/2.
Principal Charity Classic
WEST DES MOINES, Iowa - Champions Tour newcomer Olin Browne, former University of Iowa player Lonnie Nielsen and Bruce Vaughan shot 4-under 67s to share the first-round lead in the Principal Charity Classic.
Bruce Fleisher, Mark McNulty, Larry Nelson, Andy Bean, Jeff Sluman, Tom Kite, Fred Funk, Nick Price, Mark Wiebe, Ronnie Black and Tim Simpson opened with 68s on the Glen Oaks course. Two-time defending champion Jay Haas was five strokes back at 72.
European Open
ASH, England - Indias Jeev Milkha Singh and Frances Michael Lorenzo-Vera shot 5-under 69s to share the European Open lead at 8-under 136.
Englands Anthony Wall (69) and Frances Christian Cevaer (70) were a stroke back at The London Club. John Daly missed the cut, shooting a 76 to finish at 3 over.
Masters winner Angel Cabrera (75, 3 over) also missed cut along with 2008 winner Ross Fisher (73, 2 over), fifth-ranked Henrik Stenson (80, 12 over) and Shane Lowry (73, 7 over), the Irish Open winner making his pro debut.
May 30, 2009
Leading scores Friday in the European Open, a 1,8 million pound ($2,8 million) European Tour event at 7,257-yard, par-72 London Golf Club.
Second Round
Jeev Milkha Singh, India 67-69-136
Michael Lorenzo-Vera, France 67-69-136
Anthony Wall, England 68-69-137
Christian Cevaer, France 67-70-137
Anders Hansen, Denmark 65-73-138
Jose Manuel Lara, Spain 70-68-138
Jamie Donaldson, Wales 68-70-138
Peter Lawrie, Ireland 67-71-138
Jyoti Randhawa, India 66-73-139
Peter Hanson, Sweden 66-73-139
Marcus Fraser, Australia 69-70-139
Chris Doak, Scotland 68-72-140
Daniel Vancsik, Argentina 69-71-140
Ross McGowan, England 70-71-141
Gregory Bourdy, France 71-70-141
Tano Goya, Argentina 69-72-141
Alvaro Quiros, Spain 71-70-141
Bradley Dredge, Wales 72-69-141
Steve Webster, England 69-72-141
Sam Little, England 66-75-141
Ben Curtis, United States 68-73-141
Anton Haig, South Africa 68-73-141
Ignacio Garrido, Spain 71-70-141
Shiv Kapur, India 67-74-141
Missed cut
Retief Goosen, South Africa 73-73-146
Ross Fisher, England 73-73-146
David Howell, England 70-76-146
Angel Cabrera, Argentina 72-75-147
Thomas Aiken, South Africa 66-81-147
John Daly, United States 71-76-147
Nick Dougherty, England 72-76-148
Oliver Wilson, England 71-78-149
Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland 74-76-150
Shane Lowry, Ireland 78-73-151
Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand 75-76-151
Anthony Kang, United States 72-81-153
Michael Campbell, New Zealand 80-75-155
Henrik Stenson, Sweden 76-80-156
Scott Arnold, Australia 79-78-157
May 29, 2009
Scores Thursday from the Crowne Plaza Invitational, a $6,2 million US PGA Tour event at 7,204-yard, par-70 (35-35) Colonial Country Club.
First Round
Woody Austin 31-32-63
Tim Clark 31-32-63
Steve Stricker 31-32-63
Kenny Perry 32-32-64
Vijay Singh 33-31-64
Sean OHair 33-32-65
Jason Day 31-34-65
Ian Poulter 34-32-66
Kevin Na 32-34-66
Steve Marino 32-34-66
Justin Leonard 30-36-66
Paul Casey 33-33-66
Kevin Sutherland 34-32-66
Harrison Frazar 33-34-67
Chad Campbell 32-35-67
Mark Wilson 33-34-67
Joe Ogilvie 31-36-67
Rocco Mediate 34-33-67
Tommy Armour III 32-35-67
James Nitties 32-35-67
Aron Price 34-33-67
Charlie Wi 34-33-67
David Toms 32-35-67
Greg Owen 33-35-68
Kevin Streelman 37-31-68
Brian Gay 35-33-68
Adam Scott 34-34-68
Stephen Ames 35-33-68
Tom Lehman 37-31-68
Mark Calcavecchia 30-38-68
George McNeill 32-36-68
Dean Wilson 33-35-68
Ian Baker-Finch 34-34-68
Luke Donald 33-35-68
Fredrik Jacobson 34-34-68
Mathew Goggin 35-33-68
Jim Furyk 34-34-68
John Senden 34-34-68
Ryan Moore 34-34-68
Nicholas Thompson 33-35-68
Derek Fathauer 33-35-68
Ted Purdy 34-35-69
Tom Pernice, Jr. 35-34-69
Mike Weir 34-35-69
Zach Johnson 36-33-69
Hunter Mahan 35-34-69
Ryuji Imada 33-36-69
Chris DiMarco 36-33-69
Marc Turnesa 34-35-69
Heath Slocum 31-38-69
Justin Rose 34-35-69
Jeff Overton 34-35-69
Matt Bettencourt 37-32-69
Jason Bohn 33-36-69
Anthony Kim 32-37-69
Ryan Palmer 33-36-69
Brian Davis 34-35-69
Nick OHern 34-35-69
James Driscoll 33-36-69
Jason Dufner 35-34-69
Danny Lee 34-35-69
Alex Cejka 36-34-70
Briny Baird 33-37-70
Matt Kuchar 36-34-70
Jeff Quinney 34-36-70
Davis Love III 35-35-70
Scott Verplank 33-37-70
Greg Kraft 36-34-70
Michael Bradley 37-33-70
Jeff Maggert 39-31-70
John Rollins 35-35-70
Lucas Glover 36-34-70
Keith Clearwater 35-35-70
Geoff Ogilvy 36-34-70
Jerry Kelly 36-34-70
Paul Goydos 34-36-70
Johnson Wagner 35-35-70
Bart Bryant 36-34-70
Bo Van Pelt 35-36-71
Corey Pavin 37-34-71
J.J. Henry 36-35-71
Rory Sabbatini 35-36-71
Todd Hamilton 36-35-71
Carl Pettersson 35-36-71
Tim Herron 35-36-71
Brett Quigley 34-37-71
John Merrick 35-36-71
Vaughn Taylor 34-37-71
Rich Beem 34-37-71
Bob Estes 34-37-71
Webb Simpson 33-38-71
Ken Duke 36-35-71
Lee Janzen 36-35-71
J.B. Holmes 34-37-71
Stewart Cink 34-37-71
Richard S. Johnson 34-37-71
Steve Flesch 35-36-71
Ben Crane 34-37-71
Brandt Jobe 35-36-71
Mark Brooks 34-37-71
Matt Weibring 38-33-71
Jeff Klauk 36-36-72
Parker McLachlin 37-35-72
Will MacKenzie 36-36-72
Tim Petrovic 36-36-72
Billy Mayfair 36-36-72
Chez Reavie 36-36-72
Jonathan Byrd 36-36-72
J.P. Hayes 37-35-72
Trevor Immelman 33-40-73
Charley Hoffman 34-39-73
Cameron Beckman 36-37-73
Scott Piercy 36-37-73
Rod Pampling 35-38-73
D.A. Points 37-36-73
Fulton Allem 37-37-74
Peter Lonard 35-39-74
Y.E. Yang 37-37-74
Dudley Hart 39-35-74
Steve Lowery 38-37-75
D.J. Trahan 37-38-75
Troy Matteson 37-39-76
Bill Lunde 41-38-79
Daniel Chopra WD
May 29, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas -Vijay Singh stopped playing at the Colonial Country Club when Annika Sorenstam showed up in 2003. Hes finally back - and among the leaders.
Singh shot a 6-under 64 on Thursday, leaving him a stroke behind Woody Austin, Tim Clark and Steve Stricker after the first round of the Crowne Plaza Invitational.
Singh played the event all but once from 1996-2002. He was set to return in 03, then withdrew after criticizing the decision to allow a woman into the field.
Playing partner Kenny Perry, a two-time Colonial winner, also shot a 64.
Paul Casey, playing his first tournament since moving up to No. 3 in the world rankings, opened with a 66. He won the BMW PGA Championship on Sunday at Wentworth in England for his third victory of the season.
Ian Baker-Finch, celebrating the 20-year anniversary of his Colonial victory, shot a 68 in his second competitive start in 12 years. The 48-year-old Australian, a television commentator for the last decade, hadnt played tournament golf in eight years since shooting 74-77 at Colonial to miss the cut.
NCAA Championship
TOLEDO, Ohio - North Carolina States Matt Hill made three birdies on the homeward nine holes and held off his closest pursuers to win the individual title Thursday in the NCAA Division I golf championship at Inverness Club.
Hill, a sophomore from Brights Grove, Ontario, shot his third consecutive 2-under 69 to finish at 6-under 207. Clemson junior Kyle Stanley matched the days low round with a 66 to finish second, two strokes back.
Oklahoma State led the eight teams qualifying for the new match-play format that begins with the quarterfinals Friday morning. The team championship match is set for Saturday morning. Oklahoma State will face eighth-seeded Georgia.
European Open
ASH, England - Denmarks Anders Hansen holed an eagle chip on the par-5 eighth hole - his 17th of the day - and finished with a 7-under 65 to take a one-stroke lead in the European Open.
Swedens Peter Hanson, South Africas Thomas Aiken, Englands Sam Little and Indias Jyoti Randhawa opened with 66s at The London Club. Ben Curtis had a 68, Sergio Garcia shot a 69, and John Daly had a 71. Masters champion Angel Cabrera shot a 72.
May 29, 2009
Phil Mickelson says doctors believe they discovered his wifes breast cancer early.
Amy Mickelson, who learned of the breast cancer last week, went through extensive testing this week.
We have a wonderful team of doctors helping us, and it is believed that we caught this early, Mickelson said on his Web site on Thursday. We are anxiously waiting for a number of test results that will help guide us in the best possible direction.
Mickelson, the absent defending champion of this weeks Crowne Plaza Invitational, has taken an indefinite leave from the U.S. PGA Tour as he learns the extent of his 37-year-old wifes health.
Support has poured in from everywhere, and the worlds No. 2 golfer took notice.
John Daly wore pink pants in the final round of a European Tour event on Sunday, while Rory Sabbatini wore a pink shirt to pay tribute to Amy Mickelson when he won the Byron Nelson Championship. Most other players wore a pink ribbon on their hats.
The U.S. PGA Tour Wives Association, with the tour and Crowne Plaza Invitational officials, are asking players and their wives to wear pink clothing on Saturday for a Pink Out designed to show support.
It is hard to describe how much the outpouring of support has meant to us, Mickelson wrote. When we heard about the Tour Wives, PGA Tour and the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial organizing the Pink Out, we both had tears rolling down our faces.
This is such an incredibly thoughtful gesture, not only for Amy, but for the 200,000 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year.
Still to be determined is whether Mickelson will be able to play in the U.S. Open in two weeks at Bethpage Black, where he was runner-up in 2002 to Tiger Woods. He is prominently featured on one of the billboards leading to Bethpage State Park.
Amy is such a supportive and loving life partner, Mickelson wrote. She has always put me and our family first. Now its time for her and her health to come first as we face this challenge together.
May 27, 2009
On a wet, chilly, windy day at Inverness Club, the strong not only survived, they led.
Northwesterns Jonathan Bowers, Illinois Scott Langley and North Carolina States Matt Hill shot 2-under-par 69s to lead the individual race, while Oklahoma State and Georgia shared the team lead through Tuesdays opening round at the NCAA Division I mens golf championship.
It was very tough out there today, Georgia coach Chris Haack said. With the wind picking up and the severity of the golf course, its just survival. Judging by the scores that you see some of these teams shooting - which are very good teams - it just lets you know that at any given time (the course) can up and bite you.
Bowers battled showers while shooting his 69 in the morning, while Langley and Hill fought through winds and chilly temperatures in the afternoon at the 7,255-yard layout.
On holes six through nine it was coming down pretty good, said Bowers, a left-handed junior who had four birdies and two bogeys. We had our umbrellas and rain gear on. And then it softened. It didnt rain nearly as hard after that.
It didnt rain in the afternoon, although the early precipitation made the high, deep rough even harder to extricate an errant shot. Then the wind picked up and the mercury fell.
I played great to shoot the score I did, said Langley, a sophomore who offset a double and two bogeys with six birdies. Its a tough course anyway, then with the conditions - it was kind of cold and windy.
Hill, a contender for national player of the year, was pleased that he persevered even though he three-putted the final hole for a bogey.
I feel like I put myself in really good position, he said. I have a lot of confidence going into tomorrow.
TCUs Tom Hoge was 4 under through 17 holes, but was short-sided in a greenside bunker and twice had his ball roll back at him after shots. His triple-bogey left him at 70 along with San Diegos Alex Ching, UCLAs Philip Francis, Tennessees David Holmes and Washingtons Nick Taylor. Only eight players in the 156-man field broke par.
This is a long golf tournament, so one hole is not going to kill you, Hoge said. Its a little bit frustrating to leave some shots out there on the last hole, but I know we have a lot of work left.
Top-seeded Oklahoma State, led by Trent Leons 71, totaled 4-over 288 and was joined there by Georgia, led by 71s from Russell Henley and Brian Harman.
The Cowboys didnt count the 74 of Kevin Tway, playing on the same course where his father Bob holed a sand shot on the 72nd hole to stun Greg Norman and win the 1986 PGA Championship.
This is the first year the tournament is being played under a combination medal and match play format. All 30 qualifying teams and the six individual players will compete in three days of medal play. Those 54 holes will determine the medalist and will cut the field to a final eight teams for match play. The teams will then play quarterfinal and semifinal matches on Friday, with the championship match set to start for Saturday.
Chattanooga was a surprising third with 292 strokes, followed by Washington and San Diego with 293; Arizona State, Ohio State and Tennessee with 294; Michigan with 296; and Arkansas and Duke with 297.
At even-par 71 along with Leon, Henley and Harman were UCFs Simon Ward, Chattanoogas Fredrik Qvicker, Corey Nagy of Charlotte and Arkansas Jamie Marshall.
Oklahoma State coach Mike McGraw watched his team get to 7 under midway through the round only to have a bad series of holes cost the Cowboys. Still, they were able to recover.
We had it going backwards, he said. I think we lost about nine shots total on that four- or five-hole stretch. So Im pleased, though, that we survived it.
May 27, 2009
Ryo Ishikawa didnt come close to qualifying for the US Open when he missed by five shots in a qualifier in Japan. The 17-year-old sensation still has not secured a spot in the British Open at Turnberry.
But he can count on a start in the U.S. PGA Championship, which offered him an exemption two weeks ago for the August major.
The Masters also gave Ishikawa a special foreign exemption, and he missed the cut. Augusta National has the most exclusive field among majors, and a long history of inviting international players.
The U.S. PGA Championship had its own motives - it wants the strongest field.
Ishikawa is No. 91 in the world this week, about 10 spots lower than when he was awarded the U.S. PGA exemption. Kerry Haigh, the managing director of championships for the PGA of America, said two victories and his school were two reasons.
For a 17-year-old to have won two tournaments is almost unprecedented, Haigh said on Tuesday. Obviously, he has great potential and ability, having moved into the top 65 of the world when he was invited.
Actually, Ishikawa was No. 65 in February when he nearly qualified for the Accenture Match Play Championship. Still, it is not uncommon for the U.S. PGA to offer exemptions early to players inside the top 100 as it strives for the strongest field in golf.
Haigh said the fact Ishikawa is not finished with high school also was considered.
It was our understanding he has schooling issues, Haigh said. He needs some time to plan accordingly. We felt an invite earlier would allow him to plan his travel schedule in the summer and not affect his schooling.
Ishikawa made only one cut in four starts in America, finishing 71st at the Transitions Championship in Florida. He did not make it to the weekend at the Northern Trust Open, Masters or Arnold Palmer Invitational.
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PINK POWER: John Daly wore his pink pants on Sunday at the BMW PGA Championship, while Rory Sabbatini went with a pink shirt when he won the Byron Nelson Championship, both sartorial choices to honor Phil Mickelsons wife, Amy, who has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
Now, the U.S. PGA Tour Wives Association is getting involved.
In a memo being circulated at Colonial, the group is asking all players and wives to take part in a Pink Out on Saturday by wearing pink to show support for Amy Mickelson.
The association is working with title sponsor Crowne Plaza and the Susan G. Komen Foundation to raise awareness of breast cancer.
Mickelson is the defending champion this week, but has taken an indefinite leave from the tour. He is home in San Diego, awaiting test results this week to determine the extent of the cancer.
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PEREZ GOES DOWN WITH THE DOG: What Pat Perez described as a mishap could keep him off the U.S. PGA Tour until after the U.S. Open next month. Perez wrote on his Web site that he tore two ligaments in his ankle while running with Duke, his German Shepherd.
He went one way, I went another and somehow missed the curb and wrecked my ankle, Perez said. Definitely not the best time for this to happen as we have the British Open and U.S. Open qualifiers around the corner.
Perez pulled out of the Byron Nelson and Colonial, and said he likely wouldnt play Memorial. He usually doesnt play the St. Jude Championship, and he is not eligible for the U.S. Open. That means he likely wont return until the Travelers Championship in Connecticut at the end of June.
Doctors are recommending he take it easy, which appears to be a tall order, even though hes in a cast up to his knee.
I dont do too well with down time, Perez said.
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OPEN EXEMPTIONS: Brian Gay narrowly missed out on the Masters and the U.S. Open through the world ranking, but he can count on at least one major this year.
Gay, Charles Howell III and Charley Hoffman secured spots in the British Open at Turnberry this week as the top three players not already eligible who were inside the top 20 in the FedEx Cup standings.
It will be the first British Open for Gay since 2001 at Royal Lytham St. Annes.
Robert Rock, Thongchai Jaidee and Louis Oosthuizen earned British Open spots from a similar category in Europe.
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DANNY DOES DALLAS: Six weeks after he turned pro, Danny Lee has a new home.
The South Korean-born, New Zealand-raised teenager said on Sunday he has bought a house in Las Colinas, Texas, site of the Byron Nelson Championship where he tied for 12th. He said the TPC Four Seasons Resort will serve as his home course.
Lee said he had only played the course one time before last week.
Its a great city, Dallas, and I really like it over here, he said.
The 18-year-old Lee, the youngest player to win the U.S. Amateur, said his parents would be living with him. He was asked how he had begun furnishing his new home.
Im not sure, he said. Thats my parents job.
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DIVOTS: U.S. Amateur champion Danny Lee tied for 12th at the Byron Nelson Championship, pushing his earnings to $152,967 in his quest to avoid Q-school. But a four-putt on the 18th was worth more than money. It knocked him out of the top 10, and cost him a free start at the St. Jude Championship in two weeks. … Curtis Strange had hip surgery and will be out of action on the Champions Tour, although still able to do TV work at the U.S. Open and British Open. … The World Cup has moved up by a few months to July 3 the deadline for qualifying to give players more time to decide if they want to go to China in November.
May 25, 2009
David Toms missed the cut at the Byron Nelson Championship but made it into the next two majors.
The top 50 in the world ranking after this week are exempt from qualifying for the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black and the British Open at Turnberry. Toms slipped only three spots to finish at No. 50, by three-hundredths of a point over Aaron Baddeley, who chose not to play the Nelson and fell two spots to No. 51.
Toms will get to skip the June 8, 36-hole qualifying tournament for the U.S. Open.
Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano of Spain birdied the 18th hole at Wentworth for a 68 to tie for 11th in the BMW PGA Championship on the European tour, earning enough points to move up 11 spots to No. 49. It will be his first U.S. Open.
Other players exempt from the world ranking are Rory McIlroy, Ian Poulter, Luke Donald, Alvaro Quiros, Adam Scott and Justin Rose.
The U.S. Open also exempts the top 10 from the PGA Tour money list through the Byron Nelson Championship. That group includes Sean OHair, Nick Watney, Rory Sabbatini, Paul Casey and Dustin Johnson. They also would have been eligible through the top 50 in the world.
A 36-hole British Open qualifier for PGA Tour players will be held Monday near Dallas.
