Archive for September, 2009
September 30, 2009
The Verizon Heritage, one of the PGA Tours most popular spring tournaments, is losing its longtime, namesake sponsor after 2010.
Verizon Business move came less than week after commissioner Tim Finchem discussed the potential loss of PGA Tour marketing partners and tournaments because of continuing problems with the economy.
Its never good news, but again what makes it tougher, is the economic climate, Steve Wilmot, the Verizon Heritage tournament director, told The Associated Press by phone Tuesday.
Verizon Business, then MCI, first came on as a sponsor at the Hilton Head Island tour stop in 1987. Verizon Business marketing vice president Becky Carr says the company decided to restructure future involvement with the PGA Tour to focus on select events it feels offer more opportunities for development.
Wilmot says the PGA Tour has promised help to find a sponsor for 2011 and beyond. A title sponsorship contributes about $8 million a year to the event, Wilmot estimated.
The Heritage is played at Pete Dyes narrow layout, Harbour Town Golf Links, with its iconic candy-cane striped lighthouse behind the 18th green.
Tour CEO Rick George thanked Verizon for its long association. We will work closely with the Heritage Classic Foundation in an effort to secure a new title sponsor, he said in a statement.
Wilmot does not expect South Carolinas 40-year-old event to disappear. He says hes gotten strong feedback about the tournament from the PGA Tour and CBS Sports, which broadcasts from Harbour Town each April.
The Heritage, first played in 1969, is as much as part of the springtime golf scene as the Masters, which precedes it each year. Pros have long raved about the relaxed atmosphere and family feel thats a welcome break from the shot-to-shot pressure cooker of Augusta.
Wilmot said as many as 130,000 people attend each year. A study done by Clemson University in 2006 determined the tournament has an $84 million impact on South Carolina.
It is not the first time the Heritage has had financial troubles. The Heritage Classic Foundation, which oversees the event, severed ties with troubled, bankrupt Worldcom in 2002 and went seeking a title sponsor.
Organizers went months looking seeking finances, signing up whoever they could and enticing island leaders to enact a hospitality tax to make up the difference. However, right before the 2003 event started, the Heritage signed the restructed company, rechristened MCI, as its sponsor.
The tournament became the Verizon Heritage in 2006.
Carr of Verizon Business said the company would continue its involvement with the PGA Tour after 2010.
Simon Fraser, Heritage Classic Foundation chairman, was disappointed that Verizon would not continue. But he said we look forward to working with Verizon for the final year of its commitment and hosting a very successful tournament.
Wilmot was confident that the tournaments respected venue and position on tour would keep it going for some time. Hes been at several recent tournament, including last weeks Tour Championship, keeping the Harbour Town event out front to potential sponsors.
We dont like that we have to do this, but its time to beat the streets, Wilmot said. Hopefully, well have a good outcome.
September 30, 2009
Arnold Palmer is going back to the White House to meet another president and collect another medal.
Palmer said Tuesday that he has been selected to receive a Congressional Gold Medal, an honor that has been around since the American Revolution and recognizes distinguished achievements and contributions.
Beyond his seven major championships, Palmer used his charisma and hard-charging style to make an elite sport popular with the masses. In golf circles, he is known simply as The King.
Palmer was scheduled to go to the White House on Wednesday, where President Barack Obama was to sign the Arnold Palmer Gold Medal Act.
The golfing great also received the National Sports Award from former President Bill Clinton in 1993, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from former President George W. Bush in 2004.
Palmer is the second golfer to receive the Congressional Gold Medal, which must be co-sponsored by two-thirds of the House and Senate. Byron Nelson received the medal short after his death in 2006. The medal has been presented 141 times, the first one to George Washington in 1776.
I didnt know George Washington, Palmer said with a grin. But if I did, I would shake his hand and say, Youre the first, and I wont be the last.
The medal caps a big month for Palmer, who turned 80 on Sept. 10 and had a birthday party that stretched out over two weeks. Among the festivities was throwing out the first pitch at a Pittsburgh Pirates game.
I threw an 80 mph fastball right down the center of the plate, Palmer said. And they took me out.
September 28, 2009
Sophie Gustafson questioned whether she would ever win another LPGA Tour title.
Yeah, absolutely, she said, grinning.
Gustafson is finally an LPGA Tour winner again, six years after her last championship, cruising to a four-stroke victory over top-ranked Lorena Ochoa in the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge on Sunday.
The 35-year-old Swede shot a 4-under 68 at Blackhawk Country Club and finished at 20-under 268 for her first title since the 2003 Samsung World Championship. She takes home the $165,000 winning purse for her fifth career tour victory.
She beamed while walking across the bridge to the 18th green, even high-fiving a tournament official. Once it was official, she shared a long embrace with caddie Tamara Hyett. It was an especially challenging tournament given the unseasonably hot temperatures for September in the Bay Area - it reached the mid-90s Sunday.
The 5-foot-10 Gustafson, who overcame her first two bogeys on the front nine all week, never dazzled but she didnt have to on a day Ochoa struggled with her short game among other shots. Gustafson eagled No. 5 and then gained a stroke on Ochoa with her birdie on No. 13. Gustafson finished the final round with four birdies.
She considers this among her best tournaments yet in terms of consistency over all four rounds despite never feeling comfortable with the putter.
I had my moments, she said of her short game. Im just happy its over.
Ochoa could sense it was Gustafsons day from the start Sunday. Last week at the Samsung, Ochoa edged Gustafson by three strokes to tie for fourth.
I have felt good but I havent gotten it done, Gustafson said of her past events. I felt good about my game, but the thing about my game is it can come and go. I dont know what to expect.
Ochoa shot an even-par 72 on Sunday to finish at 16 under. Shes winless in 11 starts since taking the Corona Championship in her native Mexico in late April. Ochoa has only two victories in 17 events this year after winning 21 times in the previous three years.
She missed chances all round, including when she could have pulled closer on the back nine.
I thought maybe the back nine was mine, Ochoa said. I gave myself birdie chances on 10, 12, 13 and 14 and none of them dropped. I would have had some momentum and put some pressure on Sophie.
Ochoa lost here in a playoff to Suzann Pettersen in 2007 and was fourth last year, but said Sunday shes happy with those results and believes her game is beginning to come around.
For sure I didnt play my best today, she said. I didnt get a good start. Everything looked like it was her day. Im trying to be happy with second place. I have to be patient with myself.
Amy Yang (66) and Sun Young Yoo (68) tied for third at 14 under.
Gustafson missed a chance to pick up a stroke on No. 8, a tricky 360-yard par 4. Ochoas tee shot landed far to the right near the gallery, across the cart path about 6 inches from an iron fence bordering a house. Upon seeing her lie, Ochoa slapped her leg in frustration.
Opting against a drop and after a discussion with her caddie, Ochoas second shot required a short back swing because of the fence. Her choked-up 5-iron shot ricocheted off a plastic irrigation cover 15 feet away and landed in the deep rough parallel to her previous shot. She slammed the club head into the ground.
Sometimes you also have to get a few good breaks and it just didnt happen for me, Ochoa said. Thats the way it is.
Gustafson said she was so focused on her own play she didnt pay much attention to what Ochoa was doing.
Im so wrapped up in my own game if I start paying attention to what other people are doing I start going straight down hill, she said.
Local favorite Paula Creamer tied for 13th at 10-under 278.
I just couldnt putt, Creamer said. I hit a lot of greens. I missed three greens, 17-18 and No. 4. Other than that I had birdie chances on every single hole and didnt make anything. That was the difference. I wasnt feeling my best. I think the heat got to me. I hit the ball well but I couldnt get anything going.
September 25, 2009
Scores Thursday from the Tour Championship, a $7,5 million US PGA Tour event at 7,304-yard, par-70 East Lake Golf Club.
First Round
Sean OHair 31-35-66
Stewart Cink 31-36-67
Padraig Harrington 31-36-67
Tiger Woods 35-32-67
Lucas Glover 35-33-68
Steve Marino 34-35-69
Retief Goosen 35-34-69
Dustin Johnson 34-35-69
John Senden 36-34-70
Luke Donald 35-35-70
Marc Leishman 36-34-70
Nick Watney 34-36-70
Scott Verplank 31-39-70
Zach Johnson 36-34-70
Steve Stricker 35-35-70
Jerry Kelly 34-37-71
Hunter Mahan 34-37-71
Y.E. Yang 35-36-71
Ernie Els 36-35-71
Jason Dufner 34-37-71
Mike Weir 36-36-72
Angel Cabrera 36-36-72
Brian Gay 36-36-72
Kenny Perry 35-37-72
Jim Furyk 34-38-72
Kevin Na 35-38-73
Phil Mickelson 34-39-73
Heath Slocum 36-37-73
David Toms 36-38-74
Geoff Ogilvy 36-39-75
September 25, 2009
ATLANTA -Sean OHair got a putting tip from Tiger Woods and put it to good use Thursday in the Tour Championship, opening with a 4-under 66 to take a one-shot lead in the final FedEx Cup playoff event.
Woods did all right himself. He recovered from a shaky start with three birdies during a four-hole stretch on the back nine at East Lake for a 67, leaving him one shot back along with Padraig Harrington and British Open champion Stewart Cink.
OHair played six times last week at home with his buddies. Far more valuable was the nine holes of practice he spent Wednesday with Woods, when the worlds No. 1 player gave him some advice on adding loft to his backswing and releasing the blade.
The tip seemed to work out on firm greens that were far tougher than the 30-man field could have imagined after so much rain.
OHair rolled in an 18-foot putt on the 14th hole for the last of his six birdies, and he made one from 55 feet earlier in the round. It was part of what he called a solid day, and it allowed the FedEx Cup possibilities to come to life.
OHair is the No. 7 seed and he knows exactly what has to happen for him to cash in on the $10 million prize - win the Tour Championship, and have Woods - who is in the best shape to capture the FedEx Cup as the No. 1 seed - finish in a three-way tie for second. Oddly enough, thats how the leaderboard shaped up after one day.
U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover had a 68, and only three other players managed to break par - Retief Goosen, Steve Marino and Dustin Johnson, who were at 69. Stricker, the No. 2 seed, was among those at 70.
CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge
DANVILLE, Calif. - Sophie Gustafson shot a 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge.
Gustafson, the Swede who won the last of her four career LPGA Tour victories in 2003, had eight birdies and a bogey on the Blackhawk Country Club course.
Sophia Sheridan, playing in her third event of the year, matched Angela Stanford and Na Ri Kim at 67. Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa was three strokes back at 68 along with 2006 winner Karrie Webb, Shanshan Feng and Kyeong Bae.
Jiyai Shin opened with a 72. She has a tour-high three victories, leads the player of the year and rookie of the year points races and also tops the money list.
Defending champion In-Kyung Kim struggled to a 73.
Casie Cathrea, a 13-year-old playing on a sponsor exemption after winning a qualifier Monday, made a hole-in-one on the 155-yard 12th and finished with a 74.
Vivendi Trophy
SAINT-NOM-LA-BRETECHE, France - Northern Irelands Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy beat Denmarks Soren Kjeldsen and Spains Alvaro Quiros 4 and 3 to help Britain and Ireland take a 3-2 lead over Continental Europe in the Vivendi Trophy.
Anthony Wall and Chris Wood routed Robert Karlsson and Henrik Stenson 6 and 5, and Simon Dyson and Oliver Wilson edged Soren Hansen and Peter Hanson 3 and 2 for Britain and Irelands other victories at Saint-Nom-la-Breteche.
In the other matches, Anders Hansen and Francesco Molinari beat Robert Rock and Steve Webster 4 and 3, and Miguel Angel Jimenez and Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano topped Ross Fisher and Nick Dougherty 2 and 1.
September 25, 2009
Sophie Gustafson shot a 7-under 65 to take a two-stroke lead after the first round of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge on Thursday.
Gustafson, the Swede who won the last of her four career U.S. LPGA Tour victories in 2003, had eight birdies and a bogey on the Blackhawk Country Club course.
Sophia Sheridan, playing in her third tour event of the year, matched Angela Stanford and Na Ri Kim at 67.
Top-ranked Lorena Ochoa had five straight birdies in a 68 that left her three strokes back along with 2006 winner Karrie Webb, Shanshan Feng and Kyeong Bae.
Jiyai Shin opened with a 72. She has a tour-high three victories, leads the player of the year and rookie of the year points races and also tops the money list.
Defending champion In-Kyung Kim struggled to a 73.
Casie Cathrea, a 13-year-old playing on a sponsor exemption after winning a qualifier on Monday, made a hole-in-one on the 155-yard 12th and finished with a 74.
Gustafson had it fairly easy all afternoon. She had four birdies over a six-hole span on the front to hit the turn at 4 under, then added another four birdies on the back nine. Only a bogey on No. 14 - a hole that seemed to give nearly every player fits - prevented Gustafson from extending her lead.
A member of the European Solheim Cup team, Gustafson missed the cut in four straight tournaments beginning in May and also missed the cut at the U.S. Womens Open before starting to turn her season around with a runner-up finish at the Evian Masters in late July, losing to Ai Miyazato in a one-hole playoff.
The long-hitting Swede had to save par out of the sand twice on Thursday and stayed out of trouble for the rest of the afternoon to take the first-round lead.
Sheridan, whose previous career-low was a 70, was 2 under at the turn before making her run. She had a birdie on No. 10, eagled No. 11, then added another birdie on the par-5 No. 15th before a bogey on No. 16 left her tied for second.
Ochoa was in the middle of the pack before the string of five consecutive birdies pushed her near the top of the leaderboard. She came up a foot short of an eagle on the par-5 No. 11 then ran her birdie attempt on No. 13 just left of the cup, then had a bogey on No. 14 to drop four strokes back.
Ochoa had predicted scores would be lower at Blackhawk than in past tournaments and she was right. Thirty-five players broke par and 10 were within four shots of the leader.
Webb was one of four former tournament winners within striking range. Suzann Pettersen and Helen Alfredsson were four shots back at 69, while Christina Kim had a 70. Two-time winner Juli Inkster opened with a 71, and Se Ri Pak had a 72.
Cathrea had a small crowd following her all afternoon and the bubbly teenager gave them something to remember with her ace on No. 12. But the high school student had a double bogey on No. 13 and bogeyed No. 14 to fall off the pace.
September 24, 2009
Heath Slocum was in danger of losing his US PGA Tour card a month ago. Now he has a chance to win $10 million from the FedEx Cup if he were to win the Tour Championship.
His fortunes have changed. But not his priorities.
Slocum donated $40,000 on Wednesday to three charities associated with the Tour Championship. The East Lake Foundation will receive $20,000, while the Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta and the Chrons and Colitis Foundation each get $10,000.
Were in a good position to help out, Slocum said. This is something that weve been talking about for a while, and Im glad that we could do that this week. There are so many great organizations that help so many people. Like I said, Im just glad that we could even be a small part of it.
Part of the charity is personal. Slocum has suffered from ulcerative colitis for the last 10 years. Since moving to the Atlanta area from the Florida Panhandle, he has been working with the Georgia chapter of the Crohns and Colitis Foundation to find a cure.
The tour has been promoting its players individual charity work since launching a campaign in May called, Together, Anythings Possible. Commissioner Tim Finchem said Slocums donation was another example.
Here we have a player who found incredible success this year on tour and is using that success as a platform to positively impact the community in which he lives, Finchem said.
Slocum had earned $639,815 going into the playoffs, which left him about $200,000 short of keeping his card for next year. Then he won The Barclays and picked up $1.35 million, making him the No. 5 seed at the Tour Championship.
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HINDSIGHT: Tiger Woods was jolted at the start of the playoffs to learn he could win all three playoff events, finish second at the Tour Championship and still not win the FedEx Cup.
Wednesday brought another scenario that only made him smile.
Given his five victories before the playoffs began, and a system of cumulative points until the Tour Championship, Woods could have skipped all three playoff events and still been the No. 3 seed at East Lake.
Then, all he would have had to do is win the Tour Championship.
U.S. PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem was asked if he was aware that Woods could have stayed home the last month.
No, and Im glad he didnt, Finchem said. Tiger is pretty adept at this. Tigers view was his best chance of winning was to play them all, and make sure he was the No. 1 seed. I think the No. 1 seed has an advantage this week. Tiger usually plays to have an advantage.
Woods is not likely to ever miss the Deutsche Bank Championship, which benefits his foundation. He has a long history with the Western Golf Association, which runs the BMW Championship at Cog Hill, where Woods has won five times.
Even so, the idea that having a big regular season allows him to miss a playoff event raises questions about whether hell be at The Barclays next year.
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THE GAMBLER: Jim Furyk could find himself standing over a putt worth $11 million on Sunday at East Lake. That will be nothing new, except for the amount of money.
Furyk said he rarely plays any golf without something on the line - whether its a major championship, a winners check, even a soda.
I gambled a lot as a kid, and even on the Nationwide Tour, Furyk said. When I was a kid, I always played for something, whether it was a dollar or a Coke. Not that I would teach kids to gamble, but I think its in our blood as professional golfers. You have to put something on the line when you practice. There has to be a consequence at the end.
The typical game when he was young was for $2, and if he fell behind and pressed, the bet became $4. For a teenager, every dollar counts, and Furyk didnt want to lose a cent.
I stood over putts thinking this putt is either to halve or lose $2 or $4, he said. And its a lot different, obviously, than $11 million.
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EAST LAKE UPDATE: Despite a wretched forecast, East Lake featured mostly sunny skies and hot weather on Wednesday, and the course was starting to dry.
Woods said the fairways were still soft, with plenty of mud on the ball. What surprised him were the firmness of the greens, courtesy of the sub-air pump system that was whirring away during the practice round.
The combination of spongy fairways and firm greens could make it hard to score.
Like today, we picked up quite a bit of mud on every tee shot, so you cant be as specific on where you land the golf ball coming into the greens, so you have to be a little bit more conservative, he said. Well see how the guys play and how the guys attack it.
Much depends on whether the tour allows players to lift, clean and place their balls in the fairways. That decision is not expected until before the first round on Thursday.
September 24, 2009
Lorena Ochoa is running out of tournaments in a startlingly average season for a player who won 21 times in the previous three years.
Since winning the Corona Championship in her Mexico homeland in late April for her second victory of the year, the top-ranked Ochoa is winless in 10 starts.
South Koreas Jiyai Shin leads the player of the year - and rookie - races and is within striking distance of catching Ochoa in the rankings. Norways Suzann Pettersen and a handful of other players are also close heading into the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge, set to start on Thursday at Blackhawk Country Club.
Its not easy so thats why I need to work harder, Ochoa said on Wednesday. Thats why I need to start playing better and do whatever it takes to keep that No. 1 position.
For nearly two years that wasnt much of an issue for the 27-year-old star who replaced Annika Sorenstam at the top of the rankings in April 2007.
But 2009 has been a much different year for Ochoa. She has spent more time in Mexico while playing in fewer tournaments and is in the midst of planning her December wedding to longtime boyfriend Andres Conesa, the CEO of AeroMexico.
On the course, the results have been disappointing.
Ochoa has finished better than 10th only twice in her last 10 tournaments, including a tie for fourth last week in the Samsung World Championship at Torrey Pines. She bottomed out with a 49th-place showing at the Safeway Classic in August.
In majors, Ochoa also has struggled. She was 26th at the U.S. Womens Open and 28th at the Womens British Open.
My life is changing a little bit and thats just the way it is, said Ochoa, who two weeks ago in Mexico City bristled slightly at criticisms of her game. Sometimes its hard to keep that same level and the same rhythm forever. Its been an up and down year for me for different reasons, especially outside the golf course.
I think it was a good start, what happened in the last couple weeks, but Im trying to get into the winners circle.
Ochoa has never won the CVS/pharmacy tournament, formerly known as the Longs Drugs Challenge. She was fourth in 2008 and lost a playoff to Pettersen in 2007.
Compared to previous years I think this course is going to change a little bit probably with lower scores, said Ochoa, citing the softer greens at Blackhawk. The par 5s are not as easy in terms of reaching because they are playing longer but I just like it. Ive been close a few times so hopefully this is my year.
The 21-year-old Shin has been comfortable all year. She has a tour-high three wins and five other top-10 finishes.
She didnt surprise me because we knew how good she was, Ochoa said. Of course its not only her. There are a few players that are trying to catch me. Its OK. Thats the way it is when youre at the top.
Shin, who remembers following Ochoa as a fan at a tournament in South Korea five years ago, also leads the money list and is trying to become the first player since Nancy Lopez in 1978 to win both player of the year and rookie of the year honors.
Shin, the 2008 British Open champion, was sick this week and wasnt able to play a full round on the Blackhawk Course until Wednesdays pro-am. Shes an obvious favorite, along with Pettersen and last years winner, In-Kyung Kim, but Shin isnt counting Ochoa out.
Shes still a great player, Shin said. Every week she has a chance for the win. This years been a little up and down for her but shes a good player.
Other past tournament winners playing in this years event include Karrie Webb (2006), Christina Kim (2004), Helen Alfredsson (2003), Se Ri Pak (2001) and two-time winner Juli Inkster (1999, 2000). The field also includes 13-year-old Casie Cathrea, a high school student who won a qualifier on Monday.
September 23, 2009
Jim Thorpe, a three-time winner on the US PGA Tour, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to failing to pay more than $2 million in income taxes.
The 60-year-old Thorpe pleaded guilty to two counts and faces a maximum of two years in prison and a $4.1 million fine when he is sentenced.
He was charged in February with seven counts of failing to pay federal taxes on income he earned in 2002, 2003 and 2004.
His attorney, Mark Horwitz, said Thorpe wants to move on with his life. The attorney had argued previously that Thorpe did not willfully try to break the law.
Thorpe has also won 13 times on the Champions Tour.
September 23, 2009
British Open champion Stewart Cink decided to thank East Lake for giving him an honorary membership 13 years ago when he was just starting out on the US PGA Tour by bringing the claret jug to display in the clubhouse during the Tour Championship.
The former owner of the jug decided to play a prank.
Cink had the claret jug in its silver suitcase outside his locker on Tuesday. To most people, the nondescript suitcase looks like it might hold audio equipment, perhaps even a musical instrument.
Padraig Harrington, who won the British Open the previous two years, knows better. He saw the familiar case and stashed it in his locker. Cink realized it was missing when he returned upstairs after registering, looked in his locker, then figured the PGA Tour Productions crew had taken it downstairs for their interview.
I assumed they had gotten it and put it on their set, Cink said. I said, So you guys already have the claret jug? And they said, No.
Was he worried? Not for long.
The locker room attendant came over and told Cink, I think Mr. Harrington played a joke on you.
I think Harrington walked in and saw the case - not the jug, but the case, Cink said. A lot of people dont know whats in there. He knew. … Before I could think that it was gone, they told me where it was. I wish it was more dramatic.
Cink said the jug has been in his kitchen, but that he would keep it at East Lake for a few weeks. Bobby Jones grew up at East Lake and won the British Open three times.
This clubhouse is like a Bobby Jones golf history museum, Cink said. With the claret jug in there, the actual one, I think its fitting.
As for Harrington?
He only had it for two years, so he wanted to have it just a little bit longer, Cink said. Ive only had it for two months.
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STEWART AWARD: Kenny Perry was honored on Tuesday with the Payne Stewart Award, named after the three-time major champion who perished 10 years ago in a private plane crash.
The award is given to a players commitment to charity, presentation of himself through dress and conduct, and for sharing Stewarts respect for golfs traditions.
Perry is best known for donating 5 percent of his U.S. PGA Tour earnings to a scholarship fund for students from his home county in Kentucky who attend Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. The support stems from a church elder, Ronnie Ferguson, agreeing to give Perry money for his third try at Q-school. No repayment was required if Perry failed to qualify, but he asked that Perry give 5 percent to Lipscomb if he made it on tour. Since then, Perry has earned more than $30 million.
He also built a public golf course that he designed on his own as an affordable option for recreational players.
Payne personified all the virtues the game of golf can teach us, so being recognized as a person who is worthy of an award created in his memory is incredibly humbling, Perry said. This award is and will always be one of my greatest accomplishments.
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HALL OF FAME INTRODUCTIONS: Seve Ballesteros will be part of the World Golf Hall of Fame induction in November through a video message. Two-time Masters champion Jose Maria Olazabal has asked Ballesteros to introduce him at the Nov. 2 ceremony.
Ballesteros, who is recovering from a brain tumor, cannot make the trip to St. Augustine, Florida.
He is one of my best friends, and I have had the honor of sharing with him many different moments in our lives, Ballesteros said in a statement. He has been by my side in the good times and in the not so very good times, and I will always be there for him.
Arnold Palmer will introduce the late Dwight D. Eisenhower, while CBS Sports anchor Jim Nantz will introduce Lanny Wadkins, and Christy OConnor Jr., will introduce his father, Christy OConnor.
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SLOW PLAY POLICY: The U.S. PGA Tours fine structure for slow play might eventually get the attention of even those who can afford it.
The tours new pace-of-play policy began in 2003, and one of the components was a $20,000 fine for the 10th time during the season that a player was put on the clock.
In a policy change for this year that was not announced, the tour now is going after repeat offenders.
According to the player handbook, anyone put on the clock 10 times for a $20,000 fine will face double the amount - $40,000 - if he gets put on the clock 10 times the following year. And after that, the amount continues to double. If a player is timed on 10 occasions a third straight year, the fine goes to $80,000.
Whether any player has been docked double - or faces such a fine - is not known. The tour keeps that list private.
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DIVOTS: Henry Hughes is retiring next year after 25 years at the U.S. PGA Tour. Hughes was executive director of The Players Championship during its greatest growth, and spent 10 years as the tours chief of operations, in which he was in charge of competition. … Suzann Pettersen will join Natalie Gulbis and Cristie Kerr as the LPGA team in the Wendys 3-Tour Challenge, to be played Nov. 10 at Rio Secco in Las Vegas. … In a statistical oddity, Tiger Woods victory at the BMW Championship was his first this year when he began the tournament with a morning tee time on Thursday.
