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Golf Notes November 21
Augusta National changed its qualifications for the Masters two years ago,
placing more emphasis on the world ranking and eliminating the practice of giving
invitations to any player who wins a PGA Tour event.
The idea was to get a stronger field, although the new criteria led to complaints
that it wiped out all the drama of trying to get into the most exclusive major.
The drama has merely shifted.
While the PGA Tour season is over, the next three weeks could prove critical
for a few players trying to get into the Masters.
The last remaining category this year is top 50 in the world ranking by Dec.
31, and five official tournaments overseas could play a big role -- the Australian
Open, the Asian Open, two tournaments in Japan and the Hong Kong Open.
Those on the bubble include Charles Howell, John Daly and Steve Flesch.
Daly is taking his chances at home.
He moved up to No. 47 -- having started the season at No. 507 -- but pulled
out of the Asian Open and Hong Kong Open because he's not comfortable flying.
That shouldn't hurt him. Because the world ranking is based over two years,
and Daly's record was atrocious last season, he won't be losing many points and
should remain in the top 50.
``He is most likely to stick where he is, and he could pop up a few spots,''
said Matt Bouchel of IMG, who administers the world ranking in London.
Howell (No. 45) is leaving nothing to chance. He has gone to the Gold Coast
for Thanksgiving week to play in the Australian Open, the biggest official event
left this year.
Flesch is No. 48, and could fall back if Adam Scott (57) has a good week in
Australia and Toru Taniguchi (No. 51) plays well in Japan. Hidemichi Tanaka (62)
also is lurking.
The majority of the 2002 field was set two weeks ago, when the PGA Tour wrapped
up business for the year. Tom Pernice and Billy Andrade held down their positions
in the top 40 on the money list.
As it stands now, 18 tour players who played in the last Masters are not eligible.
Heading that list is Greg Norman, although the Shark still could get a special
invitation that Augusta reserves for international players.
The other notable player is Jeff Maggert, who is 100th in the world ranking.
Maggert has played in 38 consecutive majors, the fourth-longest active streak
behind Nick Faldo, Davis Love III and Colin Montgomerie.
There's still hope when the 2002 season begins. The final qualification categories
are for top 50 in the world ranking and the top three on the PGA Tour money list
on March 4, the Monday after Doral.
CHANGING TASTES
Tiger Woods served cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches at the Masters Champions
dinner the year after he won his first green jacket.
What will the defending champion put on the menu this year?
``I'll probably serve sushi for an appetizer,'' Woods said Monday.
As for the rest of the meal, Woods said he hasn't given it much thought. But
he said it likely would be something beside cheeseburgers and chicken sandwiches.
AMATEUR HOUR
The qualifying tournament for the developmental Futures Tour shows how global
women's golf has become -- and how young.
The co-medalist were two amateurs -- Thai teen-ager Aree Wongluekiet and Christina
Kim, who each had a 2-under 286.
Ten of the 28 women who earned exempt status for the LPGA's minor leagues were
amateurs, and a dozen of the qualifiers represents 11 countries and Puerto Rico.
Twin sister Naree Wongluekiet also qualified. The 15-year-old sisters plan
to remain amateur and use the Futures Tour to broaden their competitive experience.
GOING PRIVATE
While private planes have become a way of life for the top players on the PGA
Tour, not many women can afford it. One of the exceptions is Karrie Webb, the
only LPGA Tour player to earn more than $1.5 million each of the past three years.
And even Webb doesn't have a private plane at her disposal for every trip.
Webb said she pays for 50 hours a year from Executive Jet, and also has a deal
in which she appears at a few corporate events for an additional 25 hours.
``It's enough to get most of the year in,'' Webb said.
Annika Sorenstam, who became golf's first $2 million woman, also flies private.
CALIFORNIA DREAMIN'
Sixth-grader Mina Harigae of Monterey became the youngest winner of the California
Women's Amateur Championship. In the final, she beat another 12-year-old, Sydney
Burlison.
``I'm happy,'' Harigae said after her 3-and-2 victory. ``But I'm also sad,
because Sydney is my best friend. I wish we both could have won.''
They have been playing golf together since 1995.
``I know they've both been preparing for this, but I don't think they realized
it would happen so soon,'' said their coach, Nick Nelson. ``I've never seen two
juniors -- or one junior, for that matter -- accelerate the process of improvement
as much as these two have.''
Harigae joins an impressive list of past champions -- Juli Inkster and Amy
Alcott, both LPGA Hall of Fame members; and LPGA players Emilee Klein and Natalie
Gulbis, who were 14 when they won.
DIVOTS
The Nissan Open at Riviera, the PGA Tour event Tiger Woods has played the most
times without winning, raised its purse next year to $3.7 million. ... What do
Se Ri Pak, Sophie Gustafson, Grace Park, Catriona Matthew, Rosie Jones, Wendy
Doolan and Emilee Klein have in common? All won LPGA Tour events that will not
be on the 2002 schedule. ... Paul Lawrie won the European tour's ``Shot of the
Year'' award for his 60-foot birdie putt from the Valley of Sin on the 18th hole
at St. Andrews to win the Dunhill Links Championship. ... Karrie Webb and Annika
Sorenstam have finished 1-2 in 10 tournaments. Webb has won six of those duels.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Fifteen former PGA Tour winners are in the final stage of qualifying school;
38 players who finished in the top 125 on the money list this year have never
won on tour.
FINAL WORD
``I only had two fairway woods in the bag. It's not like I have the LPGA bouquet
going.'' -- Meg Mallon.
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