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Golf Notes October 24
Two years ago, a newspaper columnist handicapping the field for the NEC Invitational
wrote that David Duval needed a victory at Firestone to ``salvage a disappointing
year.''
All he had done was win four times before the Masters and shoot 59.
In the latest example of short memory, David Toms is being mentioned as a possible
challenger to Tiger Woods as PGA Tour player of the year.
Toms is having a season that deserves some award. His victory in the PGA Championship
will be remembered for his gutsy decision to play short of the water on the final
hole, and he won two other tournaments.
Is that enough?
``I definitely have to win again, and I don't think winning Disney or the Buick
Challenge would put me up there,'' Toms said when pressed about his chances. ``I
would have to win the Tour Championship to even be considered.''
If Toms were to win the Buick Challenge and Tour Championship, that would give
him five victories, including a major -- same as Woods.
That's where the similarities end.
While Woods has only one top-10 finish since the first week of June, don't
forget the big picture. He won The Players Championship, which many consider the
fifth major. His Masters victory was historic, giving him a clean sweep of the
majors. He won a World Golf Championship, plus Bay Hill and Memorial.
Woods already has wrapped up the money title and is a lock to win the scoring
title, too.
``Any guy that wins a major has got a case,'' Davis Love III said. ``But The
Players Championship is a pretty strong backup. Right now, I think I'll be leaning
that way. The Tour Championship against the Players ... I think Tiger is still
1-up.''
David Duval added, ``I don't even think it's a contest.''
The only award still undecided is rookie of the year.
There are plenty of candidates, although it likely comes down to Jose Coceres
(two PGA Tour victories) and Retief Goosen (U.S. Open).
Both qualify for the award because the tour considers a rookie season when
players compete in their 10th official event as PGA Tour members, or finish in
the top 125 on the money list for the first time.
Other candidates are Charles Howell II, David Gossett and Garrett Willis.
Howell is the only candidate without a victory, although he could make a strong
case by playing his way into the Tour Championship, then winning.
WARBURG WRANGLING
Ben Crenshaw didn't have to design the shirts for there to be controversy over
the uniforms for the inaugural UBS Warburg Cup next month.
Organizers of the matches between teams representing the United States and
the Rest of the World have agreed to let players wear their own hats and choose
one of their corporate logos to wear on the uniform shirts.
Petty? Maybe not.
While branding is not an issue with the Ryder Cup or Presidents Cup, those
matches don't have a corporate title sponsor whose name is in every logo. Curtis
Strange was among those who wondered why players should spend three days on television
promoting a company with which they have no affiliation.
``They're trying to work it out so players can wear some of the other logos
of the companies they represent,'' said Mark O'Meara, who is on the U.S. team.
``Certainly, that's what they should do. It's OK to have Warburg on some of the
stuff, but since it's a made-for-TV event, why not let the players put on sponsors
they represent?''
The 12-man teams -- half of the players are from the 40-49 age group, the other
half are 50 and over -- will wear shirts with the UBS Warburg Cup logo on their
chest. They also will carry team bags.
The critical concession was allowing players to wear their own hats, which
get the most television exposure.
UBS Warburg is a financial services company.
HOWELL'S LAST STAND
Charles Howell III needs at least a fifth-place finish this week in the Buick
Challenge to earn enough money to join Tiger Woods as the only players to start
a season with no status and make the Tour Championship.
With more than $1.4 million, Howell is $124,729 shy of Kenny Perry (No. 30)
on the money list.
He doesn't feel as much pressure as he did last year, when he was trying to
finish in the top 125 and avoid Q-school.
``Last year, I had everything to lose,'' he said. ``This year, I've earned
enough for a card. I have playing privileges. I'm playing in the invitationals.
If I finish 31st or 32nd, it's still a great year.''
JUST LIKE TIGER
Adam Scott has a swing similar to Tiger Woods and uses the same coach, Butch
Harmon. Now, the 21-year-old Aussie is taking his ``Be Like Tiger'' campaign to
a new level by hiring the brother of Woods' caddie.
The Age newspaper in Melbourne reported this week that Scott has replaced veteran
caddie Dave Renwick with Phil Williams, the younger brother of Steve Williams.
Phil Williams has worked only sparingly the past decade, and his last memorable
job was for Jack Nicklaus in the 1989 Australian Masters.
DIVOTS
Ely Callaway has been posthumously awarded the 2001 Graffis Award by the National
Golf Foundation. The award recognizes outstanding service to the game and the
business of golf. Callaway died July 5 at age 82. ... Hans Kramer, executive director
of the Transamerica event on the Senior Tour the past 13 years, died Sunday of
pancreatic cancer. ... The LPGA Tour resumes its international schedule this week
with the Cisco World Ladies Match Play Championship in Japan. The 32-player field
will match 16 women from the LPGA Tour against 16 top women from the Japan LPGA
Tour in a single-elimination event with $144,000 going to the winner. The top
two seeds are Annika Sorenstam and Se Ri Pak.
STAT OF THE WEEK
Tiger Woods earned $51,000 at the National Car Rental Classic, his 10th check
on the PGA Tour this year of less than $100,000. A year ago, he had only two PGA
Tour paydays under $100,000.
FINAL WORD
``You won't see me in pink.'' -- Charles Howell III, who has signed with the
same clothing company as Jesper Parnevik.
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