Golf Notes January 9

David Duval might skip the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta, the tournament that gave him a sponsor's exemption when he was at Georgia Tech and where he won during his sensational start to the 1999 season.

Robert Allenby of Australia is not planning to play the Houston Open, site of his first PGA Tour win two years ago.

Both are asking the same question: What's the best way to get ready for a major?

Duval arrived at Augusta National on the weekend before the Masters last year and found it helped his preparations, although he was coming off a forced three-week break because of an injury to his wrist.

He said he probably would go to Augusta on Saturday this year, which rules out playing in the BellSouth Classic.

``It's not a given that I won't go there, either,'' Duval said. ``The timing is not so good. Unfortunately, that's how it is.''

BellSouth falls the week before the Masters. That's one reason Tiger Woods declined to defend his title in 1999, the only title defense he has skipped.

This year, the Houston Open will be played after The Players Championship and two weeks before the Masters. But that isn't as appealing to some players, either.

Even though it is televised by ABC Sports (he signed an endorsement deal with Disney last year), Woods is still undecided about Houston and leaning against.

And then there's Allenby, who doesn't see how he can make it.

The Aussie is one of several players -- Phil Mickelson included -- who likes to play the week before a major to get in a competitive frame of mind. Since he already plans to go to Bay Hill, the Masters would be his fifth straight event if he played Houston.

``I've found that taking a week off (before a major) is not a good thing,'' the Aussie said. ``It's very good to come to a major with form, and tournament form at that.''

Allenby played the week before a major only once last year, the PGA Championship, ``and that was my best one.'' He tied for 16th.

David Toms isn't sure which strategy works.

``A lot of times, if you're in the hunt the week before, it can take a lot out of you,'' he said. ``I don't think we're ever going to figure out the perfect formula.''

CAPTAIN CURTIS

The plan was for Curtis Strange to get through the 2001 season as Ryder Cup captain, then get full playing privileges on the PGA Tour by using his one-time exemption for being in the top 50 on the career money list.

Indeed, he dropped only eight spots to No. 40 in career money last year while playing on sponsor's exemptions. But the Ryder Cup was postponed because of Sept. 11, and Strange is still the captain. It's possible he will drop out of the top 50 by the end of the year.

Not to worry.

PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem has allowed Strange to use his one-time exemption next year -- even if he falls out of the top 50 in career money -- because of the circumstances surrounding the Ryder Cup.

``That was a very generous offer,'' Strange said. ``I did want to play a few more tournaments this year. Not that the Ryder Cup will take up a lot of my time, but it's still out there. It's still weighing on me.''

NEXT IN LINE

The major championships have been at the top of the list for Tiger Woods ever since he turned pro. Winning all of them, plus The Players Championship, hasn't satisfied him, but it has left his impressive record with a few major gaps.

One of them is the Match Play Championship, perhaps the most prestigious of the World Golf Championships. The other is the Nissan Open at Riviera, which is his hometown tournament and site of his PGA Tour debut in 1992 as a 16-year-old.

``Those are events obviously I would like to win,'' he said. ``Those two would be neat to have on my resume.''

Asked to pick which one of those he would rather win, he chose La Costa.

``I love match play,'' he said. ``I'm really looking forward to going head-to-head against somebody. To be able to play against somebody, then you advance, you look back at your bracket ... it's pretty cool.''

The Nissan Open is the only tournament Woods has played at least five times without winning. He was runner-up twice.

AWARDS

Judy Rankin, the first woman to earn $100,000 in a season and a member of the LPGA Hall of Fame, has been selected for one of the top honors by the U.S. Golf Association. She will receive the Bob Jones Award, presented annually since 1955 for distinguished sportsmanship in golf.

The USGA gave the Joseph C. Dey Award for volunteer service to Clyde Luther of Burke, Va., a top rules official who has worked 84 USGA championships.

Meanwhile, Scott Verplank won the Ben Hogan Award by the Golf Writers Association of America, given to a player who has remained active in golf despite a physical handicap or serious illness.

Verplank overcame three elbow operations and diabetes to win twice in the past two years, and he became the first Ryder Cup rookie to make the team as a captain's pick.

The GWAA also awarded the William D. Richardson Award to Judy Bell, the former USGA president who was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in November. The Richardson Award is for outstanding contributions to golf.

DIVOTS

Tiger Woods finished first on the world money list for the fourth straight year in 2001, with purses totaling $7.7 million. Woods set the record in 2000, winning $11 million worldwide. ... The Senior PGA Tour is returning to live broadcasts. CNBC said it will televise 21 out of 31 events this year live. It also said Jim Kelly will return as host of the senior circuit. ... While the Ryder Cup uniforms will carry the 2001 logos, there is talk about both teams adding a ribbon or some other symbol to commemorate the Sept. 11 attacks that postponed the matches one year. ... Australian Golf Digest magazine has selected Karrie Webb as its golfer of the year, beating out Robert Allenby and Adam Scott.

STAT OF THE WEEK

Tucson Open champion Garrett Willis made more money for shooting 304 and finishing last in the Mercedes Championships ($51,000) than hemade in his final 21 events last year on the PGA Tour ($44,564).

FINAL WORD

``I'd rather go over there and at least have a chance to make some money than stay here and spend a lot of it.'' -- David Toms, on playing in the $4 million Sony Open in Honolulu instead of spending a few extra days with his family on Maui.

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