Golf Notes November 20

Tiger Woods says ice and medication have improved his left knee as he prepares for one of the busiest stretches of his season.

Woods complained of a sore knee after the Tour Championship, saying it has bothered him most of the year and stems from surgery he had while in college.

``My left knee is feeling much better,'' Woods said in his monthly newsletter. ``I had it examined (last week) and the results confirmed what I thought, that I have inflammation. It's not quite 100 percent yet, but ice and anti-inflammatory drugs are helping a lot.''

Woods plays in the Dunlop Phoenix this week, his second official tournament in Japan.

Next up is the PGA Grand Slam of Golf in Hawaii, the Skins Game on Thanksgiving weekend, and his Target World Challenge the following week in Thousand Oaks, Calif.

MARTHA BURK AT AUGUSTA?: In the Trophy Room at Augusta National is the famous putter belonging to Bobby Jones, which the Grand Slam champion called ``Calamity Jane.''

How Jones arrived at that nickname is not nearly as relevant as who she was.

Calamity Jane was a heroine in the American West during the late 1800s, regarded as a woman ahead of her time.

According to various biographical sketches, she did not accept the roles women faced during the rugged pioneer days. Calamity Jane dressed in men's clothing, drove stage coaches and could compete with any man when it came to drinking or handling a rifle.

What does this have to do with Augusta National?

Calamity Jane was born in 1852 as Martha Cannary. In the ``Life and Adventures of Calamity Jane,'' which she is said to have written, she married Clinton Burk in 1885.

That's right.

Calamity Jane, the nickname Bobby Jones gave his putter, is really Martha Burk.

A more current Martha Burk, head of the National Council of Women's Organizations, wants Augusta National to admit a female member.

Club chairman Hootie Johnson, however, has said, ``We do not intend to become a trophy in their display case.''

Turns out he already has Martha Burk in his trophy room.

STRANGE SENSATION: Now that his three-year reign as Ryder Cup captain is over, it's back to regular golf for Curtis Strange. He's just not sure whether that means talking or playing, or a little bit of both.

``I waffle every day,'' Strange said.

ABC Sports wants him to work 19 events next year. There are times, though, when Strange feels the urge to devote himself to practice and playing. One of those occasions was Friday after the UBS Warburg Cup, when he was grinding away on the practice range.

``I wanted to play forever that day,'' he said. ``And then some days, I say, 'Heck with it.' The reason I gave it up early was I got tired of fighting my swing.''

His last victory was his second straight U.S. Open in 1989.

Strange is eligible for a full schedule under top 50 in career earnings, an exemption PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem let him carry over to 2003 when the Ryder Cup was postponed one year.

Asked if he could win on the PGA Tour, Strange was as blunt as ever.

``No,'' he said. ``Well, I would say no. I don't want to insult anybody by saying I can win. Can my nerves handle it? I don't know because I haven't been there.''

One thing holding him back is tendinitis in his left elbow. Strange has lost track of the number of cortisone shots he has had, and is contemplating arthroscopic surgery.

PRESIDENTIAL PLANNING: Look for the Presidents Cup to return to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia in 2005, but don't look for an announcement any time soon.

The PGA Tour wants to disclose the venues for the '05 and '07 matches together, but it's having a tough time finding a course in Canada.

Among the early candidates were Angus Glen and Magna Golf Club, both outside Toronto. The Tour now has expanded its search to Montreal, although Royal Montreal endured major traffic problems during the 2001 Canadian Open when Tiger Woods played.

ONE TOUGH COOKIE: The Kraft Nabisco Championship field will get stronger under a new set of qualifications for the LPGA Tour's first major championship of the year.

The Nabisco has the smallest field among the four majors because of criteria that favors Hall of Fame members and past champions, and because it only goes down 60 spots on the LPGA Tour money list.

Beginning in 2003, the top 70 on the previous year's money list will be invited. The tournament also will give exemption to anyone who finishes in the top five in the other three majors. Previously, only the top three got in.

In 2004, the Nabisco will exempt every member of the '03 Solheim Cup teams. That criteria will apply every other year.

FATHER KNOWS BEST: This is the time of year when Raymond Floyd is at his best. He has never lost a match in two UBS Warburg Cups, and he has won five of seven times he has played in the Father-Son Challenge in the Bahamas.

Floyd won the first three years with Raymond Jr., who now works on Wall Street. He has won the last two years with Robert, who is playing the mini-tours.

``Those kids are finally paying for themselves,'' Floyd said.

DIVOTS: With victories the last two weeks (sharing the Volvo Masters and winning the TLC Classic in China), Colin Montgomerie moved back into the top 10 in the world. David Duval's slide continued -- he's now at No. 21. ... Tommy Bolt, known for his feisty temper, said before his induction in the World Golf Hall of Fame that ``anybody who hasn't thrown a club is not serious about the game.'' That led to a follow-up question. Did Ben Hogan throw a club? ``Not that I know of, no,'' Bolt said. ... John Daly's meltdowns are not limited to the PGA Tour. Daly hit into the water three times and took a 10 on the par-5 14th hole at Harbour Plaza Golf Club in Dongguan, China. He wound up with an 80 and missed the cut by two strokes at the TLC Classic on the Asian tour.

STAT OF THE WEEK: Out of 21 stroke-play events Annika Sorenstam has played this year on the LPGA Tour, she has finished lower than fifth only three times.

FINAL WORD: ``I leave the practice tee almost every day with a glimmer of hope. And then I leave the 18th hole and I'm not too happy with what happened.'' - Arnold Palmer.

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