Some players have suggested smaller fields might improve the pace of play, although that's not the reason the PGA Tour Policy Board is considering reducing the number of players in as many as 10 Tournaments next year.

"It's a matter of daylight more than anything else," Olin Browne, a policy board member, said over the weekend at the Bell Canadian Open. "It's onerous to expect a guy to warm up in the dark or finish in the dark."

That was the case at the Phoenix Open this year, one of the events targeted for change. Because of frost delays and limited daylight, 21 players didn't finish the first round and 25 players had to return Saturday morning to complete the second round.

Some of the fall Tournaments run into similar problems.

The Tour policy is for full-field events to have 144 players before April, and 156 players during daylight-saving times (with a few exceptions). Browne said the board has proposed reducing fields by 12 players at certain events.

Among those targeted are the Sony Open in Hawaii, Phoenix Open and Nissan Open early in the season, along with the Chrysler Classic of Greensboro and Tampa Bay Classic in the fall.

The issue now goes to the Players Advisory Council, which will poll PGA Tour members. A final decision is expected at the next policy board meeting in November.

"At various points in recent years the Players Advisory Council has raised this as an issue for further review and discussion,” PGA Tour spokesman Bob Combs said. “That process in underway and we should be in a position to reach a resolution on this issue by the time of the November policy board meeting.”

If the proposal is adopted, Browne said it wouldn't be as simple as cutting the bottom 12 players on the list. He said some eligibility categories could be eliminated, depending on the Tournaments.

"Most members are not in favor," Browne said. "The board isn't in favor of it, either. I think we all agree that everyone should have as many opportunities to play as possible. But we should be able to start and finish in daylight."

PING-PONG: When did Fred Funk become so animated on the golf course? After playing Ping-Pong.

Funk said he had some friends over for a party and Ping-Pong before the PGA Championship, and he enjoyed the celebrations and ribbing after each point.

"You're having a few beers and everybody's having a great time, and you make a great shot in Ping-Pong and everyone screams and yells," he said. "We were talking, and a friend says that it would be really neat if you were allowed to do that on a golf course. Every other sport you do it.

"That's where the emotion came from up in Minnesota."

Making enough good shots to want to celebrate doesn't hurt.

"I think we're all told not to get too high or too low, like you're going to lose focus if you go celebrate or interact with the crowd a little bit," Funk said. "I've proved now that's not the case."

CHANGE IN PLAN, CHANGE IN CLOTHES: Stewart Cink dropped out of the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking Monday and is no longer eligible for the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship in Ireland the week before the Ryder Cup.

He said he probably will play the Tampa Bay Classic next week, but that could present travel problems for the Ryder Cup.

"I'll probably have to leave Sunday night (for England), but I'd sure like to be able to get home before I go and get everything organized," Cink said. "I don't want to lug all my Ryder Cup gear to Tampa."

His Ryder Cup outfit is not the same as it was 13 months ago.

Cink dropped 25 pounds during the first four months of the year, and had to send everything -- pants, shirts, even his shoes -- to the tailor.

How does one drop down a shoe size?

"I lost weight everywhere on my body except for one place," Cink said. "My calves."

DOUBLE BUBBLE BURST: Another victim of Monday's deadline for the $5 million World Golf Championship in Ireland was John Cook, who was on both bubbles.

Cook, who did not play in the Bell Canadian Open, was No. 50 in the world ranking and No. 30 on the PGA Tour money list, cutoffs for both categories.

He slipped to No. 51 by a fraction of a point in the ranking.

He also dropped to No. 32 on the money list, thanks to John Rollins' victory at Angus Glen and Jeff Sluman's par on the 18th hole to finish alone in ninth place.

Earlier this year at the Memorial Tournament, Cook shot a 69 in the final round to tie for second and earn just enough points to finish in the top 50 and get into the British Open.

PRESIDENTIAL VISIT:Vijay Singh and Charles Howell III were among those who played Magna Golf Club north of Toronto, which wants to get the Presidents Cup in 2007.

Magna is owned by horse racing magnate Frank Stronach, and includes an indoor training track along the par-3 second hole, and a clubhouse that Singh said was one of the best he has ever seen.

"That doesn't make it a good golf course," Singh said. "I would like to see them narrow the golf course up a little bit."

Designed by Doug Carrick, the course has fairways wider than Augusta, and at only 7,095 yards from the tips would not be a serious test for Tournament play.

Match play could be a different matter.

"It's an interesting course for match play because there's a lot of birdies out there," Howell said.

The Presidents Cup likely will be played somewhere in Canada, a much shorter journey for both teams after South Africa in 2003. Also in the running is Angus Glen, site of last week's Bell Canadian Open.

DIVOTS:

•If Phil Mickelson decides to take the rest of the year off after the Ryder Cup, he might have some company. After missing the cut at the Bell Canadian Open, Hal Sutton said he was leaning toward making the Ryder Cup his last Tournament this year.

•Charles Howell III will have a homecoming of sorts this week at the SEI Pennsylvania Classic. His father did his medical residency in Philadelphia, and the young Howell lived there as a toddler.

•The Australasian Tour had to cancel its season-ending Tour Championship because it couldn't find a sponsor.

STAT OF THE WEEK:Dave Barr has made the cut this year on the PGA Tour, the Senior PGA Tour, the Buy.com Tour and the Canadian Tour.

FINAL WORD: “No. Ava Gardner. She's dead, and she's still more popular than me." -- Neal Lancaster, asked whether he was the biggest celebrity in his tiny hometown of Smithfield, N.C..

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