Round 2: Travelers Championship (PGATOUR.com)
June 26, 2009
EARLY CUT LINE UPDATE (2:30 p.m.)—As Bob Stevens noted during LIVE@, the course is playing almost a stroke tougher today, but the cut line is still sitting at 3 under.
PGATOUR.COM Instant Access ChampionshipTravelers PGATOUR.COM's The Live Report has all the news and notes from the Travelers Championship, and we'll be providing updates from TPC River Highlands all day long for each round, so check back often. (All timestamps are Eastern Time.) PGA TOUR Shot Tracker | Live Scoring | PGA TOUR Network | Facebook | Twitter | FanZone
Some notables currently fighting to make the cut: Justin Rose (2 under), Stuart Appleby (even), Stewart Cink (even).
ROOKIE IN THE MIX (2:11 p.m.)—There's a hundred dreamers every December at q-school, but Aaron Watkins is one of the lucky ones to make it through and earn the shot to play in the big leagues on the PGA TOUR.
Watkins has only been able to get into 11 events this year, but he's used the time to show he can play against the best in the world. He tied for seventh in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans after contending all week, and he's only three shots back of leader Kenny Perry after a 65-67 start in Hartford.
Watkins is a little guy—only 5-foot-8—but he's a good mid-iron player and deadly with a wedge. He's been comfortable all week in his first start at TPC River Highlands. He had a couple of bad holes on the back nine Friday when he bogeyed Nos. 13 and 14.
"I still hit two bad shots and laid two bogeys and I don't need to do that tomorrow," Watkins said.
Watkins said the experience from New Orleans will help.
"I was really nervous Saturday and Sunday, but I think going into this Saturday and Sunday being through that is going to help me a little bit," he said.
FORGET WHAT WE SAID ABOUT THE RAIN (1:55 p.m.)—The sun has peeked out from behind the clouds during our LIVE@ coverage. Our cameras showed J.J. Henry bomb a driver over the green at the par-4 15th, where the pin is located on the back right today.
PUTTING HOLDING PERRY BACK (1:50 p.m.)—Kenny Perry hit the ball perfectly all day Friday—he hit 16 greens and didn't miss a single fairway—and yet, he shot 68, seven shots worse than Thursday.
The answer? Putting. Perry used 32 putts in the second round—exactly seven more than Thursday.
"I'm used to it. I don't normally putt well anyway," Perry said. "It was just like I didn't have any touch. What I felt was the right speed was always short, and then when I tried to hit it, I couldn't stroke it.
"I was hitting the putt, then I was blowing it right to the break. So I definitely didn't have much feel out there today."
Putt for dough (is right)Improved putting has defined Kenny Perry's resurgence on the PGA TOUR: Year Putts per Round/Rank Putts per GIR/Rank 2009 29.24/114th 1.774/78th 2008 29.25/85th 1.778/63rd 2007 29.53/132nd 1.806/153rd 2006 30.19/196th 1.813/177th
MAYBE HE WASN'T KIDDING (1:27 p.m.)—Michael Allen, 50, won the Senior PGA Championship last month at Canterbury Golf Club for his first win on the Champions Tour.
Did he stay out on the over-50 circuit? No. He has unfinished business on the PGA TOUR, namely, scoring the PGA TOUR win that has eluded him.
He was painfully close a couple of times in recent years. He tied for third in the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in 2008 after shooting a disappointing 70 on the final day. He was solo second at the 2007 Turning Stone Resort Championship.
Allen joked that he wanted to become the first player in history to win on the Champions Tour before winning on the PGA TOUR, and he's got a shot this week at TPC River Highlands. Allen matched Ryan Moore for the lowest round of the morning wave with a 65, and he didn't make a single bogey. He heads into the weekend at 7 under total.
At 50 years, four months and 27 days, Allen could become one of the oldest winners ever on TOUR:
Oldest winners in PGA TOUR history Player Age Tournament won Sam Snead 52 years, 10 months 1965 Greater Greensboro Open Art Wall 51 years, 7 months 1975 Greater Milwaukee Open Jim Barnes 51 years, 3 months 1937 Long Island Open John Barnum 51 years, one month 1962 Cajun Classic Fred Funk 50 years, eight months 2007 Mayakoba Classic Ray Floyd 49 years, 6 months 1992 Doral-Ryder Open Peter Jacobsen 49 years, 4 months 2003 Greater Hartford Open
RYAN MOORE INTERVIEW (1:10 p.m.)—Ryan Moore is in with a 65, his lowest round of the year, to move into second behind Kenny Perry.
Moore played well last week at the U.S. Open, quietly finishing in a tie for 10th. He's anxious to get back on track after a nagging hand injury prevented him from playing his best.
"I had surgery on my [left] hand three years ago," Moore said. "I just kind of wasn't using it the same way, and that was kind of what hit me recently was just to start using my left hand a little bit more the way I used to."
"I'm a very left-side dominant golfer and having hurt my left hand, it just kind of made things really difficult. Essentially, it's just been a power struggle in my golf swing between my right and left side and they haven't really been working well together, and I've just simply started making them work together again."
Here is a look at Moore's scorecard:
AND I WONDER, STILL I WONDER .. WHO'LL STOP THE RAIN (12:57 p.m.)—If you live in the Northeast, this has probably been the rainiest June you can remember, and it's about to get worse.
Rain has been falling since 11:30 a.m., and thunderstorms are predicted for this afternoon. Currently, the rain hasn't prevented the field from coming in.
During our LIVE@ coverage on the 17th hole, the rain started really coming down hard at 1 p.m. ET.
"Biggest downpour of the day," noted LIVE@ analyst Craig Perks.
PERRY IN THE CLUBHOUSE (12:48 p.m.)—It was a strange second round for Kenny Perry, who hung onto the lead through the morning wave despite playing his final 10 holes without a birdie.
Perry was two under on the day as he teed off on the par-4 18th—his ninth hole of the day—and he stayed at two under the rest of the way. Perry finished with 10 pars in a row.
Here is a look at Perry's scorecard:
HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR TWITTER FEED (12:34 p.m.)—Our Brian Wacker is following Lucas Glover, Vijay Singh and Chad Campbell in the morning wave on Friday. Here is some tidbits from his Twittering on Friday:
"Just ran into Vijay Singh's new trainer, Gabe Lopez, who Vijay hired on March 1. Lots of flexibility stuff with Vijay."
"Lopez used to train former Mr. Olympia Dexter Jackson and Lopez himself is a short fire hydrant of a guy who's as fit as could be."
"Rain has now stopped…cursed myself by running back to get rain gear. Congrats for Lucas Glover haven't stopped though. And they love him."
"Lengthy birdie putt fell for Mr. U.S. Open at No. 4…and raindrops have too. Heavy stuff won't for a bit. Vijay just gave a kid a ball."
To follow the day's play with our Twitter feed, .
IN THE BAG: HUNTER MAHAN (12:17 p.m.)—PGA TOUR regulars sometimes carry some surprisingly old equipment. Take 2007 Travelers Championship winner Hunter Mahan.
Mahan is 27 years old, but he carries a Ping lob wedge that isn't much younger than him. Like a lot of pros, he's keep the same 3-wood in his bag for years.
"I am not one to switch clubs, so when I find something, I like to keep it around," Mahan said.
To see what all Mahan carries in his bag, .
MEET KYLE STANLEY (11:55 p.m.)—Between Lucas Glover's victory in the U.S. Open last week to Charles Warren's 63 in the opening round of the Travelers Championship, we figured we couldn't bring you any more Clemson University news.
We were wrong.
Kyle Stanley announced this week that he was leaving Clemson after his junior season to turn pro at the Travelers Championship. Like Glover and Warren before him, he enjoyed tremendous success on the Clemson Tigers golf team, placing second in the NCAA Individual Championship.
Glover, Warren and Stanley are part of a large group of PGA TOUR players who receive instruction, mental and fitness help from the expansive facility at Sea Island Golf Resort.
Stanley leaves Clemson after his junior year as a three-time NCAA All American and the only player to win both the ACC Freshman of the Year Award and the ACC Player of the Year Award in the same year. He made the cut at the U.S. Open last week, earning an exemption to second stage of the PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament.
If he keeps playing well, Stanley has an outside chance of avoiding q-school altogether. He looks like he's going to make the cut again this week after opening with a solid 66 on Thursday and is one under after nine holes on Friday morning.
In addition to the Travelers Championship, Stanley is already in the field for the John Deere Classic, U.S. Bank Championship and Wyndham Championship.
To follow the remainder of Stanley's round with Shot Tracker, .
WIRE-TO-WIRE WINNERS (11:27 a.m.)—Round 1 leader Kenny Perry has a shot at becoming the 11th player to win wire-to-wire in Hartford. The last player to do it was Peter Jacobsen, who shocked the golf community in 2003 by shooting 63-67-69-67 to win by two shots.
Jacobsen, who was 49 at the time, had not won on TOUR in eight years, but he made it look easy. Jacobsen also easily holds the record for most years between Hartford victories (1984, 2003).
Wire-to-wire winners at the Travelers Championship Year Player Score 1955 Sam Snead 269 1956 Arnold Palmer 274 1958 Jackie Burke Jr. 268 1959 Gene Littler 272 1966 Art Wall 266 1970 Bob Murphy 267 1974 Dave Stockton 268 1976 Rik Massingale 266 *1982 Tim Norris 259 2003 Peter Jacobsen 266 *Tournament record
MOORE/MAHAN (11:10 a.m.)—We keep waiting for Ryan Moore to break out with a victory on the PGA TOUR, and we might only have to wait a couple of more days.
Moore is already four under on his round today after shooting a 66 on Thursday. This tournament has been kind to first-time winners—J.J. Henry (2006) and Hunter Mahan (2007) made this event their first victory on TOUR.
It's easy to draw parallels between Moore and Mahan. Both players were amateur prodigies—Mahan was runner-up at the U.S. Amateur in 2002, and Moore won it the U.S. Amateur in 2004.
Moore has been close in his three full seasons on TOUR. He had to watch Adam Scott drain a 50-foot putt to win the HP Byron Nelson Championship in a playoff in 2008, and he finished second at the Memorial in 2007.
Here is a list of players who have become first-time winners on the PGA TOUR in 2009:
First-time winners on the PGA TOUR in 2009 Player Tournament Pat Perez The 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer Y.E. Yang The Honda Classic Paul Casey Shell Houston Open
A FRIENDLY REMINDER ABOUT LIVE@ (11 a.m.)—We're in the fourth installment of our 2009 live coverage, and this week, we're streaming live from the 15th and 17th holes at TPC River Highlands. The 15th hole is especially intriguing to watch—players repeatedly tried to hit the green with their tee shots on the 296-yard par 4.
During our LIVE@ coverage, Charles Warren's ball rolled right over the cup, and he two-putted for an easy birdie. ( to view the best shots from Round 1).
You can always bookmark to see the schedule for our live coverage. In addition, our Brian Wacker is Twittering 36 holes a day all week at the Travelers Championship, You can read his Tweets by .
PERRY ALREADY ON HIS BACK NINE (10:45 a.m.)—Overnight leader Kenny Perry teed off at 7:42 a.m. with a two-shot lead, and he's tacked on three more birdies to extend his lead to four shots.
To follow the remainder of Perry's round with Shot Tracker, .
GLOVER GOT A SURPRISE IN PRO-AM (10:30 a.m.)—Lucas Glover may have won the U.S. Open on Monday, but he's still one of the guys. Just ask Johnson Wagner, who delivered a "gift" to the newly crowned major champion just before Glover teed off at the Travelers Championship pro-am.
As Glover prepared to tee off, Wagner snuck behind him and placed a pie full of shaving cream directly in Glover's face as fans took pictures. Glover hit his tee shot—with his face still covered in shaving cream—to the howls of the gallery.
Glover, by the way, continues to play well at TPC River Highlands. He's just outside the top 10 at 5 under for the tournament and even through his first seven holes of the second round.—Helen Ross
The Hartford Courant had video of the event. Click here to watch it.
SMITH, GREEN FAMILY TRAGEDIES HITS PLAYERS HARD (10:25 a.m.) — Chris Smith played in eight events at TPC River Highlands, and his peers on the PGA TOUR and Nationwide Tour are honoring the memory of his family this week.
Chris Smith's wife, Beth Smith, was killed in a car accident on June 21, near Angola, Ind. His daughter Abigail, 16, and son Cameron, 12, were critically injured and are currently hospitalized in Fort Wayne, Ind.
On the Nationwide Tour this week, players and caddies at the Nationwide Tour Players Cup in West Virginia are wearing black ribbons.
Smith has made eight Nationwide Tour starts and three PGA TOUR starts in 2009.
On the PGA TOUR and Champions Tour this week, players are wearing green ribbons in support of Ken Green, who was seriously injured in an RV accident on June 15 that killed his brother Bill, 56, and longtime girlfriend Jeanne Hodgin, 52.
Ken's injuries forced the amputation of his lower left leg on June 15. He is scheduled to be released from a Mississippi hospital on Thursday, June 24. He faces outpatient procedures for a sub orbital fracture near his left eye. His goal is to return to playing golf and competing on the Champions Tour.
"You know, these are tragedies," Paul Goydos said on Thursday. "It's been a rough year in a sense on the PGA TOUR."
"As players, we'll do what we can to help them out," said 2007 Travelers Championship winner Hunter Mahan. "We're obviously here for them and here for everybody. But it's a tough situation to go through three kind of tragedies like that. It's just very tough."
Watch:
Groups We're Watching Tee time Players 7:42 a.m. ET No. 10 
Kenny Perry, D.J. Trahan, Aaron BaddeleyFirst-round leader Kenny Perry will try to follow up Thursday's 61 with another low round. 1:03 p.m. ET No. 10 
Hunter Mahan, Paul Goydos, David TomsGoydos sits at 7 under after one round, while Toms is two strokes back at 5 under. 1:34 p.m. ET No. 10 
Lucas Glover, Vijay Singh, Chad CampbellGlover followed up that U.S. Open win with a 65. Singh also fared well on Thursday with a 4-under 66. Live Essentials 
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Sandra Gal leads by one at LPGA in Rochester
June 26, 2009
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP)—Germany’s Sandra Gal kept loose over a game of chessduring a rain delay and shot an 8-under 64 Thursday to lead Jiyai Shin by onestroke before darkness suspended first-round play at the Wegmans LPGA.
An afternoon storm packing hail, lightning and torrential rain interruptedthe tournament for three hours at the tree-lined Locust Hill course in suburbanRochester. Poor light then ended play at 8:37 p.m. with 30 players unable tofinish their round.
Becky Lucidi was in third place at 6 under through 15 holes. KristyMcPherson and Michele Redman were tied for fourth place with 5-under 67s. TigerWoods’ 18-year-old niece, Cheyenne, carded a 75 in her pro-tour debut, whichcame courtesy of a sponsor exemption.
The 24-year-old Gal, in her second year on tour, finished with a 15-footbirdie putt for a career-best round. Her best finish was a tie for fifth at lastmonth’s LPGA Corning Classic.
“This year I think I’m improving every month and, yeah, it’s just a way upthere,” Gal said. “Sometimes it doesn’t go quick and you got to take one stepat a time.”
Starting on the back nine, Gal ran up five consecutive birdies before playwas suspended. She said she joked with her caddy, then played chess with herfather, Jan.
Jiyai Shin, of South Korea, te… AP – Jun 25, 9:10 pm EDT
“We’re not done yet,” she said. “I had a few checks there from him but Igot out of it.”
When play restarted, she two-putted for another birdie on No. 17 and sank an8-foot birdie putt on No. 1.
“At first I thought, it’s a pity we’re stopping. But then I said, come on,it’s just a new start, a fresh round, and see how low we can go.”
“I just got something to eat and talked to a few people,” said Shin, whopicked up four birdies on her back nine. “I just felt really confident becausemy putter was very good today.”
Shin picked up her first LPGA victory at the HSBC Women’s Champions event inSingapore in early March and was runner-up behind Karrie Webb in the J Golf LPGAInternational three weeks later.
Tied for sixth at 68 were Diana D’Alessio, Morgan Pressel, Brandi Jackson,Haeji Kang and Stacy Lewis, who three-putted from 7 feet on No. 18. Michelle Wiewas among a dozen players at 3-under.
Sandra Gal, of Germany, watche… AP – Jun 25, 8:55 pm EDT
Defending champion Eun-Hee Ji bogeyed nine of the first 14 holes and cardedan 8-over 80.
Lewis, the former NCAA champion from Arkansas who tied for third at the U.S.Women’s Open last summer, reached 6-under with birdies on Nos. 16 and 17, thenmissed a tap-in for bogey on the last hole.
“To throw one away like that, it makes me pretty mad,” she said.
Woods, ranked 93rd among women collegiate golfers in the nation, finishedwith a bogey but was still bullish about making amends Friday.
“I gotta prove myself out here,” she said with a smile strikingly similarto her famous uncle’s. “So tomorrow I’ll have to come back out and do a littlebetter. My goal is to make the cut.”
The $2 million tournament drew 18 of the season’s top 20 money winners,including No. 1 Cristie Kerr, who shot 75. Absent is Lorena Ochoa, the world’stop-ranked player, and Suzann Pettersen, who was runner-up here last June.
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Round 1: Travelers Championship (PGATOUR.com)
June 25, 2009
DUSTIN JOHNSON WITHDRAWS (7:45 p.m.) — Dustin Johnson has withdrawn from the Travelers Championship with a wrist injury. Johnson shot an opening-round 68 before pulling out Thursday night.
PGATOUR.COM Instant AccessTravelers Championship PGATOUR.COM's The Live Report has all the news and notes from the Travelers Championship, and we'll be providing updates from TPC River Highlands all day long for each round, so check back often. (All timestamps are Eastern Time.) PGA TOUR Shot Tracker | Live Scoring | PGA TOUR Network | Facebook | Twitter | FanZone
Johnson, 13th in the FedExCup standings, has three top-10s this year, including a win at the rain-shortened AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am and a tie for fourth at the HP Byron Nelson Championship.
This was only Johnson's second Travelers Championship. Last year, he finished in a tie for 34th. — Brian Wacker
AZINGER DISQUALIFIED (7:20 p.m.)— Paul Azinger was disqualified earlier today from the Travelers Championship for using a non-conforming Callaway golf ball. It was a weird—and accidental—situation in which Azinger had used a ball that was added to the USGA's list of non-conforming golf balls on June 3.
Azinger had played the ball, however, in Tampa earlier this season—when it was conforming—and still had some of them in his golf bag. (The conformity of it has to do with a labeling issue.)
Azinger, who shot a two-under 68, called for rules official Mark Russell after his round, realizing he may be using a non-conforming ball. Russell subsequently informed him that the ball was indeed non-conforming and therefore he was disqualified.—Brian Wacker
BOO FINISHES WITH 64 (6:25 p.m.)—Boo Weekley started his day with six birdies in a row, but his run at the course record slowed down in a hurry on his final nine holes.
Weekley teed off on the back nine and made the turn in 30 despite a bogey on the 18th hole, but he got to 7 under after back-to-back birdies on Nos. 1 and 2. Weekley then played the final seven holes in 1 over to finish with a 64.
Still, it was his lowest round of the season, besting the 66 he shot in the first round of the Sony Open in Hawaii, where he scored his only top 10 of the season.
Here's a look at Weekley's scorecard:
PERRY TIES COURSE RECORD (5:50 p.m.)—Kenny Perry parred the 18th hole to become the fifth player to shoot 61 at TPC River Highlands. Perry finished with nine birdies, no bogeys, 25 putts, 10 fairways hit and 14 greens in regulation:
Chasin' historyKenny Perry nearly became the first player to shoot 60 at the Travelers Championship: Player Year Score Round Finish Kirk Triplett 2000 61 3 3 Phil Mickelson 2001 61 3 Won Scott Verplank 2001 61 4 T17 Brad Faxon 2005 61 4 Won Kenny Perry 2009 61 1 —
THINKING OF KEN GREEN (5:35 p.m.) — Starting at this week's Travelers Championship (on the PGA TOUR) and Dick's Sporting Goods Open (on the Champions Tour), the pros participating in each tournament will have a chance to wear a green ribbon in support of Ken Green, the Champions Tour player who had his lower right leg amputated after he was involved in a car accident that killed his girlfriend and brother.
The timing for the Travelers Championship in Hartford, Conn., is especially appropriate, given that Green is from nearby Danbury, Conn.
Additionally, players will have the option at registration of completing a form where they can pledge a contribution to a Trust the TOUR has established to assist Green.
Green, a five-time winner on the PGA TOUR, had his lower right leg amputated June 15 as a result of an RV accident June 8 near Hickory, Miss., when the vehicle blew a tire, went down an embankment and hit a large tree.
The accident took the life of Ken's brother and girlfriend. Green now faces another operation for a fractured suborbital bone near his left eye. Despite the loss of his leg, he has set a goal to return to competition.
• To learn more about how you can make a contribution to the Ken Green Trust, .
PERRY NEEDS BIRDIE FOR COURSE RECORD (5:31 p.m.)—Kenny Perry's run at 59 appears over after he two-putted from 25 feet for par on the 17th. The par keeps Perry at 9 under heading into the 18th hole. A birdie there would give him a 60, which would set a new course record and would also be a career best for Perry, who shot a 61 at Colonial in 2003.
MAJOR MONTH (5:26 p.m.) — Lucas Glover has had a very busy week. He won the U.S. Open on Monday and was whisked around New York City for a tour of national media outlets the following day before coming to Connecticut to play in the Travelers Championship.
Glover is playing well, too—he's 5 under through 15 holes. So who was the last player to win a major and also win the following week? Well, that would be Tiger Woods at the 2006 PGA Championship and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.—Helen Ross
Win a major, win the next week Year Player Tournament(s) 2006 Tiger Woods PGA Championship and World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational 2000 Tiger Woods PGA Championship and World Golf Championships-NEC Invitational 1998 Vijay Singh PGA Championship and The INTERNATIONAL 1990 Hale Irwin U.S. Open and Buick Classic 1985 Bernhard Langer Masters and MCI Heritage Classic 1978 John Mahaffey PGA Championship and American Optical Classic 1978 Gary Player Masters and Tournament of Champions 1966 Billy Casper U.S. Open and Western Open 1950 Jimmy Demaret Masters and North Fulton Open 1938 Ralph Guldahl U.S. Open and Western Open
PERRY MISSES SHORT BIRDIE PUTT ON NO. 16 (5:18 p.m.)—Kenny Perry stuffed his approach shot to only eight feet on the par-3 16th, but he ran the birdie putt a foot by the hole. He now needs to finish birdie-birdie to shoot 59.
IS 59 IN SIGHT? (5:10 p.m.)—Kenny Perry needs to birdie two of his last three holes to become the fourth man to shoot 59 on the PGA TOUR:
Sub-60 rounds on the PGA TOUR Player Score Round Tournament Al Geiberger 59 (30-29) 2 1977 Memphis Classic Chip Beck 59 (30-29) 3 1991 Las Vegas Invitational David Duval 59 (31-28) 4 1999 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic
PERRY DRIVES THE GREEN DURING LIVE@ (4:54 p.m.)—Kenny Perry arrived at the 15th hole at 8 under—and hit promptly hit a driver to 20 feet on the par 4 hole.
Perry two-putted for birdie—his ninth of the day—to take a two-shot lead.
There were players on the green preparing to putt when Perry's ball rolled onto the green—Joe Ogilvie playfully tapped the green in front of Perry's ball after it rolled to a stop.
Video:
PERRY GRABS THE LEAD (4:27 p.m.)—Kenny Perry overpowered the short par-5 13th for his eighth birdie of the day. Perry hit the green on the 523-yard hole in two and two-putted to move to 8 under.
EARLY INTERVIEWS ARE IN (4:19 p.m.)—SIRIUS XM interviews from the early leaders are available for download:
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TWITTER UPDATE (4 p.m.)—PGATOUR.COM's Brian Wacker with Lucas Glover, Chad Campbell and Vijay Singh. Some of Wacker's highlights from his Twittering this afternoon:
• "Ben & Jerry's adjacent to 11th green. Tempting. So was Glover's tee shot – he stuck it, made birdie. Singh rolled in a 12-footer for birdie."
• "No sign of Mrs. U.S. Open out here. Last Glover said, she was flying back home yesterday…and took the trophy with her. All pars on No. 7."
• "Every single hole so far, fans have shouted congrats to Lucas Glover for his U.S. Open win."
• "After Glover—or G-Lover as mentioned on Letterman—teed off on No. 2, he got a "thanks for coming" from some fans of the U.S. Open champ."
THAT WAS EASY (3:40 p.m.)—The rains that have blanketed the Northeast this month have defintely helped make TPC River Highlands even easier than usual. As the afternoon groups wade through the course, the field is averaging 68.434 in the first round.
Even the most difficult hole, the par-3 16th, isn't beating players up. The field averaging 3.170 on the hole.
Paul Goydos, who shot 63 this morning, says scores will increase as the week goes on.
"If we don't get any more weather, and they can firm the golf course up a little bit, I don't think you'll see the scores you have right now," Goydos said.
KENNY THREATENING COURSE RECORD (3:15 p.m.)—Kenny Perry just made the turn in 29 after using just nine putts on the front side at TPC River Highlands. Perry chipped in for birdie on the par-4 third hole and finished the front nine with four birdies in a row before birdieing the 10th.
Perry's career low round came in 2003 at Colonial, when he shot 61 in the third round. He went on to win that event.
The run of birdies is welcome news for Perry, who doesn't have a top-20 finish on TOUR since his heartbreaking tie for second at the Masters.
• To follow Perry with Shot Tracker, .
MORE ON BOO'S RECENT INJURIES (3 p.m.)—We haven't heard a whole lot about the extent of Boo Weekley's shoulder woes, but Weekley said on Wednesday that he's played in pain for years.
Weekley was forced to withdraw during the middle of THE PLAYERS Championship after his shoulder starting bothering him, but the pain was caused by something more serious than expected.
"It's a torn labrum," Weekley said. "I [also] had some bursitis, and I had some little shreds on top of my rotator cuff where it's starting to wear a little bit. And then, you know, I'm getting old."
Weekley has been under the care of famed orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews, who keeps his practice in Birmingham, Ala., just up the road from Weekley's home along the Florida Panhandle.
"I'm going to play until I just can't play no more, unless they run out [of cortisone]," Weekley joked.
BOO BIRDIES HIS FIRST SIX (2:41 p.m.)—Boo Weekley hasn't played much golf since hurting his shoulder at THE PLAYERS Championship in May, but he's on fire one hour into his opening round at TPC River Highlands.
Weekley birdied his first five holes before nearly making an eagle on our first LIVE@ hole (No 15). The birdie binge gives him a great chance to beat the course record of 61, which is held by four players.
Boo's streak ended at the par-3 16th hole when he barely missed a 12-footer for birdie No. 7.
Charles Warren, who shot 63 earlier today, said that he wouldn't be surprised to see someone shoot 59 this week. The greens are soft and the weather is cooperating, and the greens are rolling at a manageable 11 on the Stimpmeter.
• To follow Weekley with Shot Tracker, .
Consecutive birdies on the PGA TOUR Six players have birdied eight consecutive holes in the history of the PGA TOUR: Player Tournament Round Score Jerry Kelly 2003 Las Vegas Invitational 3 65 J.P. Hayes 2002 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic 1 65 Edward Fryatt 2000 Doral-Ryder Open 2 62 Dewey Arnette 1987 Buick Open 1 65 Fuzzy Zoeller 1976 Quad Cities Open 1 63 Bob Goalby 1961 St. Petersburg Open 1 65
QUIGLEY WITHDRAWS, OTHER NOTES (2:35 p.m.) — In his 27th career TOUR event, Spencer Levin turned in his best round with a 64. Levin's previous best round was a 66 at the 2009 Verizon Heritage … Tag Ridings (64) recorded a hole-in-one on the 155 yard 11th hole in the first-round with a 9 iron. There were no hole-in-ones last year at the Travelers Championship…Lucas Glover is the first player to tee it up the week after winning the U.S. Open since 2003 when Jim Furyk won the U.S. Open and then finished T22 at the Buick Classic … The last time a player won a PGA TOUR event the week after winning a major was Tiger Woods in 2006 (PGA Championship, World Golf Championship-Bridgestone Invitational)…Brett Quigley (knee) withdrew prior to the first-round.—Mark Stevens
CLEMSON GOES FOR TWO IN A ROW (2:20 p.m.)—Charles Warren, as we noted below, nearly aced the 15th hole during our LIVE@ coverage, and the South Carolinian finished with a 63 to match Paul Goydos. The round is easily his best of the year, topping the 67 he shot in the first round of the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
Warren entered the year without a full PGA TOUR exemption after finishing out of the top 125 on the money list in 2008. He said on Thursday that Lucas Glover's Cinderella-style victory in the U.S. Open may have rubbed off him.
Glover and Warren have been friends for years—both are Clemson graduates—and Warren was at home watching the U.S. Open after he failed to qualify for Bethpage Black. The two had dinner together Wednesday night.
"I told him, 'I don't know how you're dealing with this, but I'm going to charge you for all my cell phone minutes this week,'" Warren said. "I've gotten more texts and calls than if I won the tournament."
"It's just great. It's great and fun to watch. Great for Clemson, and great for Greenville and a lot of things. So it's pretty neat."
Here's a look at Warren's scorecard:
MORE ON GOYDOS (2 p.m.) — Paul Goydos' 63 in Thursday's first round is the lowest score he has ever posted in the first round at a PGA TOUR event … outside the state of Texas.
Goydos' career-low first-round 62 came in the 1999 GTE Byron Nelson Classic in Dallas. The only other time he has shot 63 in the opening 18 holes came earlier this year at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. And he also recorded a 64 at the MasterCard Colonial in Forh Worth in 1997.
In relation to par, his 7-under total is the fourth time in his career he has reached the mark in the first round. Twice he has shot 8-under—his 62 at the Nelson in 1999 and a 64 in the 2000 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic.
Counting all rounds, this is just the seventh time Goydos has shot 63 or lower in his career.—Mike McAllister
Here's a look at Goydos' scorecard:
Lowest first rounds by Paul Goydos Score Tournament Eventual finish 62 (8 under) 1999 GTE Byron Nelson Classic T9 63 (7 under) 2009 Valero Texas Open T3 63 (7 under) 2009 Travelers Championship — 64 (6 under) 1997 MasterCard Colonial T4 64 (8 under) 2000 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic T68
POWER NOT NEEDED HERE (1:46 p.m.)—Big hitters like Stewart Cink, Hunter Mahan and J.J. Henry have won the Travelers Championship the last three years, but shorter hitters like Paul Goydos and Brad Faxon (the 2005 champion) thrive here too.
Goydos' 63 was testament to how how unnessessary 300-yard drives are at TPC River Highlands:
Paul Goydos in Round 1 Fairways Greens in Regulation Putts Driving Distance 11/14 13/18 24 263.5 yards* *Goydos' longest drive was a 275-yard poke on the 411-yard, par-4 12th.
GOYDOS' THOUGHTS ON CHRIS SMITH (1:26 p.m.)—Paul Goydos just finished his post-round press conference after taking a share of the lead with his 63, and he spent some of it reflecting on his friend Chris Smith.
Smith, a PGA TOUR veteran with nearly 300 starts, lost his wife in a car accident last weekend. The accident, which occurred when the family's SUV hit a Greyhound bus, also gravely injured his two children.
Goydos took a leave of absence from the PGA TOUR earlier this year after the death of his ex-wife, Wendy.
"It's been a rough year in a sense on the PGA TOUR," Goydos said. "With my particular situation, you've got 200 players out here. It's really an extended family. You travel together in a sense. We're all showing up at the same places.
"I can't speak enough for my fellow competitors and how supportive they were of me for that, and they still are, through this tough patch for me and my family. But I can't tell you how Chris Smith is coping. Mine was a totally different situation.
"And our thoughts and prayers go with him. I really don't know what to say. He knows that everyone out here will do whatever they can to make sure his life is as good as we can make it."
On the Nationwide Tour, players and caddies at the Nationwide Tour Players Cup this week.
OUR TWEETER MAKES THE TURN (1:10 p.m.)—PGATOUR.COM's Brian Wacker as part of our LIVE@ coverage. Wacker is following two groups on Thursday and Friday. This morning, he followed the threesome of Anthony Kim, Brian Gay and Sergio Garcia. This afternoon, he will follow U.S. Open champion Lucas Glover, who is playing with Vijay Singh and Chad Campbell.
Some highlights from Wacker's morning with Kim, Gay and Garcia:
• "Waiting for the green to clear on the par-3 fifth, Sergio, AK and Brian Gay yucked it up. These guys clearly enjoy each other's company."
• "Sergio's struggles continue as he puts another in the water off the tee, this time at 17, prompting a fan to shout "2 nil!""
• "On drivable par 4 15th AK pulled tee shot left, but stayed out of water. Sergio didnt stay out of water. Double for Sergio. Birds 4 others."
• "Waiting on 15th tee, our LIVE@ hole, AK, Sergio and Brian Gay were all talking about Bethpage. Lots of opinions on it for sure."
• "Talked to a member of team Sergio. He is tirrred after a long week. Last event in states for a while is here, home nxt week for r&r."
• "AK is looking as fit as ever as he makes his way around TPC River Highlands. Good move to hire fitness guy Darby Rich from OU."
• To follow Wacker's commentary on the Travelers Championship with Twitter, .
A QUARTER-CENTURY IN CROMWELL (1 p.m.) — With their 25th starts this week at the Travelers Championship, Brad Faxon and Mark Brooks are now tied with Mark Calcavecchia for most appearances in tournament history.
Faxon, a Rhode Island native, won this event in 2005 when he tied a TPC River Highlands course-record 61 in the final round to rally from seven strokes down to force a sudden-death playoff.
He then beat Tjaart van der Walt with a birdie on the first playoff hole. That 61 also ties for the best final-round score in tournament history. Brooks won this event in 1988 in his only top-10 finish at the Travelers. Like Faxon, Brooks also won in a sudden-death playoff, beating Dave Barr and Joey Sindelar. — Mike McAllister
Most Travelers Championship appearances Player Appearances Last played Best finish Mark Brooks 25 2009 1st (1988) Mark Calcavecchia 25 2007 2nd (2000) Brad Faxon 25 2009 1st (2005) George Archer 24 1989 1st (1971) Hubert Green 24 1995 1st (1981) Jay Haas 24 2003 T2 (1983) Joey Sindelar 24 2007 T2 (1988)
CHALMERS EXPECTS SCORING TO BE LOW (12:50 p.m.)—Greg Chalmers didn't think his 64 to hold up for the overnight lead, and he was right. Paul Goydos has already beaten that with a 63 that included three birdies on the last four holes.
Still, Chalmers is pleased with his 23-putt performance. Putting, he said, has held him back all season. A small adjustment on the third green Thursday jump-started his round.
"I decided I was going to putt without lifting my head up," Chalmers said. "I was just going to keep my head in place and just strike the ball. I'm kind of a little goofy like that sometimes. I'll pick up little things here and there and change my mind.
"So there was a chance I could ditch that three holes into tomorrow. I don't know. It worked for a little while, and I stuck with it. I'll be sticking with it until it doesn't work."
The Aussie thinks it will take a low score to win this week at TPC River Highlands.
"Sometimes, on this golf course you get on a roll. You can make some birdies," Chalmers said. "It's just—it's set up nicely to score, and I think there will be some good scores this afternoon, for sure."
• To replay Chalmers' round with Shot Tracker, .
BRITISH OPEN SPOTS ON THE LINE (12:38 p.m. ) — The top-two money winners in a six-event series—THE PLAYERS Championship, Memorial Tournament, St. Jude Classic presented by FedEx, U.S. Open, Travelers Championship and AT&T National—earn exemptions to the British Open if they are not otherwise qualified. Here are the standings through the first four events:
Rank Player Money earned 1 John Mallinger $584,319 2 Kevin Na $584,150 3 Ricky Barnes $575,622 4 Bryce Molder $492,800 4 Ben Crane $441,950 5 Jonathan Byrd $387,900 7 Matt Bettencourt $373,600
THAT WAS CLOSE (12:10 p.m.)—Charles Warren nearly became the second player in PGA TOUR history to make an ace on a par 4 when his tee shot on the 296-yard 15th rolled right past the cup. Warren started the hole tied for the lead at 6 under, and an ace would have moved him to an incredible 9 under on the day (and started the inevitable 59 watch).
Officially, Warren's ball went 307 yards, leaving him with an eagle putt from 18 feet, which he ran by the cup. He made the comebacker for birdie and the outright lead at 7 under.
The only person to ever ace a par 4 in PGA TOUR competition is Andrew Magee, who aced the 17th at TPC Scottsdale during the first round of the Phoenix Open. Magee's shot bounced onto the green caromed off the head of Tom Byrum's putter as he lined up a birdie try from 10 feet.
CHALMERS IN WITH A 64 (11:51 a.m.)—PGA TOUR veteran Greg Chalmers is winless in his 218 starts, but the Aussie used only 23 putts in shooting a six-under 64 on Thursday morning.
Chalmers fired a 30 on the back side after birdieing six of his final eight holes. He is due for a good week—he entered this event 136th in FedExCup points after just two top-25s in 14 events this year.
SLOW START FOR CINK (11:25 a.m.)—Defending Travelers Championship champion Stewart Cink , but Cink is struggling in the first round.
Cink teed off on the back nine and had made four bogeys through 14 holes. it has been an up-and-down year for Cink, who sits a decent 47th in FedExCup points standings. A chunk of his FedExCup points came in the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play Championship, where he finished third.
As you may have heard, Cink has done an outstanding job all year updating fans through Twitter about life on the PGA TOUR. PGATOUR.COM's Mike McAlliister .
• To follow Cink with Shot Tracker, .
INSIDE OUR LIVE@ HOLES (11:05 a.m.)—The Travelers Championship marks our fourth LIVE@ of the year (click for more). All week, we'll feature live coverage of the 15th and 17th holes at TPC River Highlands.
The 15th hole is one of the shortest par 4s on the PGA TOUR. At only 296 yards, players can elect to go for the green, but a large water hazard will catch a hooked drive. Sergio Garcia paid that penalty on Thursday morning when he found the water and made a bogey five.
PGA.COM's T.J. Auclair talked with TPC River Highlands PGA Professional Jack Hunter earlier this week. Here's what Hunter had to say about the 15th and 17th holes:
No. 15: "Classic risk/reward hole. From as far back as you can take it, it's 296 yards. You can go for the green, but there's water left and trees right to an elevated, undulating green with a front and back shelf. Even if you feel like you're in a good position, getting up and down isn't a piece of cake."
No. 17: "Probably is sort of our signature hole. It's not as difficult as Nos. 15 and 16. It's about 420 yards. It's simple in a sense because the TOUR guys can hit 3-wood or hybrid to set up a short approach, but the approach is all over water."
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT (10:58 a.m.) — The Travelers Championship has attracted a strong field in 2009, and part of the reason is the vastly improved facilities at TPC River Highlands.
In 2008, the course replaced its five-acre practice facility with a 22-acre one that measures 360 yards in length (The old one was 100 yards shorter). The range is one of the largest on the PGA TOUR, with 110,000 square feet of tee stations.
BACK TO BUSINESS FOR BRIAN (10:30 a.m.)—Brian Gay missed the cut at Bethpage Black last week, but the short course at TPC River Highlands is playing right into his strengths.
At 6,841 yards, TPC River Highlands is one of the shortest courses on TOUR, and the short-hitting, sweet-putting Gay was the first one to hit 5 under on Thursday morning. Gay has won two of his last six starts and might have won more had he not battled injuries in early May.
• To follow Gay with Shot Tracker, .
BARNES' RUN CONTINUES (10:20 a.m.)—After an exhausting and action-packed ride at the U.S. Open last week, Ricky Barnes could have phoned in his withdrawal from the Travelers Championship, but the 28-year-old showed up at TPC River Highlands ready to challenge for the win.
Barnes teed off at the crack of dawn Thursday and is on the same page as the leaders at 3 under. After last week's tie for second at Bethpage Black, Barnes insisted that he was on the road to better things, and it looks like he was right.
PGATOUR.COM's Brian Wacker , where Barnes said he'd still be playing this week had he pulled off the improbable win at the U.S. Open.
• To follow Barnes with Shot Tracker, .
Groups We're Watching Tee time Players 7:42 a.m. ET No. 1 
Brian Gay, Anthony Kim, Sergio GarciaTwo twenty-somethings and two-time winner '09 winner Brian Gay have an early start. 1:03 p.m. ET No. 10 
Zach Johnson, Ryuji Imada, Boo WeekleyTwo-time '09 champ Johnson leads this group alongside fan favorite Weekley. 1:03 p.m. ET No. 1 
Lucas Glover, Vijay Singh, Chad CampbellFresh from his U.S. Open win, Glover joins the Big Fijian and Masters runner-up Campbell. Live Essentials 
Follow every shot with our newest application 
The only place on the Internet for real-time live scoring 
Listen to expert commentary on the PGA TOUR Network 
News, notes, stats and analysis during each round
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PGA, Turner extend broadcasting rights contract
June 25, 2009
ATLANTA (AP)—The PGA of America and Turner Sports have extended theirbroadcasting rights contract through 2019.
The two sides announced the deal Thursday. TNT will continue to air coverageof the PGA Championship on Thursday and Friday and early on Saturday and Sunday.Turner will remain in charge of PGA.com.
Turner’s Cartoon Network Enterprises will also handle the PGA’s licensingdeals for products aimed at young fans.
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Golf-Six European countries to bid to host 2018 Ryder Cup (Reuters)
June 25, 2009
LONDON, June 25 (Reuters) – France, Germany, theNetherlands, Portugal, Spain and Sweden are to bid to stage tothe 2018 Ryder Cup, the European Tour said on Thursday.
The deadline for confirmation of the bids is April 20, 2010and the winning bid will be announced in 2011.
(Editing by Ed Osmond. To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Golf-Play resumes in BMW International Open (Reuters)
June 25, 2009
(adds play resumes)
MUNICH, June 25 (Reuters) – Play resumed in the BMWInternational Open first round after conditions improved at thewaterlogged Eichenried course on Thursday.
Early leaders Spaniard Alvaro Valesco and South AfricanBranden Grace were quickly joined by Phillip Price after theresumption when the Briton birdied the 12th hole.
The trio held a one-shot lead on four under par. Tournamentfavourite, world number five Henrik Stenson of Sweden, was twostrokes off the lead.
(Editing by Ed Osmond. To query or comment on this storyemail sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Golf great Ballesteros launches cancer foundation
June 25, 2009
MADRID (AP)—Golf great Seve Ballesteros announced the launch of a cancerfoundation Thursday as he went before the press for the first time sinceundergoing brain tumor surgery nine months ago.
“I want to do my bit to battle this disease,” Ballesteros said at areception in a Madrid hotel.
Elegantly dressed in suit and tie and giving the thumbs-up salute tophotographers, a smiling Ballesteros thanked doctors at Madrid’s La Paz hospitaland all those who supported him during his ordeal.
“Just nine months ago my life was hanging by a thread,” the 52-year-oldSpaniard said.
“I am a lucky man, I have a second opportunity and my desire is to helpothers,” he said while presenting the Seve Ballesteros Foundation to help fightcancer.
Looking a little thinner but nonetheless in remarkably good shape andspirits, he was accompanied at the reception by two of the doctors that operatedon him.
“I contributed my part through my strength as a sportsman, which is whatthey (the doctors) said, but if they had not been around I would not be with allof you today. So, many thanks,” he said to resounding applause.
Golfing great Seve Ballesteros… AP – Jun 25, 7:10 am EDT
Ballesteros won three British Opens and two Masters titles, and had 50victories on the European Tour. He captained Europe’s Ryder Cup team to victoryover the United States in 1997.
He underwent four operations on a malignant brain tumor between Oct. 6 andlate December, when he was released from La Paz hospital. He subsequentlyunderwent chemotherapy treatment.
He said his thoughts were with people going through traumas like his.
“My message is that there is no secret in life at all. All you must do isfight, fight, fight and be consistent and in the end you will be a winner,” hesaid. “In the end, you have to have luck and luck comes to those who fight.”
He said he is back to playing a little bit of golf and that recently one hissons, Javier, beat him.
“But I will beat him. I just need a bit of training,” he quipped.
Regarding his future, Ballesteros said he was going to dedicate his time tohis children, the foundation and giving lectures but would also continuedesigning golf courses.
The Seve Ballesteros Foundation said it aimed to contribute to cancerresearch, particularly the treatment of brain tumors. It will also help younggolfers with financial problems so that they can practice the sport that gaveBallesteros so much success.
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TOUR Insider: Glover's whirlwind day in N.Y.C. (PGATOUR.com)
June 25, 2009
After his U.S. Open win Monday at Bethpage Black, Lucas Glover went on a whirlwind media and talk-show tour in the New York area. PGATOUR.COM's Helen Ross tagged along every step of the way and filed this report.
NEW YORK—About 18 hours after Lucas Glover won the 109th U.S. Open, he found himself in the back of a stretch limousine, cell phone pressed to his ear, his driver navigating the streets of the Big Apple.
Regis and Kelly—well, American Idol judge Kara Dioguardi, who was subbing for Kelly Ripa—were waiting. CNBC wanted to talk sponsorship deals. David Letterman was huddled with his writers working up one of his patented Top Ten Lists.
Oh, and then there was the Sleepless-in-Seattle photo op with that big silver U.S. Open trophy on the very top floor of the Empire State Building.
Soon he would meet Sandra Day O'Connor, the first female Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a woman once rumored to become the first female member at Augusta National, who came downstairs at Letterman's Ed Sullivan Theater specifically to offer a few kind words to Glover.
And oh, by the way, Jack Nicklaus was so keen to congratulate the newly crowned major champion that he called Glover's cell, his home and finally wife Jennifer's phone, just looking for a human being before leaving a voice mail. And did we mention that Nicklaus was calling from Africa?
"That was so cool," Jennifer said, her eyes wide in surprise, as she held the phone to her husband's ear.
So, was Glover beginning to understand the magnitude of what he accomplished on Monday at Bethpage State Park when he beat Phil Mickelson, David Duval and Ricky Barnes by two strokes? Was it beginning to sink in?
"Today's definitely helping," the weary U.S. Open champion said with a grin.
Tuesday's first stop was Live with Regis & Kelly. Fans with digital cameras did their best paparazzi imitation and broke ranks from the queue outside the studio to take photos of Glover toting the trophy. Once Glover was safely inside the Green Room, a producer ran over the subjects on the hosts' cue cards—playing in the rain, Glover's love for the Yankees and his New York honeymoon with Jennifer nearly four years ago, among other topics.
The trophy sat on a table near the coffeemaker. One of the directors came in to fill his cup. "Well, look at this," he said appreciatively. "Way to go." A man the director called simply "Camera 2" bore greetings from his sister, who lives in Greer, S.C., and knows Jennifer's aunt and uncle—proving again how small the world really is.
Once the show began, Glover settled himself into the director's chair next to Regis Philbin, who hoisted the trophy to study the names. "They shortchanged me a little," Glover joked. "They didn't get my name on it quick enough to be on your show."
Jennifer watched from the wings and when Glover started talking about a 12-year romance that began when they met about 3 a.m. on New Year's morning, the cameras focused on the vivacious blonde. "She's put up with me a long time," Glover said with a smile.
Glover, it turns out, is a closet Frank Sinatra fan, which was great news for Philbin, the consummate New Yorker. The Glovers first got turned onto the king of the Rat Pack when they had dinner at a restaurant in Little Italy. His favorite song? "World on a String" As Philbin hummed, Dioguardi asked Glover if he could sing it.
The answer was a quick no.
"And don't ask me to dance, either," Glover said.
With 20 minutes to kill before the visit to the Empire State Building, the entourage, which included Glover's agent, Mac Barnhardt, as well as his good friend David Everett, the retired president of the Sea Island Company, ducked into the Starbucks on the next corner. As they got out of the limo, a fan stopped Jennifer and asked, "Didn't I just see you on TV?"
Well, she did get plenty of airtime Monday on NBC, especially when she kissed Glover when he walked off the 18th green at Bethpage Black. And then there was that shy wave to her husband on Live with Regis & Kelly. So who knows?
Once inside the Empire State Building, the group walked by photos of Roger Federer, Rihanna and Mariah Carey, each of whom had taken the same VIP tour, as they neared the first of four elevators they would ride to the top of the iconic landmark. The second, which went from the second floor to the 80th, took a mere 55 seconds. Once you get past the 86th, the climb is measured by an altimeter that registers 1250 at the top.
A battery of photographers and several reporters were waiting on the observation deck, but Glover and his friends were the only ones allowed to go to the very top. The 103rd floor, which is off-limits to the general public, is so remote it can be reached only by a steep narrow staircase. Only the antenna on the building rises higher in the Manhattan skyline.
After climbing the stairs, Glover and his wife stepped carefully out on the ledge for pictures. The concrete wall was thigh-high, and unlike on the deck below, there were no bars to protect anyone. It was certainly not for the faint of heart. The temperature was about 20 degrees different than on the ground, too.
Telephone interviews with sports talk show hosts Mike & Mike in the Morning, Jim Rome and Mike Tirico and Scott Van Pelt, among others, kept Glover busy in the limo. A stop for some of those world-famous hamburgers at P.J. Clarke's provided some much-needed sustenance. In an odd twist, as the group walked through the bar to the restaurant, one of the shots Glover hit on Monday at the Black Course was being shown on SportsCenter.
While driving to the Ed Sullivan Theater, Glover checked some of his text messages. One came from Tim Bourret, the long-time sports information director at Clemson University, where Glover played college golf. Turns out the last Clemson golfer to read Letterman's Top Ten List was Jane Robelot, a former co-anchor of CBS This Morning, in 1997. She and Glover share the same high school, as well.
"He's a vault," Glover said of Bourret. "He can tell me how many three-putts I had in the month of May in 1998. They just think differently than the rest of us."
Glover answered more than 100 text messages and voice mails as he drove from Long Island into New York City Monday night, and his cell phone was full again by the time the battery died the next afternoon. One friend had words of caution for him.
"He said, 'Do you realize that you have to count backwards from 10 to read the Top Ten List? You might have to get Jennifer to make flashcards,' " Glover said grinning. "That might be the text of the day."
The Green Room at the Ed Sullivan Theater was the only one of the three Glover visited Tuesday that was remotely green, and it was more turquoise than anything else. He saw two different versions of the Top Ten List before the rehearsal, and a third revision was the one he ended up reading.
Biff Henderson, the stage manager who often appears in skits on the Late Show with David Letterman, came in to grab a cup of coffee and chat with Glover. So did Alan Kalter, the tall, red-haired announcer who asked about the champion's decision to hit a 6-iron off the 18th tee.
"I'm the only golfer (working) here," Kalter said, setting a newspaper with a photo of Glover down on the coffee table. "So can I get you to sign a couple of things?" The champ, of course, obliged.
After the rehearsal was over it was nearly 4 p.m., and Glover sat on the couch, his eyelids heavy. Everett asked if he wanted to stretch out. "I can't," Glover said with a smile. "I'll mess up my makeup." So he passed the time doing several other interviews and starting on the Daily News crossword puzzle.
Glover finally walked onto the stage after the second commercial, following an entertaining segment on new summer toys. When Glover was done, Letterman walked over, shook hands and gave Glover the U.S. Open trophy that had been sitting behind his desk. Letterman doesn't do that for just anyone, either.
"Nice young man," Letterman later told the crowd. And Glover plans to stay that way.
"My schedule might change; stuff like that," he said. "But I'm not going to change."
Indeed. Glover was headed for a quick dinner at a favorite sushi restaurant before heading to Hartford where he would honor his commitment and play in the Travelers Championship. In fact, he plans to play the next four weeks before taking some much deserved time off.
Green Rooms, cue cards, and hair and makeup sessions were the order of the day Tuesday. The rest of the week, Glover will be in his element at TPC River Highlands.
"You know one thing today is good for?" Barnhart said. "After today, he'll be so glad to get back on the golf course he won't know what to do."
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PREVIEW-Golf-Open-Cink back on welcome turf at River Highlands (Reuters)
June 24, 2009
NEW YORK, June 24 (Reuters) – Despite being weary aftertying for 27th at the weather-delayed U.S. Open on Monday,Stewart Cink returns to a happy hunting ground for his titledefence at this week’s Travelers Championship in Cromwell,Connecticut.
The American’s one-shot triumph 12 months ago ended avictory drought of almost four years on the PGA Tour and heenjoys a high comfort level at the TPC River Highlands.
“It’s great to be back here, for a lot of reasons,” Cinktold reporters on the eve of Thursday’s opening round.
“I feel like I’m in a different place than I was last yearbecause I came in here last year with a ton of really goodfinishes and no wins to speak of. This year I come in with veryfew good finishes on the year and no wins to speak of.”
Cink, a five-times winner on the PGA Tour, has posted justtwo top-10s in 14 starts this season, including a tie for eighthat the Memorial tournament three weeks ago.
“My game has suffered a little bit, especially the secondhalf of last year,” the 36-year-old said. “But it’s gettingbetter now and I’ve changed a lot of things up. I’m reallyencouraged right now.
“Without trying to put too much pressure on myself, I loveplaying here and I feel like my golf game is getting there, sowe’ll see.”
PUTTING SWITCH
Cink, who has been encouraged by his form on the greenssince switching back to a short putter from a long one lastmonth, faces a strong field at River Highlands.
Five of the world’s top 20 are taking part, includingfourth-ranked Sergio Garcia, Fiji’s Vijay Singh (ninth) andAmerican Lucas Glover, who rocketed to 18th from 71st afterwinning the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black on Monday.
Glover, who held off late charges by compatriots PhilMickelson and David Duval to clinch his first major title, wasuncertain about his expectations this week.
“I haven’t thought that far ahead to be honest with you,”the 29-year-old said.
“I can’t get my expectations too high. I hate the saying,but it’s true: one shot at a time. I’ll have the same mindset aslast week: be patient and see how many birdies I can make.
“But I expect to play well. As hard as I’ve been working andas well as I’ve been playing, it would be foolish not to expectto play well.” (Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing byClare Fallon; To query or comment on this story emailsportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
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Ji seeks a second LPGA win at Rochester
June 24, 2009
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP)—It’s getting harder for first-time winners on the LPGATour to win again.
With all the global talent rushing in since the 1990s, one out of twogolfers has failed to follow up a breakthrough win with another tournamenttriumph. Going back to 1950, when the tour was launched, the overall odds ofrepeating are far better—just under 60 percent.
For Eun-Hee Ji, who opens her defense of the Wegmans LPGA on Thursday, asecond win in her third year on tour would serve as “a validation.” At leastfor now, however, Ji said she doesn’t feel added pressure.
“I have already delivered the one win,” the 23-year-old South Korean saidthrough a translator. “Going from one to two? I feel better with this type ofpressure than not winning a tournament at all.”
Already this year, three golfers have savored a second victory. In-Kyung Kimbeat Hall of Famer Se Ri Pak by a stroke at the State Farm Classic on June 7.And South Korean compatriot Ji Young Oh, along with Yani Tseng of Taiwan, baggedtheir second career wins in May.
Winning one tournament puts a golfer in rare company—269 women have landedon the all-time winner list since the 1950 Tampa Open, the tour’s firstsanctioned event.
The list of one-time winners, which currently stands at 110, has been aroundjust as long: Polly Riley beat Louise Suggs by five strokes in Tampa, and neverwon again on the LPGA circuit.
One-timers still pushing for an elusive second title include JackieGallagher-Smith, whose sole success came in 1999, and Becky Iverson, who lastscaled the heights in 1995. But hankering after further glory can quickly grabhold.
“I don’t necessarily feel pressure, it’s more that I really want to win onemore time,” Louise Friberg said before her maiden defense in March at theMasterCard Classic. “After your first win, you know how much fun it is and youknow how good it tastes.”
Since 1999, there have been 35 one-time winners and 34 previous winners whowon again, so the decade-long odds of repeating are 49 percent. In the tour’s 59years, by contrast, 59 percent of winners have triumphed at least twice.
Heightened competition from abroad is a chief factor for the tighteningodds, along with dominance by the likes of Annika Sorenstam, Karrie Webb, Se RiPak and, more recently, Lorena Ochoa. That quartet has notched 158 tournamentswins since 1995.
The $2 million Wegmans LPGA has 18 of the season’s top 20 money winners,including No. 1 Cristie Kerr. The field also features Anna Nordqvist, a22-year-old rookie from Sweden who won this month’s major, the LPGAChampionship, in only her fifth professional start. Absent is top-ranked LorenaOchoa, who won here in 2005 and 2007, and the 2008 runner-up, Suzann Pettersen.
Last June, with a 5-under 67 in the final round, Ji overcame a three-shotdeficit to beat Pettersen by two strokes at Locust Hill, a tricky, tree-linedcourse with compact greens in the Rochester suburb of Pittsford.
Ji sits 26th on the season’s money list with $233,376. The best of her fourtop-10 finishes was a tie for sixth at this month’s State Farm Classic.
“I got a new driver, and I modified my swing a little” this spring, saidJi, calling her accuracy off the tee and the fairway “the big strength of mygame. And my weakness is my putting. Big problem!”
Winning on the LPGA Tour “boosted my confidence in my golf game,” Ji said.“Now that I have one LPGA win under my belt, I don’t really have the same typeof anxiety or nervousness that I have to deliver right at that moment. It givesme the faith that because I’ve done it once, I can do it again.”
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