Vijay Singh out with injury, Ernie Els says he's not coming to Memorial
DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) -Vijay Singh withdrew from the Memorial on Monday because of a rib injury sustained last week, and Ernie Els said on his Web site that he won't be playing until next week.
That would leave the Memorial with six of the top 10 players from the world ranking. Tiger Woods, recovering from April 15 surgery on his left knee, did not enter and Adam Scott decided not to play.
The tournament starts on Thursday.
Singh, who won the Memorial in 1997, said he injured a muscle in his ribs upon arriving in England last week for the BMW Championship and felt pain while warming up on the range ahead of the first round.
Tournaments officials were trying to contact Els' managers after learning from his Web site that he wasn't coming.
"I have a week off now before my next tournament, the Stanford St. Jude Championship, start on June 5," Els wrote on Monday. "I haven't made any firm plans yet, but I will probably stay here at Wentworth with the family."
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
Haas shoots 1-under for 1st-round lead at Sr. PGA
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) -Jay Haas made a crack about everyone being bundled up. Jeff Sluman kidded around, too, saying he bounced a shot off a snowbank.
On a day better suited for snowmen than birdies, the two veterans could laugh after braving wet, bone-chilling and eventually windy conditions to find themselves atop the leaderboard after the first round of the Senior PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club on Thursday.
"It was pretty miserable this morning, everybody's got long johns on and ski caps and wind-breakers," Haas said.
But at least Haas' day was over following a 1-under 69 that held up as the day's best, one shot better than Sluman, the local favorite, and New Jersey golf pro Bill Britton.
And there was the additional consolation for Haas, who noted he was heading straight to his warm hotel room to watch everyone else deal with the elements.
"I'm under the covers, maybe, I'll be happy about that," said Haas, attempting to win his second Senior PGA in three years.
There's a group of nine, including Bernhard Langer, Scott Hoch and Ian Woosnam, two shots off the lead at 71.
Greg Norman, setting aside his many business ventures to make a rare competitive appearance, shot 72 in only his fourth tournament this year to sit in a nine-way tie in a group that includes defending Senior PGA champion Denis Watson.
The hands-down, first-round winner was Oak Hill's East Course, which lived up to its stingy reputation with help from the elements once the $2 million tournament got under way. The course gave up only one eagle when Britton carded a 2 on the par 4 No. 16.
Haas was part of the morning groups that faced a light drizzle and temperatures in the low 40s. Things didn't improve much by noon, when temperatures shot into the relatively balmy 50s. Trouble was, once the sun poked through the gray clouds, the winds also followed, gusting above 20-mph to create additional havoc on the narrow fairways.
"Well, I survived. And that's what it is, a survival test," said Tim Simpson, who flirted with the lead before carding a 71 in the afternoon.
Sluman summed up the day when he recounted how he opened his round with a bogey: "Three-wood on 1 off the snow and into the left trees."
Haas took control early, getting to as low as 3-under with a 15-foot birdie putt at the par-5 No. 13. But he was undone by two bogeys that followed errant tee shots - one that landed behind a tree on No. 16, and one into the lip of a fairway bunker on No. 18.
Haas has now shot 1-under in each of his past three rounds at Oak Hill, dating to the final two rounds of the 2003 PGA Championship in which he finished in a tie for fifth.
Britton made the best run in afternoon, getting to 2-under through 14, before being undone by a pair of bogeys when he three-putted No. 6 and then, on No. 8, landed his approach shot in the bunker.
"When I did get to 2-under, I kind of had a feeling that I was leading," Britton said. "So yeah, maybe a little nervous."
He's a former PGA Tour member, whose lone win came at the 1989 Centel Classic. In 1990, he finished fourth at the PGA Championship at Shoal Creek and seventh at The Masters.
Sluman, who grew up in suburban Rochester, played in a group with Norman and Fuzzy Zoeller, and attracted the largest galleries of the day.
Sluman blamed nerves for getting off to a poor start in which he posted three bogeys over the first 9 holes. But he found his composure to post three birdies to go a first-day best 3-under 32 over the back 9.
Norman, meanwhile, doesn't look like someone ready to give up golf altogether in favor of tennis now that he's taken up the sport following his engagement to former tennis star Chris Evert.
While Norman had few expectations entering the tournament, his presence was certainly welcome among his competitors.
"It looks like he's enjoying playing the game again," Sluman said. "You know he's so darn busy with everything ... but we would sure love to see him a little more because he brings excitement to the course."
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
Nicklaus tutors during Arkansas golf clinic
ROLAND, Ark. (AP) -A rusty Jack Nicklaus was still quite a sight for young golfers in Arkansas.
Nicklaus was this year's guest star at the Jackson T. Stephens Charitable Golf Tournament on Monday. Although he admitted he doesn't play much these days, the Golden Bear was in impressive form as he demonstrated a variety of shots for a group of kids from Fort Smith and central Arkansas.
"What I'll do today is sort of tell you how I think I used to play," the 68-year-old Nicklaus quipped.
Nicklaus' clinic was held on the practice range at The Alotian Club outside Little Rock, in conjunction with the charity tournament. Each year, the club brings in a guest for a morning demonstration in front of a group of lucky kids. Tiger Woods came two years ago, and last year Phil Mickelson stopped by.
The charity tournament is named after Jack Stephens, the late billionaire, philanthropist and former chief executive officer of Stephens Inc. He also was at one point the chairman of Augusta National.
Nicklaus, who won a record 18 major championships, was relaxed and self-deprecating as he hit balls with several different clubs. One early shot landed on a green close to the flagstick.
"A hole got somewhere near where my ball went," he said.
Nicklaus hadn't played since the Par 3 Contest at Augusta National about a month ago.
"I love playing the game of golf," he said. "But I love playing it the way I used to play."
Nicklaus can still show off, though. He explained how to hit draws, fades, high shots and low shots. Along the way, he passed on a few words of wisdom about how to approach the game mentally.
He also talked about how modern clubs are designed to hit the ball farther. In other words, a pitching wedge is now a lot more powerful than it used to be.
"Nobody ever heard of a gap wedge until you didn't have a pitching wedge anymore," Nicklaus said. "Don't let what it says on the bottom of the club fool you."
Warren Stephens, son of Jack Stephens, could appreciate Nicklaus' accomplishments a little more than the students.
"I grew up watching Nicklaus in his prime, really," Stephens said. "It's really neat - he makes the game so simple."
Nicklaus spoke briefly with reporters after the clinic. He was asked about his opinion of John Daly, the most famous golfer to come out of Arkansas.
"I don't really have one," Nicklaus said. "I think I'll dodge that question."
Nicklaus also talked about golf's popularity, and how it can be used to benefit charity at events like this.
"Golf raises a lot of money every week," he said. "It's pretty special."
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
A long course with a short par 3
Torrey Pines will be listed at 7,643 yards, making it the longest course in major championship history. But what gets Mike Davis excited is the potential for the shortest par 3 at a U.S. Open in eight years.
The third hole will measure 195 yards on the card, about the same distance used in the Buick Invitational. With the Pacific Ocean as a backdrop, it typically requires a long or medium iron down the hill into a breeze to a green that is protected by a bunker in the front. Anything long or left falls off the cliffs into a hazard.
Davis, senior director of rules and competition for the USGA, stumbled across a tee from 142 yards that might be even tougher.
"It not only sits at a different angle, it sits up in the air even higher," Davis said. "It should be dead into the wind. That puts them up in the air with a wedge shot, dead into the wind."
Davis said it reminded him of No. 7 at Pebble Beach, which is 107 yards and among the most famous holes in golf. Even though it's barely a sand wedge, it can be a brute for even the best players trying to get the right distance and trajectory.
"We plan to use it a couple of days," Davis said of the forward tee at Torrey Pines. "And when we go up, we'll be more aggressive with the hole location. It's not going to be a real easy hole with a wind into you."
The toughest hole locations will be front left (just over the bunker) and back left, where anything long will go into the hazard.
That might not be the only hole with a forward tee.
Even though the course will be the longest in history, Davis said it probably never will play its full 7,643 yards. The par-5 13th hole has three tees that make it play either 614, 599 or 539 yards.
One change to the 13th is a short cut of rough to the right.
The fear of playing that hole at 614 yards is an unexpected shift in wind, which could leave players with a 250-yard carry into the wind just to reach the fairway. Davis said there is a short cut of rough to the right for such situations, meaning players would only have to hit it 220 yards to at least have a chance at the second shot.
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
Fujikawa wins first tournament as professional
KAILUA, Hawaii (AP) -Tadd Fujikawa shot a 4-over 76 in the final round of the Mid-Pacific Open on Sunday to win his first tournament as a professional.
The tournament also marked the first time the 17-year-old made the cut as a pro.
Fujikawa entered the final round with a seven stroke lead over David Ishii, the 1990 Hawaiian Open champion and 14-time Japan Golf Tour winner.
He bogeyed three of the last four holes on the front nine and led by five at the turn.
But Fujikawa then shot par on eight of the back nine holes en route to becoming the youngest player in the tournament's 50-year history with a 10-under 278.
"First cut as a pro, and first win as a pro. Feeling pretty good," Fujikawa said. "Didn't really play too well today, it was a struggle. But luckily I grinded through it, made a lot of clutch puts toward the end."
The Moanalua High School junior made history at the Sony Open last year when he became the youngest player in 50 years to make the cut on the PGA Tour. He was 16 at the time.
He turned professional shortly afterward, in part so he could earn enough money to travel to tournaments.
But he's struggled since, failing to make the cut at 10 pro events including five on the PGA Tour.
Ishii, 52, praised his young rival, who took home $13,500 for his victory.
"He played smart, he didn't make any foolish mistakes on the tough holes. He showed he could manage his way around Mid-Pac," said Ishii.
Ishii, a three-time Mid-Pac winner, finished second at 285. Defending champion Darren Summers (73) and 2005 champion John Lynch (75) tied for third at 286.
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
Tears say it all as Snedeker's collapse leaves him devastated
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -Brandt Snedeker's ever-present grin widened as he walked off the sixth tee and through the crowd of fans cheering him on.
Four hours later, he was leaning against a golf cart, his face buried in a towel, trying to compose himself.
"You know, I have no clue why I am so emotional. I was laughing outside, I'm crying in here. I couldn't tell you. It's just ... " he said, bowing his head again as his voice broke.
Heartbreaking.
Snedeker was spectacular in his first Masters as a professional, grabbing a spot near the top of the leaderboard the first day and never letting go. After two holes Sunday, he had a share of the lead and all the momentum. Just 27, he was on the verge of a lifetime invitation to the Masters.
And he gave it all way.
Playing in the last group Sunday, Snedeker managed only six pars on his way to a 5-over 77. By the time he made the turn, he had as many bogeys (five) as he had in the first three rounds combined. Every time he was on the verge of getting some momentum, something happened to stop him cold.
"Just a rough day out there," he said, his eyes watering. "It's hard to put that much effort into something and get so little out of it. But it's just part of life, part of growing up. Obviously, I need a lot more of that. It's just tough right now."
Snedeker endeared himself to the crowds this week with his happy-go-lucky attitude. Two years ago, he was playing a Nationwide Tour event in Athens, Ga. Now he was at Augusta National, playing some of the best golf in his young career and he couldn't stop smiling. (The fact he looks like Opie Taylor's older brother just completes the package.)
When he holed a 35-foot eagle putt on No. 2, it set off some of the loudest cheers of the day. On every hole, someone was calling his name and wishing him luck.
"I felt like I was playing well and I felt like I was doing the right stuff," he said. "If you told me at the beginning of the week would I have taken a tie for third? I'd say heck, yes, and watch it on TV. But given the position today going into the final round, it was not a very enjoyable last 14, 15 holes."
The last five holes were particularly excruciating.
Snedeker made a 45-foot birdie putt across the green on the 12th to get to 6 under and cut playing partner Trevor Immelman's lead to three strokes. With the par-5 13th a birdie hole, Snedeker could make things very interesting.
This was exactly the position he had prepared himself to be in. Why he had taken advantage of an invitation as the 2004 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion to play unlimited practice rounds at Augusta National. Why he had racked up 40 or 50 rounds - 36 holes a day many weekends - before that first Masters in 2004 even started.
And he didn't need a refresher course to know where not to hit the ball. He had dunked his second shot in Rae's Creek in front of the 13th green on Saturday. No way he would do that again Sunday.
Except he did.
The ball splashed down in almost the exact same spot, and Snedeker wound up with a bogey.
"If somebody could tell me how to play that second shot, I'd love to know, because two days in a row I've hit it right in the middle of that damn water," Snedeker said. "I told myself not to do it. I tried to pull it and still couldn't do it.
"It's tough when you're looking eagle (or) birdie in the face and you walk out with bogey," he said, his voice catching again. "I could have put a little pressure on Trevor right there, and hope things might have been a little different."
Instead, he was left with a bunch of "What ifs?" He finished in a tie for third with Stewart Cink, four strokes behind Immelman.
"Obviously, being in the final pairing the last two days is something I'm very proud of and to be coming back here next year - hopefully we won't end up here in tears all over again," he said. "But you know, I found out a lot about myself today, and obviously a lot about myself right now. So we'll keep working."
While Immelman and his family celebrated on the 18th green, Snedeker quickly signed his scorecard and hustled away. After arriving at the media center, he needed several minutes to compose himself. Leaning against a golf cart, he repeatedly blew out his breath and ran a towel over his face.
When a member tried to console him, he could only smile weakly and shake his head.
"I'm still a little emotional, as you can tell, but it's one of those things," he said. "You've got of kind of pick yourself up, realize what you did wrong and go fix it."
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
Little Florida panhandle town hits it big with 3 players in Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -The guys in the green jackets had to love this.
Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum were back home at the Tanglewood Golf and Country Club last week, finishing up a quick round before starting a clinic for local fans. As they walked up 17 - or maybe it was 18, Slocum wasn't quite sure - Weekley came across a dead snake on the fairway. Ever the prankster, he picked up the carcass. Slocum knew somebody was in for a surprise.
Sure enough, that snake made an appearance during the clinic.
"He said to my dad, `Hey Jack, can you get me a good golf ball.' He reaches his hand in there and there's the dead snake," Slocum said, laughing. "Boo's mind, it just works funny. He looks at something and sees it completely different than I do."
Little Milton, Fla., is on the map in a big way this week. The city with fewer than 8,500 people - and the unfortunate former name of Scratch Ankle - has three homeboys in the 94-player Masters field. Imagine that. Weekley, Slocum and Bubba Watson all grew up in the same tiny Florida panhandle town and now here they are, each playing in his first Masters.
"It's about as opposite of ritzy as you can get," Slocum said, referring to Tanglewood, where all three played as kids. "I don't even know how to describe it. It's such an anomaly for three guys from the same college to get on the tour, let alone from the same high school. How does that happen?"
Lots of luck.
And lots and lots of talent.
Slocum came by the game naturally. His father, Jack, was a longtime golf pro, and the family moved to Milton when Heath was 13 after Jack got the job at Tanglewood. Shortly after they arrived, Heath Slocum heard rumors there was another kid his age who could really play, and a lifelong friendship began.
"Heath is just like a son," said Tom Weekley, Boo's father.
Slocum and Weekley were in the same class at Milton High School, and played on the golf team together. When they weren't golfing, they could usually still be found hunting, fishing or playing pranks. Weekley was as gregarious then as he is now - this, remember, is the guy whose thick Southern drawl and homespun naivete fascinated the locals at the British Open last year - and was the undisputed ring leader.
"Pretty much. Though I might have egged him on," said Slocum, who is as low-key as his buddy is colorful. "He brings a little more personality to me."
Watson is five years younger than Slocum and Weekley, so he wasn't nearly as tight with the older two growing up. But because he played at Tanglewood, too, the older boys knew all about the young kid with the big swing.
It's also kind of hard to overlook a kid who wore knickers - like his idol, Payne Stewart.
"Good boys, all three," said Stacie Stutzman, the food and beverage manager at Tanglewood. "Good Southern boys."
While Slocum and Watson both turned pro after playing golf in college - Slocum at South Alabama, Watson at Faulkner State and Georgia - Weekley worked at a chemical plant before he decided to see if he, too, could make a living on the course. All three spent time on the Nationwide Tour and, one by one, worked their way up to the majors.
Slocum was the first to make it, winning three Nationwide events in 2001. He's been on the tour ever since, has won twice and earned his first trip to the Masters by finishing 30th on the money list last year.
Next came Weekley. After kicking around on the minitours for a few years, he got through Q-school at the end of the 2001 season. Jack Slocum was his caddie, just as he was for his son and Watson. His first stay on the PGA Tour was brief after he made just five cuts in 2002. Weekley spent the next four years on the Nationwide Tour, finally getting back to the big leagues after finishing seventh on the money list in 2006.
When he returned last year, he was a smashing success - on and off the course. He had five top-10 finishes, including a win at the Verizon Heritage, and his folksy ways made him a fan favorite. (Think John Daly, without the drama.)
"It's caveman golf: Hit it, find it, hit it again," Weekley said, quite possibly the first person to describe Augusta National in such terms. "I just try to play it as I see it."
Watson caught up to his older friends in 2005, earning his PGA Tour card after finishing 21st on the Nationwide money list. He's still looking for his first victory, but his tie for fifth at the U.S. Open gave him exemptions for this year's Open and the Masters.
"Growing up from the same hometown ... we're always pushing each other," Watson said. "The Masters is going to be another one where we're all pushing each other."
No matter how rich and famous they get, the three remain Milton boys at heart. Weekley and Watson still live in the area, and Weekley and Slocum were back at Tanglewood last week for the TPC - that would be the Three Pros Championship. Several members from Tanglewood and Stonebrook Golf Club, another club in the area, are here in Augusta, making the 7 1/2-hour trip to watch the three in person.
"We sent them off good. Tried to anyway," Stutzman said. "Boo, Heath and Bubba say it all for Milton. Good boys, and a lot of talent."
Copyright 2007-2008, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
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